RERA Rental Increase Calculator Explained: 2026 Dubai Guide

The RERA rental increase calculator is the official Dubai Land Department tool that decides how much a landlord can raise rent at renewal. It sets five tiers under Decree No. 43 of 2013, capping any single increase at 20%, and it only permits an increase when your current rent sits below the market average for comparable units.

This guide explains how the calculator works, the exact tiers, a worked example in dirhams, and your rights as a tenant or landlord in 2026. For advice on any Dubai tenancy or investment, talk to First Key International.

Table of contents

• What is the RERA rental increase calculator?
• How the calculator works
• The five rent increase tiers
• A worked example in dirhams
• How to use the calculator step by step
• The 2026 Smart Rental Index
• The 90-day notice rule
• What to do about an illegal increase
• FAQs

What is the RERA rental increase calculator?

The RERA rental increase calculator is an official tool from the Dubai Land Department, managed through its regulatory arm, the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). It draws on the RERA rental index, a database of average rents built from Ejari-registered contracts and segmented by area, property type, and number of bedrooms.

The tool has legal weight. At renewal, its output determines the maximum increase permitted, and at the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre it serves as the primary evidence in any dispute.

How the calculator works

The core mechanism compares two numbers: your current rent and the average market rent for a similar property. The gap between them, expressed as a percentage, decides which tier you fall into, and that tier sets the maximum allowable increase.

One detail catches many people out: the percentage increase applies to your current rent, rather than to the index value. The bigger the gap below market, the larger the increase a landlord may apply, up to the 20% ceiling.

The five rent increase tiers under Decree 43 of 2013

Per Decree No. 43 of 2013, the maximum increase at renewal follows five bands based on how far your current rent sits below the market average:

• Within 10% of the market average: 0% increase permitted.
• 11% to 20% below the market average: up to 5% increase.
• 21% to 30% below the market average: up to 10% increase.
• 31% to 40% below the market average: up to 15% increase.
• More than 40% below the market average: up to 20% increase.

The 20% cap is absolute. A landlord cannot raise rent beyond 20% in a single renewal, even when the current rent sits at half the market rate.

A worked example in dirhams

Suppose you pay AED 60,000 per year for a one-bedroom apartment in Dubai Marina, and the RERA index shows the average market rent for a comparable one-bedroom is AED 75,000.

Your rent sits AED 15,000 below market. As a percentage, that is (15,000 divided by 75,000) multiplied by 100, which equals 20% below market. That places you in the 11% to 20% band, so the landlord may increase rent by up to 5%. A 5% rise on your current AED 60,000 rent equals AED 3,000, taking the new rent to AED 63,000.

How to use the calculator step by step

• Open the tool: use the Dubai REST app or the Dubai Land Department website. Both are official and produce the same result.
• Enter your property details: area, property type, number of bedrooms, and your current annual rent.
• Read the market range: the calculator returns the average market rent for comparable units.
• Check your tier: compare your current rent to the market average to find your band and the maximum allowed increase.
• Save the output: keep the result around renewal, since it is the evidence used in any dispute.

The 2026 Smart Rental Index

From 2026, RERA's Smart Rental Index adds building-level classification, rating properties on a scale from A to D based on quality and condition. This building score refines the benchmark rent for your specific tower, so two units in the same area can sit against different market averages depending on their building rating.

The classification aims to reward well-maintained buildings and give tenants and landlords a more precise benchmark at renewal.

The 90-day notice rule and your rights

A landlord must give 90 days' written notice before the tenancy expires to propose any change to rent or terms. Without this notice, the existing contract rolls over on the same terms for another year.

Tenants have 30 days to respond to a proposed increase. Any increase must stay within the tier the calculator permits.

What to do about an illegal increase

If a landlord proposes an increase above the permitted tier, you can decline it and raise the matter at the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDSC). The RERA calculator output is the primary evidence considered, so pull and save it around renewal time.

For guidance on tenancy rights or on the yield impact of rent rules for landlords, contact First Key International.

Frequently asked questions

How does the RERA rental increase calculator work? It compares your current rent to the market average for similar units and applies one of five tiers under Decree 43 of 2013, from 0% up to a maximum of 20%, based on how far below market your rent sits.

What is the maximum rent increase in Dubai? The maximum is 20% in a single renewal, and that applies only when your current rent is more than 40% below the market average.

When is no rent increase allowed? When your current rent is within 10% of the market average, no increase is permitted.

How much notice must a landlord give before increasing rent? A landlord must give 90 days' written notice before the tenancy expires, and tenants have 30 days to respond.

Where can I find the official RERA calculator? On the Dubai REST app or the Dubai Land Department website. Both are official and return the same result.

What if my landlord asks for more than the legal increase? You can decline and file at the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre, where the RERA calculator output is the main evidence.