Dubai Rent Increase Check 2026 — How to See the Official Cap (Free)

Did your landlord raise your rent? It's worth seeing what Dubai's official index allows before you assume the new figure is correct. Dubai's Smart Rental Index — run by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) — sets the maximum rent increase for your building, and you can check your own number for free. Here's how it works, in plain English.

Check your rent increase in 3 steps

1. Open the official tool. Open the Dubai REST app (free, iOS and Android) or go to dubailand.gov.ae and choose Services, then Smart Rental Index. This is the Dubai Land Department's official index — the only one that legally counts.

2. Enter your details. Enter your current annual rent, your area, and your contract date. The index compares your rent to the official benchmark for your building.

3. Read your result. The tool shows the maximum increase allowed for your situation. The bands below explain how that cap is set.

How the cap is decided

The further your rent sits below the market average, the higher the increase a landlord can apply:

Up to 10% below market: no increase (0%)

11 to 20% below: up to 5%

21 to 30% below: up to 10%

31 to 40% below: up to 15%

More than 40% below: up to 20%

Landlords must also give 90 days' written notice before any increase takes effect.

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Clarify provides general information and plain-language explanations of documents and public rules. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. For advice on your specific situation, consult a licensed UAE lawyer. The Dubai Smart Rental Index (Dubai Land Department) is the official source for rent-increase limits.