Finance guide
Bought to let? Here's how to turn a Dubai unit into income — registering the tenancy on Ejari, choosing long-term vs holiday letting, what a manager does and costs, and the rent rules that govern both sides.
Every Dubai tenancy must be registered on Ejari (the RERA system). It makes the contract official, is required for the tenant's utilities/visa steps, and is the basis for any rent-dispute case. Landlord or agent usually handles it.
Long-term (annual) is lower-effort, steadier income. Short-term / holiday letting can yield more per night but needs a DTCM holiday-home permit, more management, furnishing and higher turnover. Different rules, different economics.
Finds and vets tenants, handles Ejari, collects rent, manages maintenance and renewals, and deals with the owners' association. Typical fee is a percentage of annual rent (often ~5%) or a flat management fee; short-term management costs more.
Rent increases are capped by the RERA rental index, and notice periods + eviction grounds are defined by law. You can't raise rent or remove a tenant at will — know the rules before you let.
Service charges, management fees, maintenance, and vacancy gaps all come off the headline rent. Model the net, not the advertised gross yield.
Holiday-home letting requires a DTCM permit and active management (cleaning, check-ins, listings). Higher gross, higher effort and cost — pencil it out before assuming it beats a long lease.
The RERA rental index governs how much you can raise rent at renewal. A below-market tenant can't simply be hiked to market overnight — factor that into your return.
An unregistered tenancy leaves you exposed in any dispute and blocks the tenant's admin. Register every contract — it's cheap and it's the law.