Commercial Ejari explained

What Ejari is and why businesses need it

Ejari is DLD's official system for registering tenancy contracts in Dubai. For homes, it protects tenants and lets them connect utilities. For businesses, it does more: the registered lease is the evidence of premises that licensing authorities rely on.

For mainland companies, the Ejari certificate is typically requested by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism when issuing or renewing a trade licence, and by DEWA when connecting electricity and water. Without it, a business can find itself unable to renew its licence on time. Confirm the current requirements for your activity with your licensing authority.

Mainland versus free zone

Ejari applies to tenancies under DLD's jurisdiction. Most free zones run their own leasing and registration systems, and a free-zone lease is usually registered with the free-zone authority rather than on Ejari. If you are not sure which applies, ask your landlord and licensing authority before signing. For the wider leasing process, see renting an office in Dubai and retail space leasing in Dubai.

Documents usually required

Requirements change, so confirm the current list with DLD or a registration centre. Typically you will need:

• The signed tenancy contract, and any addendum.
• The landlord's title deed (or Oqood, or documentation from the owner where relevant).
• The landlord's identification, or the property manager's authority if one acts for the owner.
• The tenant company's trade licence, or initial approval if the licence is being issued.
• Identification for the tenant's authorised signatory.
• Utility and premises details, such as the DEWA premises number.

Names and unit details must match exactly across documents. Small inconsistencies are the most common cause of rejection.

Who registers and how

Registration can be done by the landlord, the tenant, or an agent or property manager acting for either side, through DLD's online channels, the Dubai REST app or an authorised typing or registration centre. In practice, landlords and managers often handle it as part of lease signing. Fees apply; check the current fee with DLD.

Once registered, you receive an Ejari certificate. Keep a digital and printed copy, as licensing and utility providers will ask for it.

Renewals, amendments and cancellation

When the lease is renewed, the Ejari must be renewed too, usually against the new contract. Align this with your trade licence renewal so neither expires first.

If terms change mid-lease, such as the tenant entity or the area leased, the registration may need updating. When a tenancy ends, the Ejari should be cancelled, which normally requires the landlord's confirmation and the closure of utility accounts. A business moving premises will need the old Ejari cancelled before registering a new one in some cases, so plan the sequence with your licensing authority.

Renewal rules mirror residential ones: a landlord must give at least 90 days' notice before expiry to change tenancy terms, and increases are linked to the DLD rental index. See Dubai rental index explained.

Common problems and how to avoid them

• Licence name differs from the lease. Make sure the tenant on the contract is the licensed entity, spelt identically.
• Unit details mismatch. Use the title deed and DEWA records for unit numbers.
• Expired title deed copy or missing owner documents. Ask the landlord for current documents before signing.
• Late renewal. Diarise both lease and licence renewal dates.
• Old Ejari not cancelled. Ask the outgoing tenant's landlord or your previous landlord to cancel promptly.

Landlords can delegate all of this; see Ejari support. For the residential equivalent, see Ejari registration for landlords.