Legal notices
Unpaid Rent Notice in the UAE
An unpaid rent notice UAE landlords send tells a tenant in writing to pay what is owed within a set time. We draft it in Arabic and English, our in-house notary public notarises it at our Business Bay office, and it is served through the notary. You can sign in person, online or at a home visit.
WhatsApp +971 52 947 5935 with the lease and the rent statement. Service is available 24/7.
The tenancy law cited on this page, Law No. 26 of 2007 as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008, is Dubai's. Other emirates have their own rules, which this page does not cover.
01
What the 30 days mean
The Dubai Land Department (DLD) describes it as a notice sent through the notary public or by registered mail, with a payment deadline of no less than 30 days. The Rental Dispute Center (RDC) repeats it: the 30 days run from the date of notification.
That is why the date the tenant receives the notice matters. Keep the proof.
Checklist
What goes into the notice
What goes into the notice
- Landlord and tenant names as on the Ejari lease, and the property address.
- The rent period unpaid and the exact amount, part by part.
- A payment deadline of not less than 30 days from service.
- How to pay, for example the bank account named in the lease.
- A short line on what the landlord may do if payment does not arrive.
The Ejari contract lists the email addresses and phone numbers the parties declared, and says formal notices go to those addresses in a dispute (clause 7). We use them.
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Checklist
What to bring
What to bring
- Landlord ID, or trade licence for a company.
- The Ejari registered lease.
- The rent statement, cheques or bank records.
- A power of attorney, if someone signs for an owner who is abroad (see our POA page).
Step by step
Steps
Send us the lease and the statement.
We check the amount and the period.
We draft in Arabic and English.
One demand, one amount, one deadline.
You sign before our in-house notary public.
At Business Bay, at home or online where the notary accepts it.
Service through the notary.
Article 25(1) names the notary or registered mail.
Wait out the 30 days.
They run from the date the tenant receives the notice.
If rent stays unpaid, the RDC handles tenancy disputes (Ejari clause 10). For an eviction case it asks for a copy of the notice and proof of service.
For a payment writ at the RDC, its FAQ describes notification through a notary public or registered mail, followed by five days.
Watch for
Mistakes to avoid
- A deadline shorter than 30 days.
- Mixing rent with other complaints in one notice. Use a breach notice for those.
- Confusing this with the 12 month notice at lease end, which is on our eviction notice page.
- Filing before the 30 days have passed.
- Treating a bounced cheque as a normal rent claim. A bounced cheque may follow a different route under the Civil Procedure Code (Article 143(2)), so ask a lawyer about that.
Fees
Cost
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rent notice: drafting, Arabic and English, notarisation and service | From AED 2,000 |
| Government fee | At cost, confirmed before you pay |
All service prices are starting prices and are negotiable. Government fees are paid on top, at cost, exactly as the authority charges them. We confirm your final price before you pay.
How we help
How we help
We write each unpaid rent notice UAE landlords need from your lease and records. Our in-house notary public is in Business Bay, and we offer in person, online and home visit notary public services in Dubai and the UAE. We write the notice from your lease and records. We do not promise how a dispute ends. More notices are on our legal notices page.
Questions
Questions about rent notices
How long does a tenant have to pay?
At least 30 days from service of the notice, unless the parties agreed otherwise (Article 25(1)(a)).
Can a landlord evict for unpaid rent before the lease ends?
Yes, on the grounds in Article 25(1)(a), after the notice period has passed.
Does the notice need to be notarised?
Article 25 says a notary public or registered mail. We use the notary.
Can a notice go by email or WhatsApp?
For this notice, follow Article 25: notary public or registered mail.
What if the tenant pays part?
The article covers rent "or any part thereof". Say in the notice what remains.
What if I am abroad?
Send us the documents. A signed POA can let another person sign for you. Ask us first.
Contact
Send us your question
Tell us the document, who signs it and where it will be used. We reply with the route, the list of what to bring and your price.
Sources for this page
- Law No. 33 of 2008 amending Law No. 26 of 2007: https://dlp.dubai.gov.ae/Legislation%20Reference/2009/Law%20No.%20(33)%20of%202008%20Amending%20Law%20No.%20(26)%20of%202007.html
- Dubai Land Department, frequently asked questions: https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/frequently-asked-questions/
- Rental Dispute Center, frequently asked questions: https://rdc.gov.ae/en/frequently-asked-questions/
- DLD unified Ejari tenancy contract: https://dubailand.gov.ae/media/ivuhfjxa/ejari_unified_tenancy_contract.pdf
- Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022, Civil Procedure Code, Article 143: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1602