Shortened Version

The Rental Dispute Centre’s first question is not who is right. It is whether your tenancy exists on paper.

In Dubai, Ejari is the starting point. A registered tenancy is a legal requirement and, practically, the RDC expects the tenancy to be registered before a rental dispute can move forward. No Ejari can mean your first problem is regularising the tenancy before the actual dispute is even heard.

So check now: Do you have the Ejari certificate for your current contract? Whoever processed it, make sure you have a copy.

Below Ejari, evidence has a clear hierarchy:

1. Tenancy contract — signed, complete and including all addendums.
2. Payment records — cheques, transfers and receipts.
3. Formal notices —  ...