rerarentcalculator.com -

What is the RERA rent calculator?

If your landlord in Dubai wants to raise your rent, they can't just pick any number. There are rules, and this calculator checks them for you. You put in what you pay now and the average rent for similar places nearby, and it tells you the most your landlord is actually allowed to add at renewal.

The rules come from RERA (the Real Estate Regulatory Agency), which sits under the Dubai Land Department. RERA publishes a rental index every so often, and that index is what decides whether a rent increase is fair or not. A lot of tenants get hit with increases that are higher than the law allows, simply because they don't know the limits. This tool is here to fix that.

What is the RERA rental index?

Think of the rental index as Dubai's official list of average rents. It's run by the Dubai Land Department and covers pretty much everything, from studios in Deira to villas in Arabian Ranches. When you want to know if your rent is fair, this is the benchmark everyone measures against, landlords, tenants, and the courts included.

It got a big upgrade recently. The newer Smart Rental Index looks at things like the building's condition, its facilities, and how in-demand the area is, so the numbers are closer to reality. In 2026 it also started splitting rents by sub-community and by whether a place is furnished or not, which means the figure you get is a lot more specific to your actual home.

How the rent increase is worked out

Here's the logic in plain terms. If you're already paying close to the going rate, your landlord can't raise the rent at all. The further your rent sits below the market average, the more they're allowed to add, but it's always capped. Nobody can jump your rent by 40% or 50% overnight, no matter what the market does.

The RERA rent increase slabs

How far your rent is below the index	Most they can add
Up to 10% below	Nothing, no increase
11% to 20% below	5%
21% to 30% below	10%
31% to 40% below	15%
More than 40% below	20%

These bands aren't new. They come from Decree No. 43 of 2013, and they've been the rule ever since. What changes over time is the rental index itself, not these percentages.

How to use it

It takes about a minute. Put in your current yearly rent, then the average rent for similar units in your building or area. To get that average, open the Dubai REST app or check the Dubai Land Department site and look up your community and unit type. Hit calculate and you'll see the maximum percentage, the dirham amount, and what your new rent could legally be.

One thing to keep in mind: the market rent number is not fixed. RERA updates the rental index every so often, usually once or twice a year, so grab the latest figure from the Dubai REST app before you calculate. That way your result actually matches the current index.

Rent rules worth knowing before you renew

You get 90 days notice

A landlord can't spring a rent increase on you at the last minute. They have to tell you in writing at least 90 days before your contract renews. Miss that window, and the rent stays exactly where it is for the next term.

Rent only changes at renewal

Your rent can't go up in the middle of a contract. The only time it can change is when the tenancy comes up for renewal, and even then only within the limits above.

If things go wrong

Make sure your contract is registered on Ejari, it protects you. If a landlord pushes for more than the rules allow, you're within your rights to say no. And if they won't back down, you can take it to the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre at the Dubai Land Department, which rules based on the official index.

Common questions

What does RERA actually stand for?

It's the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, the body under the Dubai Land Department that handles rentals and publishes the index this calculator uses.

Can my landlord raise the rent every single year?

Only if your current rent is more than 10% below the index average, and only up to the capped amount. If you're already near the market rate, they can't raise it, and they still need to give 90 days notice.

What's the most rent can go up in 2026?

20% is the ceiling, and that only applies when your rent is more than 40% below the market rate. Anything less than that falls into the lower bands: 15%, 10%, 5%, or nothing.

Does the rental index actually change?

Yes, the Dubai Land Department refreshes it every so often to keep up with the market, usually once or twice a year. The slab percentages don't change, but the market rent you enter should come from the newest version.

Where do I find the index for my area?

The Dubai REST app is the easiest way, or the Dubai Land Department website. Search your area, building, and number of bedrooms, and you'll get the average rent to plug into this calculator.

Is this the official calculator?

No, it's a free guide built on the published RERA slabs. It'll give you an accurate estimate, but for anything official, like a dispute, always confirm through the Dubai REST app or the Land Department.