If your landlord has just sent you a rent increase notice, the RERA Rent Calculator is the first tool you should open. It tells you — in under a minute — whether the proposed increase is legal, what the maximum allowed increase actually is, and gives you the data you need if you choose to push back. Here is how to use it and what the rules behind it really mean.
What Is the RERA Rent Calculator?
The RERA Rent Calculator (also called the Rental Index Calculator) is an official tool published by the Dubai Land Department (DLD). It is used to determine the maximum legally permissible rent increase for a property in Dubai, based on how the current rent compares to the prevailing market rate for similar properties in the same area.
“RERA” stands for the Real Estate Regulatory Agency — the arm of the Dubai Land Department responsible for regulating the rental market.
The calculator is not a suggestion. In Dubai, rent increases are capped by law under Decree No. 43 of 2013, and the RERA index is the reference point for enforcing those caps.
The Official Tool
The RERA Rent Calculator is available at: dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/rental-index/rental-index/
You can also access it through the Dubai REST app (available on iOS and Android), which is the DLD’s official mobile application. There is no charge to use it.
The Smart Rental Index (2025 Onward)
From 2025, RERA introduced the Smart Rental Index — a more granular version of the original Rental Index Calculator. The key upgrade: the Smart Rental Index rates individual buildings on a quality scale from A to D, based on amenities (gym, pool, concierge, covered parking, etc.), building condition and age, services and maintenance quality, management quality, and location within the community.
This means rent benchmarks now reflect the specific quality of your building, not just the area. A building rated A will have a higher benchmark than a building rated D in the same community.
How to Use the RERA Rent Calculator
Step 1: Go to dubailand.gov.ae or open the Dubai REST app.
Step 2: Select “Inquiry about Rental Index” (or the equivalent in the Smart Rental Index section).
Step 3: Enter the required details: property type (apartment, villa, studio, etc.), number of bedrooms, area/community (e.g., JLT, Downtown Dubai, Jumeirah Village Circle), and current annual rent amount.
Step 4: Complete the CAPTCHA and click “Calculate”.
Step 5: The tool returns the RERA Rental Index value for comparable properties in your area, and the maximum permissible rent increase based on the gap between your current rent and the index.
Print or screenshot the result — you will need it if your landlord disputes the calculation.
Rent Increase Caps: The Legal Rules
The maximum allowable rent increase in Dubai is governed by Decree No. 43 of 2013. The caps are based on how much your current rent sits below the RERA Rental Index:
| Gap Between Current Rent and RERA Index | Maximum Allowed Increase |
|---|---|
| Less than 10% below index | 0% — no increase permitted |
| 11% – 20% below index | Maximum 5% |
| 21% – 30% below index | Maximum 10% |
| 31% – 40% below index | Maximum 15% |
| More than 40% below index | Maximum 20% |
The absolute cap is 20% regardless of how far below market your rent sits. A landlord cannot legally increase rent by more than 20% at any single renewal.
Notice Requirements
Landlords must give at least 90 days’ written notice before the lease expiry date if they intend to change the rent at renewal. If they fail to give 90 days’ notice, they cannot legally apply the increase at that renewal cycle — it must wait until the next renewal.
If you receive a notice with less than 90 days to go before your contract ends, you have grounds to dispute the increase.
What This Means in Practice
If you are a tenant: Run the calculator before your renewal date. If your landlord’s proposed increase is higher than the calculator’s maximum, you are legally entitled to reject it. Write to your landlord citing Decree No. 43 of 2013 and include the calculator result as evidence. Most landlords will back down once you show you have done the calculation.
If you are a landlord: Any increase above the RERA cap is not enforceable, even if you have a signed agreement. UAE courts will not uphold an illegally inflated rent. The 90-day notice requirement is strict — build this into your renewal timeline.
How to Dispute an Illegal Rent Increase
If your landlord insists on an above-cap increase and you cannot resolve it directly, the dispute goes to the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDSC) — a judicial body within the Dubai Land Department.
What you need to file a case: your Ejari certificate (registered tenancy contract), a copy of the landlord’s increase notice, the RERA calculator result showing the legal maximum, your Emirates ID and any relevant correspondence.
Filing fee: 3.5% of the annual rent amount (minimum and maximum amounts apply — check the RDSC for current figures).
How to file: Online at dubailand.gov.ae or via the Dubai REST app. Cases can also be filed in person at the RDSC office. The RDSC typically handles straightforward rent dispute cases relatively quickly, and many are resolved without a full hearing once the calculator result is presented.
Common Situations
My rent is already above the RERA index. Can my landlord still increase it?
If your current rent equals or exceeds the RERA index, no increase is legally permissible at renewal. The calculator will confirm this.
My building is newly rated under the Smart Rental Index. Does that change my rent cap?
The Smart Rental Index is what RERA uses as the reference value. If your building’s rating has changed the benchmark, the calculator will reflect this. The same caps (0–20%) still apply based on the gap between your current rent and the new benchmark.
FAQ
Is the RERA Rent Calculator the same as the Smart Rental Index?
They serve the same purpose, but the Smart Rental Index is the updated, more precise version introduced in 2025. It factors in building-level quality ratings (A–D) rather than just area-level averages. Use whichever is current on the DLD website — the Smart Rental Index is the active tool.
Can I use the RERA calculator for a villa or townhouse?
Yes. The calculator supports multiple property types, including apartments, studios, villas, and townhouses. Select the appropriate type when entering your details.
Can a landlord increase rent mid-tenancy?
No. Rent can only be changed at renewal — not during an active contract period. Any mid-tenancy increase in demand is illegal under Dubai law.
Where is the official RERA Rent Calculator?
At dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/rental-index/rental-index/ and in the Dubai REST mobile app.