RERA Rent Calculator Dubai: How to Use the DLD Smart Rental Index

If you rent or let a home in Dubai, the RERA rent calculator is the official way to check what similar homes rent for and how much the rent can change on renewal. Since January 2025, it has been powered by the Dubai Land Department's (DLD) Smart Rental Index. This guide explains what the calculator does, the information it asks for and how to read your result.

Quick answer

The RERA rent calculator is DLD's Rental Index service, available on the DLD website and the Dubai REST app. You enter your contract expiry date, property type, area, number of rooms and current annual rent. The calculator then shows the average rent for similar units and the rent increase permitted on renewal. Permitted increases range from 0% to 20%, depending on how far your current rent is below the average.

What is the RERA rent calculator?

"RERA rent calculator" is the common name for the DLD Rental Index service. DLD describes it as a service that calculates the rental increase and the average rent in the market for the area you select.

The calculator applies the rules in Decree No. 43 of 2013, which caps rent increases when a lease is renewed. Under the decree, the average rental value of similar units is set by the Rent Index of the Emirate of Dubai, approved by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). The calculator therefore answers two questions at once: what is the average rent for a home like yours, and is an increase allowed?

What changed with the Smart Rental Index?

DLD launched the Smart Rental Index on 2 January 2025. Instead of relying only on area averages, it classifies each building and uses that classification to set rental values.

According to DLD, the classification considers:

• technical and structural characteristics
• the quality of finishes and maintenance
• the building's location
• the services and facilities available, such as maintenance, cleanliness and parking management

DLD says the index uses artificial intelligence and data analytics on its databases, including registered rental contracts. Outliers are excluded and weighted averages are applied to keep the figures reliable. The index is updated annually.

How to use the DLD Rental Index

1. Open the Rental Index service on the DLD website, or log in to the Dubai REST app and select Rental Index.
2. Enter your property details and current rent.
3. View the results: the average rent for similar units and the permitted increase for your renewal.

The service is designed to be used before a renewal discussion, so have your current tenancy contract to hand.

What information the calculator asks for

DLD lists the following inputs:

• Tenancy contract expiry date: the increase applies at renewal, so the calculator needs to know when your current contract ends
• Property type: for example, an apartment or a villa
• Area: the community or district where the property is located
• Number of rooms
• Current annual rent: the amount in your existing contract

Use the figures from your registered contract. If your contract is not yet registered, our guide to Ejari registration explains how to register it.

How to read the result

The calculator compares your current rent with the average rental value of similar units:

• If your rent is close to or above the average, no increase is permitted.
• The further your rent is below the average, the larger the permitted increase, up to a maximum of 20%.

The result shows the maximum allowed increase, not an automatic one. A landlord can ask for less, or no increase at all. The legal bands and the notice rules for renewals are explained in our guide to tenancy contract renewal and RERA rules.

Worked example

Say you pay AED 80,000 a year, and the calculator shows an average rent of AED 100,000 for similar units.

• Your rent is AED 20,000 below the average, which is 20% less.
• Under Decree No. 43 of 2013, a rent that is 11% to 20% below the average can increase by up to 5%.
• The maximum permitted increase is therefore 5% of AED 80,000, or AED 4,000, taking the rent to no more than AED 84,000.

The figures above are for illustration only. Always use the calculator result for your own unit.

Coverage and limitations

• Residential only. The Smart Rental Index currently covers residential buildings. DLD says commercial and industrial indices are under development.
• Coverage across Dubai. The index covers all residential areas, including free zones and privately developed areas, but excludes the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
• Annual updates. Figures are refreshed once a year, so they may lag fast-moving parts of the market.
• New buildings. A building is added to the index after it is registered in DLD's system.
• Reclassification. If an owner or landlord believes a building's classification is out of date, they can ask DLD to update it.

When landlords and tenants should use it

Tenants should check the calculator before agreeing to a renewal, especially if the landlord has proposed an increase. It is also useful before you sign a new lease, as it shows what similar homes rent for. Our guide to signing a tenancy contract in Dubai covers what else to check. If you are searching for a new home, you can browse rental properties in Dubai.

Landlords should run the calculator well before the renewal notice period, so any proposed change is based on the official figure. Landlords who prefer to have rent reviews and renewals handled for them can speak to our property management team.

For the full renting journey, see our step-by-step guide to renting a property in Dubai.

RERA rent calculator FAQs

How much can rent increase in Dubai?

Permitted increases range from 0% to 20%, depending on how far the current rent is below the index average for similar units. The full bands are set out in our tenancy renewal guide.

Where can I use the RERA rent calculator?

On the DLD website through the Rental Index service, or in the Dubai REST app.

Does the Smart Rental Index cover commercial property?

Not yet. DLD says the current index focuses on residential buildings, and commercial and industrial indices are under development.

Does the index cover DIFC?

No. DLD says the index covers all residential areas in Dubai, including free zones, but excludes DIFC.

How often is the index updated?

DLD updates the index annually to reflect changes in the market.

What if my building's classification looks wrong?

The owner or landlord can submit a request to DLD to update the building's classification.

Final thoughts

The RERA rent calculator gives landlords and tenants the same official starting point for every renewal. Check it before any rent discussion, keep a copy of the result, and use the legal rules in your renewal guide to confirm what is allowed.