Documents, brand and office
Ejari registration for your office tenancy in Dubai
Ejari is the Dubai Land Department system that registers tenancy contracts. A mainland company in Dubai needs a registered Ejari for its office before the trade licence can be issued or renewed, and the same certificate is used for the establishment card and visas. Caliph prepares the file and registers the contract for you.
At a glance Fact sheet
- Run by
- Dubai Land Department, through the Real Estate Regulatory Agency
- Applies to
- Tenancy contracts for property in Dubai
- You receive
- An Ejari certificate with a registration number
- Used for
- Trade licence, establishment card, visas, utility connection
- Renewed
- Each time the tenancy contract is renewed
Overview
Ejari means "my rent" in Arabic. It is the official record that links a landlord, a tenant and a property in Dubai. Once a contract is registered, both sides hold the same version and the authorities can check it online.
For a business, Ejari is more than a tenancy record. The Department of Economy and Tourism asks for it when you apply for or renew a mainland licence, immigration looks at it for the establishment card, and the size of the office can affect how many visas the company may sponsor. If the contract and the licence do not match, the application stops there.
Caliph checks the contract before it is filed, so the tenant name, activity and dates agree with your licence application. We also keep the expiry date on your renewal schedule with the licence.
Why founders hand Ejari to us
The contract matches the licence
We compare the tenant name, the address and the dates with your licence file before anything is submitted, which avoids a rejected application later.
One visit fewer for you
Your consultant collects the landlord documents, files the registration and sends you the certificate.
Renewals stay on the calendar
Ejari and the trade licence usually fall due together. We track both dates and start the renewal in good time.
Office options explained first
If you have not rented yet, we show you which office types suit your activity and visa plans before you sign a lease.
What to have ready
- The signed tenancy contract
- A copy of the title deed for the property
- The landlord's passport copy, or the trade licence if the landlord is a company
- Your passport copy and Emirates ID, if you have one
- Your trade licence, or the initial approval if the company is still being set up
- The utility premise number shown on the unit or on an earlier bill
Landlords and property managers sometimes ask for extra papers. Your consultant tells you exactly what your building needs.
How Ejari registration works
We review the tenancy contract
Your consultant checks the names, the property details, the rent period and the signatures against your licence file.
We collect the landlord documents
Title deed and identity documents are gathered from the landlord or the property manager.
The contract is registered
The file is submitted through the Dubai Land Department channels and the registration fee is paid.
You receive the certificate
The Ejari certificate is issued with its registration number and saved in your file.
We use it for the next step
The certificate goes straight into your licence, establishment card or visa application.
Good to know
- Ejari is specific to Dubai. Other emirates run their own tenancy registration systems, and your consultant handles those when your company is licensed there.
- Some licences can use a flexi desk or virtual office arrangement instead of a full office lease. Whether that works depends on your activity.
- When you leave an office, the old Ejari has to be cancelled before a new one can be registered for the same licence.
Questions people ask
Is Ejari mandatory for a business in Dubai?
Yes for mainland companies. A registered tenancy contract is part of the licence file, so the Department of Economy and Tourism will not issue or renew the trade licence without it. Free zone companies follow the lease rules of their own zone instead.
Can I get a trade licence without an office lease?
Some activities qualify for a licence with a virtual office or shared desk, which comes with its own tenancy document. Caliph checks whether your activity is eligible before you commit to a lease.
Does Ejari affect how many visas my company can have?
It can. For many mainland companies the visa allocation is linked to the office recorded on the Ejari. If you plan to hire, tell your consultant early so the office you rent supports the visas you need.
Who registers Ejari, the landlord or the tenant?
Either side can do it, and in practice the tenant usually arranges it because the tenant needs the certificate. Caliph files it for you and coordinates with the landlord or property manager.
What happens when my tenancy contract expires?
The Ejari expires with it. Renew the contract with your landlord, then renew the Ejari, and only then renew the trade licence. Caliph tracks these dates together so nothing lapses.
Reviewed by Caliph Business Solutions on . Rules differ by activity and by authority. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you.
Ready to establish your company in the UAE?
Book a free consultation. Tell us what you want to open and we come back with the route, the documents and the cost.
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