Understanding Ejari Fees: Breakdown of Costs and Who Pays What

Managing rental contracts in Dubai requires clarity on legal processes, and one of the most questioned topics among tenants and landlords is the cost of Ejari registration. Understanding Ejari fees helps prevent disputes, ensures compliance, and keeps your rental documentation aligned with Dubai Land Department regulations. 

What Ejari Fees Include and Why They Exist

Before exploring individual charges, understand the purpose behind the cost structure.

Why Ejari Fees Are Required by Authorities

The Dubai Land Department has established Ejari to regulate lease contracts and give legal protection for both the landlord and the tenant. As the system application needs to be processed and verified by the administration, fees are charged for the Ejari on each service.  

Whether you are signing up for a new lease, doing a renewal, or moving out, these fees cover the cost of storing, verifying, and attesting to your documents as legally binding. This arrangement provides the peace of mind to both parties that the tenancy agreement is professionally and transparently managed. 

Cost of Ejari Registration Through Different Channels

Learn about renewal and cancellation charges. It is useful to understand the pricing differences across registration methods.

DLD Portal vs Typing Centre Pricing

The cost varies depending on how the contract is submitted. Some users prefer the Dubai Land Department’s online portal, while others choose typing centres for convenience. Many compare the Ejari cost because fees may include administrative or typing charges, depending on the channel. 

The Ejari fee could be higher when you apply through a service, but this is the advantage of charging that extra fee: quicker processing and physical assistance. For tenants and landlords looking for easy concessions, guided registration, EJARI make the process smooth and reliable.

Breakdown of Knowledge, Innovation, and Government Charges

Before discussing who pays the charges, we need to look at the required government-mandated components.

Understanding Mandatory Add-On Fees

In Dubai, there are small extra charges added to all government transactions, like knowledge and innovation fees. These charges are minimal but compulsory, and they are applicable to the amount of total Ejari fees in registration, renewal and cancellation.

They are non-negotiable and are always added automatically, no matter which place you do the Ejari. Many residents wonder if these are different add-ons, but they are the same in all official channels and are meant to make sure that the transaction is properly logged and recorded. 

Who Is Responsible for Paying Ejari Fees?

It is important to clarify the responsibilities between the tenant and the landlord, so let’s walk through them. 

Tenant or Landlord: Understanding Ejari Fee Responsibility

A common question is whether the tenant or landlord must handle the payment. Most rental markets in Dubai follow the general rule that the tenant pays the Ejari fee responsibility, since the tenant benefits directly from having the Ejari certificate. 

But in some instances, landlord bring the burden of the Ejari fee as part of their services or property packages, mainly in commercial real estate. Unless stated otherwise in the lease agreement, both parties are obligated to comply with the terms of the contract. Without a specific arrangement, it is up to the tenant to ensure that the Ejai is registered.

Ejari Renewal Costs and Who Should Pay Them

Before moving to cancellation charges, it’s important to understand the financial responsibility during lease continuation.

Breakdown of Renewal Charges and Responsibilities

Every time a tenancy contract is renewed, the Ejari must be renewed as well. Tenants often ask about the Ejari renewal cost, especially when considering annual budgeting. The Ejari renewal cost remains consistent with the standard government fees applied during registration, with only minor variations depending on the platform used. 

Although the renewal fee is usually paid by the tenant, some landlords opt to undertake renewals themselves to retain control over their paperwork. The tenant has to make the renewal, unless the tenancy contract states otherwise. 

Charges for Cancelling an Ejari Contract

Before concluding, we need to address the fees associated with ending a tenancy.

Is There a Cost for Ejari Cancellation?

Cancellation must be sought once the tenancy is over, more so if there is a new tenant who is to register in the same unit. While the Ejari cancellation fees are usually less than the registration or renewal fees, they are also regulated by the Government pricing and could contain minor administrative fees. The landlord cancels the Ejari at the end of the contract in the majority of cases.

But there are a few that ask tenants to do the paperwork. To prevent any disagreement, it is advised that the contract explicitly state who is responsible for undertaking the cancellation process. 

Penalties for Failing to Register Ejari on Time

Before moving to the conclusion, it is important to highlight the consequences of delaying the registration.

Legal and Financial Consequences of Non-Compliance

Dubai makes it mandatory to register all tenancy contracts via Ejari. Not registering the contract, or renewing it, may result in fines, delays in municipal services or problems with rental disputes.

Renters may encounter problems with visa renewals, DEWA accounts and even permission to enter the property if they do not pay and process the new Ejari fees. Landlords might also have problems if the property is not properly registered, particularly when it comes to property regulators or legal authorities.

Conclusion

Understanding Ejari fees is essential for both landlords and tenants in Dubai. Whether you are completing a new registration, renewing a lease, or processing a cancellation, knowing who pays what helps prevent conflicts and ensures a smooth rental experience. 

With government-mandated charges and channel-based pricing differences, clarity is valuable. If you want stress-free Ejari processing, document preparation, and complete support for your rental paperwork, EJARI can guide you step by step.

FAQs

Are Ejari fees the same across all typing centres?

No, typing centres may add their own service charges, but government fees remain fixed.

Can a landlord force a tenant to pay renewal charges?

The tenant is usually responsible for renewal fees unless otherwise stated in the contract, but a different arrangement can be agreed upon by the two parties. 

Are knowledge and innovation fees separate from the Ejari charges?

Yes, these small mandatory government add-ons are included in every Ejari transaction.

What happens if I don’t register Ejari?

You could be subject to fines, your utilities shut off, and you may face difficulties in the resolution of landlord-tenant issues.