RERA Dispute: Arabic vs English Contract | Which Wins?

You have a rental dispute. You pull out your tenancy contract — the bilingual one with Arabic on the right, English on the left. You read the English side. It seems clear. You file at RERA. The ruling goes against you because the Arabic side says something different.

This is not rare. Bilingual contracts in Dubai are drafted by typing centres, property management companies, and sometimes by landlords directly. The two versions are supposed to match. They often don’t.

Not sure which version applies to your case? Send your contract on WhatsApp and we will tell you exactly what the Arabic says.

The Arabic version is the legally binding one

Under UAE law — Article 7 of the Civil Transactions Law — when Arabic and English versions conflict, Arabic prevails. This is a foundational principle of UAE legal proceedings. It has not changed in 2026 and is unlikely to change.

RERA’s Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDSC) applies this rule consistently. The committee reads the Arabic. If you have been building your case on an English clause that says something different in Arabic, you will lose. What you were told verbally or signed in English does not override the Arabic.

Most tenants who don’t read Arabic never check the Arabic side. They read the English, sign, and assume both versions say the same thing. That assumption holds until a dispute, when money is at stake and the Arabic clause they never read determines the outcome.

Arabic prevails in Abu Dhabi too

Abu Dhabi has its own rental dispute body — the Rental Disputes Settlement Committee under the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. The Arabic-prevails principle applies there too, but the framework is different.

Abu Dhabi operates under Law No. 20 of 2006 (amended). Notice periods, eviction rules, and rent increase caps differ from Dubai’s RERA framework. The increase cap calculation and the grace period rules are not the same. If you’re renting in Abu Dhabi, don’t apply Dubai RERA rules — the outcome will be different.

Key differences between Abu Dhabi and Dubai rental disputes:

• Notice periods. Abu Dhabi generally requires 60 days written notice for non-renewal. Dubai requires 90 days under RERA rules for certain eviction grounds.
• Rent increase caps. Abu Dhabi and Dubai use different calculation methods. Dubai relies on the RERA rent calculator. Abu Dhabi’s committee applies its own index.
• Filing body. Abu Dhabi cases go through the ADJD committee. Dubai cases go through the RDSC at the Land Department.
• Filing fees. Both charge a percentage of annual rent, but the brackets differ.

If your property is in Abu Dhabi, get the Arabic section translated by a service familiar with Abu Dhabi requirements. The terminology in Abu Dhabi contracts sometimes differs from standard Dubai templates.

Where the discrepancies hide

Most of the contract will match. Rent amount, property address, landlord’s name — these are usually identical. The differences appear in the clauses that matter most during disputes:

Early termination. The English might say either party may terminate with 2 months notice. The Arabic might add that the tenant owes a 2-month penalty for early exit.

Maintenance responsibilities. English says “landlord handles major repairs.” Arabic may define “major” differently — or include a spending threshold before landlord responsibility applies.

Security deposit refund. English may say the deposit is refunded upon vacating. Arabic might add conditions: no outstanding utilities, professional cleaning receipt required, inspection within 7 days.

Rent increase terms. The Arabic may reference specific RERA calculator thresholds or cite Article 9 of Law No. 26 of 2007. The English may omit this entirely or paraphrase it loosely.

Cheque payment clauses. Some Arabic versions specify the exact cheque handover procedure and bounced-cheque consequences. The English version may summarise this as “rent payable by post-dated cheques” without the legal teeth.

These aren’t always deliberate traps. They’re typically the result of one language being drafted first, then loosely translated by someone at a typing centre. The English is often a summary, not an exact mirror.

What RERA’s committee actually examines

When you file at RERA’s Rental Dispute Settlement Centre, the committee reviews:

1. The Arabic contract text — not the English, not your interpretation of it
2. Ejari registration — the tenancy must be registered; an unregistered contract weakens your position
3. The RERA rent calculator — to verify whether any increase was within the legal cap
4. Formal notice correspondence — notices sent by registered mail or notary carry more weight than WhatsApp messages
5. Proof of payment — bank transfer records or receipted cheques that show rent was paid

The RDSC handles roughly 2,500 to 3,000 cases per month. Most hearings are scheduled within 2 to 4 weeks of filing. The committee usually issues a ruling on the same day as the hearing, though complex cases may take longer.

If you submit arguments based on the English version of a clause that says something different in Arabic, the committee applies the Arabic. Your case collapses at the clause level, not the fact level.

RERA dispute costs and timeframes in 2026

Before filing, understand what it costs and how long it takes.

Filing fee. The RDSC charges 3.5% of the annual rent. The minimum fee is AED 500. The maximum is AED 20,000. For a flat renting at AED 80,000 per year, expect to pay AED 2,800 at the counter.

Translation costs. If your evidence includes English documents, you need certified Arabic translations before the hearing. Tenancy contract translation is priced per page, depending on length. Additional documents (emails, bank statements, photos of defects) each need their own certified translation. Send the bundle via WhatsApp for a fixed quote before the hearing, or see the pricing catalog for comparable examples.

