Emirates of Dubai Announces Ejari Programme

From 1st July 2012, it is mandatory for all lease agreements entered in Dubai to be registered with Ejari, which is a programme managed by Dubai Lands Department’s regulator, the Real Estate Regulatory Authority. 

Registration requires the following documents:

• Signed tenancy contract
• Landlord’s passport copy
• Proof of ownership – either the Affection Plan or Title Deed registered with the Lands Department
• Tenant’s passport copy and visa or trade licence
• Registration fee of AED 160

The documents can either be taken to a typing centre or specific post offices to be uploaded to the Ejari site.

The impact of this new requirement has a direct impact to the groups below:

• In order for a new resident to be able to apply for residence visas for his family, there must be an Ejari-registered lease in place
• In order for an existing resident to renew his/his family’s visas, the Ejari registered lease is now required.

Historically, a copy of the Sales and Purchase agreement was sufficient for a lease to be issued and for utility connections to be done – resulting in many expatriate landlords failing to register their property with the Lands Department.  From 15th July 202, it is now a requirement for the Title Deed to be produced for utility connections request.

This is likely to have an impact on new tenants seeking to rent, since they will need to ensure that there is a title deed in place, and on existing tenants needing to renew their visas as Ejari-registered tenancy contract is now a requirement.  In many ways, it is the employees in the latter group who are likely to face greater difficulty, since they will have to go to their landlord to obtain a title deed copy which may or may not exist.  For new tenants, it will be a case of ensuring that they do not lease a property without the title deed being in place.  Once an application for the title deed has been made, the Lands Department issues a receipt which can be used in advance of the title deed being available.

SIRVA assists its clients in situations such as these, insuring that their employees experience smooth, successful relocations. Please contact us with questions about this post.