Dubai tenants and landlords can now complete more of the Ejari tenancy journey through the DubaiNow app, including registering a new contract, renewing an existing tenancy and cancelling a contract digitally.
Dubai Land Department launched the enhanced service on 2 November, bringing key rental procedures together within DubaiNow and connecting landlords and tenants through UAE PASS.
The updated journey also integrates the DEWA security-deposit payment step, helping eligible users move from completing their tenancy registration towards activating electricity and water without starting a completely separate process.
What can you do through DubaiNow?
Dubai Land Department currently lists three main Ejari transactions through the app:
- register a new tenancy contract;
- renew an existing tenancy contract; and
- cancel or terminate a tenancy contract.
For registration and renewal, an electronic tenancy contract is issued once the process is completed.
How does a new Ejari registration work?
For the enhanced DubaiNow journey, the process begins with the property owner.
The owner logs into DubaiNow using UAE PASS, selects New Contract, completes the required information, electronically signs the contract and submits it to the tenant.
The tenant then:
- reviews the contract;
- accepts it;
- signs electronically using UAE PASS; and
- pays the applicable Ejari service fees.
After that, the tenant can proceed to the DEWA payment stage where applicable.
This means both parties participate digitally rather than relying on one person to complete the entire transaction independently.
What about renewals?
Renewals follow a similar process.
The property owner selects Renew Contract, completes and signs the renewal and sends it electronically to the tenant.
The tenant reviews and accepts the terms, signs through UAE PASS and pays the applicable fees.
Families renewing a tenancy should still check the contract carefully before approving it, particularly:
rent amount · contract dates · payment terms · property details · landlord and tenant information · any additional conditions
Digital approval makes the process faster, but it does not remove the need to verify the agreement itself.
How does cancellation work?
Cancellation follows a slightly different workflow.
The property owner selects the relevant property through the Property Wallet and submits a Cancel Tenancy Contract request.
The tenant then receives the request and can either approve or decline it.
The owner is notified of the tenant’s decision.
DLD currently states that no separate document is issued for cancellation through this service.
Cancellation is important when a tenancy ends because an active previous Ejari can prevent a new tenant from registering a new contract for the same property.
How much does it cost through DubaiNow?
Dubai Land Department currently lists the following charges for tenancy-contract registration through the DubaiNow service:
Ejari registration: AED 100
Service fee: AED 55
Knowledge fee: AED 10
Innovation fee: AED 10
VAT on the service fee: AED 2.75
Total: AED 177.75
Any DEWA security deposit or other utility-related amount is separate from that Ejari registration total.
Users should rely on the amount displayed in the official app at the time of the transaction, particularly if fees or transaction conditions are updated.
What happens with DEWA?
One of the more useful parts of the enhanced journey is the integration with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.
After completing the relevant Ejari steps, customers can pay the DEWA security deposit within the connected digital journey, helping them proceed towards activation of electricity and water services for the property.
This does not mean the DEWA security deposit is included in the Ejari fee.
It remains a separate utility-related payment.
The practical improvement is that the processes are being connected rather than requiring the customer to restart the journey through an unrelated service.
What do you need?
DLD’s current DubaiNow service information lists a valid Emirates ID as a requirement, while UAE PASS is used for electronic signing.
The DubaiNow route is currently described for individual property owners who own and manage their own properties.
That distinction is important for properties managed by real-estate companies or situations involving representatives and powers of attorney, where another DLD channel may still be appropriate.
Is DubaiNow now the only way to register Ejari?
No.
DubaiNow adds another integrated digital route.
Dubai Land Department continues to list other Ejari channels including:
- Dubai REST;
- the DLD/Ejari online system; and
- Real Estate Services Trustee Centres.
So users who cannot complete a particular transaction through DubaiNow should not assume that the Ejari service itself is unavailable.
The appropriate channel can depend on whether the landlord and tenant are individuals, whether a management company is involved and how the property is registered.
Before approving a tenancy contract
Digital signing makes the process easier, but approval should not become automatic.
Before accepting a new or renewed tenancy, check:
property and unit details;
annual rent;
payment schedule;
contract start and end dates;
landlord details;
tenant details;
security deposit; and
any special contractual conditions.
Once both parties have approved the contract, correcting errors can be more complicated than checking them beforehand.
Be careful with payment links
Ejari, DubaiNow and UAE PASS involve official government services.
Residents should avoid paying Ejari, DEWA deposits or other tenancy charges through unfamiliar links sent by SMS, WhatsApp or email unless they can independently confirm that the payment page belongs to an official service.
If something in the transaction does not look correct, open DubaiNow, Dubai REST or the Dubai Land Department service directly rather than following a forwarded link.
MalluMetro Take
The important change is not simply that Ejari has moved onto another app.
It is that Dubai is connecting several parts of the rental journey:
landlord approval → tenant approval → digital signatures → Ejari registration → DEWA activation.
For someone moving into a new home, reducing the number of separate systems and visits can make a routine but important administrative process considerably easier.
The practical rule remains simple:
check the tenancy carefully before signing, use UAE PASS and official government channels, and treat the DEWA deposit as a separate payment from the Ejari registration fee.
Verified source: Dubai Land Department, enhanced Ejari service and current DubaiNow service procedures; information rechecked 10 November 2026.
Source: Dubai Land Department, 2 November 2026.