Ejari Now Runs Inside the Dubai Now App: What Landlords, Tenants and Agents Can Do There
The Dubai Land Department has moved an upgraded Ejari into the Dubai Now app: create and register a lease in one step, get the certificate on approval, renew or cancel with UAE PASS, and pay the DEWA deposit in the same flow.
Every residential lease in Dubai has to be registered in Ejari, the Dubai Land Department's official tenancy registration system. On 2 November 2026 the Dubai Land Department (DLD) said an upgraded version of the service is now available inside Dubai Now, the government's all-in-one app. Landlords and tenants can create a lease and register it in the same step, get the Ejari certificate as soon as the contract is approved, renew or cancel together through UAE PASS, and pay the DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) deposit without leaving the app. For agents who handle leasing, it removes several handoffs from a routine that used to involve more than one platform.
Primary source: the DLD statement as published in Arabic by Emarat Al Youm, 2 November 2026 and 3 November 2026. English coverage: Arabian Business.
First, the words
- Ejari: Dubai's official register of tenancy contracts, run by the DLD. A registered lease is the one authorities, utilities and the Rental Disputes Centre recognise.
- Ejari certificate: the document that proves a lease is registered. Tenants often need it for utilities, residence visa files and family sponsorship.
- Dubai Now: the Dubai government app that groups services from many departments, such as bills, fines and permits, in one place.
- UAE PASS: the national digital identity used to sign in to government services and approve documents electronically.
- DEWA deposit: the security deposit the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority asks for before it connects electricity and water to a home.
What the upgraded Ejari service does
Create and register the lease in one step
According to the DLD, the tenancy contract can now be created and registered within the same procedure, and the Ejari certificate is issued as soon as the contract is approved.
Renew or cancel together, from both sides
Renewals and cancellations work interactively between the landlord and the tenant, with each side confirming through UAE PASS. The DLD presents this as faster and more secure, with more transparency at every stage of the tenancy.
Pay the DEWA deposit in the same journey
The DEWA security deposit can be paid inside the same digital flow, so electricity and water can be activated for the property without a separate trip to another platform. DEWA describes this as part of its integration with the DLD under Dubai's "one government" approach.
"The launch of Ejari through Dubai Now is a new step in developing digital real estate services in Dubai, as we keep simplifying procedures and offering customers a more integrated experience." Mohammed Al Badwawi, Executive Director of the Real Estate Registration Sector, Dubai Land Department (Emarat Al Youm, 2 November 2026, our translation).
Why it matters
Leasing is one of the busiest parts of Dubai's property market. The DLD says rental contracts in the first quarter of 2026 had a total value of about AED 32.2 billion, with 118,385 new contracts and 135,607 renewals. Each of those contracts goes through Ejari, so a shorter path from signature to certificate to utilities touches a very large number of households, landlords and agencies.
The update also fits the city's "Services 360" policy, which aims to cut steps and bundle related services into one digital journey. For a new tenant, that journey usually runs from the lease to the Ejari certificate to DEWA. Putting all three in one app removes the most common places where a move-in gets stuck.
What to check before you use it
If you are a landlord
- Make sure your UAE PASS account is active and verified, because renewals and cancellations now need your confirmation from your side.
- Check that the property details and your title deed information match what the DLD holds, so the contract can be approved without back and forth.
- Remember that registration does not change the rules on rent, deposits or notice periods. Our guides on rental deposits and when a lease can be annulled still apply.
If you are a tenant
- Ask for the Ejari certificate as soon as the lease is approved. You will need it for utilities and, often, for residence or family visa paperwork.
- Pay the DEWA deposit inside the same flow if it is offered, and keep the receipt with your lease.
- Before you confirm a renewal or a cancellation in the app, read the terms on screen. Confirming through UAE PASS is your approval.
If you are an agent
Leasing files often stall on small steps: a landlord abroad who has to sign, a certificate that arrives days later, a tenant who cannot get power connected on move-in day. A process where both parties confirm in the same app and the DEWA deposit is paid in the same journey lets you close a rental file faster and with fewer calls. It is worth walking your landlords through UAE PASS before the next renewal season, and explaining to new tenants what the Ejari certificate is for. If you want a refresher on what Ejari covers, read how Ejari registers the lease rather than the sale.
What we did not claim
The DLD statement does not list new fees, a change to Ejari registration costs, or a date when other channels will close, and we do not assume any of these. The quarterly rental figures are the DLD's own. Screens and steps in the app may differ by property type and user; check the service in Dubai Now or with the DLD before relying on a specific step. This is general orientation, not legal advice.
