Dubai: Can tenant negotiate lower rent after signing contract?

Dubai: Can tenant negotiate lower rent after signing contract?

Question: I recently signed a rent contract for a 2-BR apartment in Dubai. However, rents in my building have dipped for some reason and others have renewed their contracts for significantly lesser annual rents. Can I renegotiate lower rents in light of this?

Answer: Pursuant to your queries, it is assumed that you have registered the rent contract of your two-bedroom apartment with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera) through Ejari registration and you are currently in possession of the said rented apartment. Therefore, the provisions of Law No. 33 of 2008 Amending Law No. 26 of 2007 Regulating the Relationship Between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai are applicable.

In Dubai, both a landlord and a tenant need to abide by the terms and conditions mentioned in the signed tenancy contract which is duly registered with Rera. Therefore, the rent agreed in the tenancy contract should be paid by the tenant. This is in accordance with Article 4 of the Amended Dubai Rent Law, which states:

“1. The contractual relationship between a landlord and a tenant shall be regulated by a rent contract which includes a description of the rented real property that leaves no room for uncertainty; the purpose