Ask three people in Dubai what Ejari registration costs and you'll get three answers: "110 dirhams," "about 300," and "my agent charged me 500." All three can be right — because Ejari pricing has two layers, and most summaries only tell you about one.
Here's the full picture for 2026, so nothing on your final invoice is a surprise.
The two-layer fee structure
Layer 1: the government fee. The Dubai Land Department charges a standardized AED 110 for registering a residential tenancy contract. This number is fixed — it doesn't change whether you register from your phone or at a counter.
Layer 2: service charges. Whoever processes your registration can add their own administrative fee. This is where the variance lives:
- Dubai REST app (official): AED 110 + minimal or no service charges — the cheapest legitimate route.
- Authorized service centres and typing offices: AED 110 government fee plus roughly AED 50–205 in service charges, so AED 110–315 total depending on where you go and how much hand-holding you need.
- Property management companies: variable, often bundled into a management package.
That's why the honest answer to "how much is Ejari" is AED 110–315 for a typical residential unit — with the app at the bottom of that range and full-service offices near the top.
Who pays: tenant or landlord?
In practice, the tenant usually pays — the logic being that the registered contract primarily benefits the tenant (legal protection, DEWA connection, dispute rights). But this is convention, not law. In a competitive rental market, some landlords cover it as a sweetener, and corporate leases often absorb it.
The lesson: agree on it in writing before signing the tenancy contract. For international investors managing properties remotely, put the fee responsibility in the management agreement too — otherwise you'll discover it as a mystery line item.
Renewals are cheaper — about half
When your contract renews, Ejari must renew with it. The good news: the government renewal fee is commonly cited at AED 55 — roughly half the initial fee. Service providers typically add AED 30–105 for processing. Cancellations and amendments (rent changes, tenant swaps, contract modifications) follow a similar fee structure.
If you register a multi-year contract, remember the certificate still needs to reflect any contract changes — amended registrations aren't free just because you're mid-term.
Commercial property costs more
Registering Ejari for a commercial unit typically runs AED 205–315 at the government level, versus AED 110 for residential — and service providers charge more too, because commercial contracts involve heavier verification. If you're opening a business, factor this into your setup budget alongside trade licence costs.
A note for international investors
Two things matter if you're registering from abroad:
- Remote registration is possible through the Dubai REST app or a representative with power of attorney, but document verification requirements still apply — some cases end up needing local handling.
- Fees are fixed in dirhams, so your home-currency cost moves with exchange rates. If you're paying from a market whose currency is volatile against the AED, timing your payment saves a little; a property manager on a package deal can simplify it a lot.
One tactic that genuinely cuts costs: compare 2–3 authorized service centres before committing. Charges for identical registrations vary surprisingly much between offices in the same neighborhood — and the app is almost always cheaper than any office.
The complete breakdown — including emirate-by-emirate differences and freehold-area quirks — is on Villavow: How Much Does Ejari Cost in Dubai?.
Keep going:
- The step-by-step Ejari registration process
- Ejari renewal documents: the exact checklist
- Dubai rent cap rules for 2026
2,800+ guides: Villavow · complete site index · Renting & tenancy in the UAE.
Disclosure: drafted with AI research assistance, reviewed and maintained by the VillaVow team.
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