Legal representation. You are not required to hire a lawyer for RDSC hearings. Many tenants represent themselves. If the dispute involves large sums or complex contract terms, a property lawyer adds value. Typical consultation fees range from AED 500 to 1,500 per session.

Timeline. From filing to ruling, straightforward cases take 3 to 6 weeks. Cases requiring multiple hearings or expert assessment can take 2 to 3 months. If either party appeals, the process extends further through the Appeal Committee.

Enforcement. If the ruling is in your favour and the other party does not comply, you apply to the Execution Court. This is a separate step with its own fee (around AED 100 to 300) and timeline.

How to spot discrepancies before they cost you

The safest moment to find a problem is before you sign — not during a dispute.

Before signing any contract or renewal, get the Arabic portion independently translated by a certified translator. Not by the landlord’s representative, not by the estate agent, and not by Google Translate. A separate translation takes one day and costs a fraction of what a RERA dispute costs.

Look specifically at:

• Termination clauses (both early termination and end-of-term)
• Maintenance responsibility thresholds
• Security deposit refund conditions and timelines
• Any clause that references penalties or fees
• Rent increase terms and whether they reference the RERA calculator
• Cheque payment and bounced-cheque consequences
• Subletting permissions and conditions
• Utility handover responsibilities at vacating

If anything in the Arabic doesn’t match what you were told in English, ask for it to be corrected before signing. Document the request in writing — email or WhatsApp with a timestamp.

Not sure what the Arabic says? WhatsApp your contract to +971 50 862 0217. We translate the Arabic section and point out any clauses that differ from the English.

What to do if you’re already in a dispute

If you’re preparing to file at RERA — or responding to a landlord’s claim — get the Arabic section of your contract translated immediately. You need to know what the legally binding text says before you argue your case.

If there’s a discrepancy and you’ve been relying on the English version:

1. Get a certified translation showing the Arabic differs from the English
2. Document that the contract was presented as a matching bilingual agreement
3. Review each differing clause against the RERA framework and the rent calculator
4. Consult a UAE property lawyer if the discrepancy is significant or the amount in dispute is large
5. File at RERA with the Arabic translation in hand — argue from the Arabic text, not from the English

Your goal is not to explain what you thought the contract meant. It’s to demonstrate what the Arabic actually says and how it applies to the facts of your dispute.

Bring these documents to your RDSC hearing:

• Original signed tenancy contract (both Arabic and English sections)
• Ejari registration certificate
• Certified Arabic translation of the contract if you had it translated separately
• Bank statements or cheque receipts proving rent payments
• Written correspondence with the landlord (notarised or by registered mail is strongest)
• Any eviction notices received, with certified translations
• Photographic evidence of maintenance issues, if relevant

All documents not in Arabic must be accompanied by MOJ-certified translations. The committee will not consider untranslated English documents as evidence.

Supporting documents in Arabic

If you’re going to a hearing, your supporting documents also need to be in Arabic or have certified Arabic translations:

• Eviction notices received from your landlord
• Correspondence that forms part of your evidence
• Any written agreements or amendments to the original contract
• Bank transfer receipts or cheque copies with bank stamps
• Photographs with descriptive captions in Arabic

If you are dealing with the dispute from outside the UAE, authorise someone to represent you at RERA using a Power of Attorney. It must be attested before RERA will accept it.

Common mistakes tenants make at RDSC hearings

Knowing what goes wrong helps you avoid the same errors.

Relying on verbal agreements. The committee does not enforce verbal promises. If the landlord told you something verbally that is not in the Arabic contract, it carries no weight at the hearing.

Submitting English-only evidence. English emails, English letters, English text messages — none of these are admissible without a certified Arabic translation. Bring the translations with you, not the originals alone.

Missing the Ejari registration. If your tenancy contract is not registered in Ejari, the committee may question its validity. Always ensure your contract is registered at the start of each tenancy period.

Filing too late. RERA disputes have time limits. If you wait months after the issue arises, the committee may consider the delay as implicit acceptance of the terms. File as soon as the dispute becomes clear.

Ignoring the Arabic version entirely. The single most common mistake. Tenants build their entire case on the English text and discover at the hearing that the Arabic says something different. By then it is too late to adjust your argument.

After the ruling: enforcement and appeals

If the ruling is in your favour, the other party typically has 15 days to comply. If they do not, you can open an execution file at the RDSC. The execution process involves a separate application and fee.

Either party can appeal the RDSC ruling within 15 days of the decision. Appeals go to the Rental Dispute Appeal Committee. The appeal process adds 2 to 6 weeks depending on caseload. Appeal hearings review both facts and legal interpretation.

If the appeal ruling is still unfavourable, further recourse is limited. In rare cases involving a substantial error of law, you may petition the Dubai Court of Cassation. This requires a lawyer and involves significant costs.

Key numbers to remember

• 3.5% — RDSC filing fee as a percentage of annual rent
• AED 500 — minimum RDSC filing fee
• AED 20,000 — maximum RDSC filing fee
• 2 to 4 weeks — typical wait time for a hearing date
• 15 days — deadline to appeal an RDSC ruling
• 90 days — standard notice period for certain eviction grounds in Dubai
• Fixed per-page rate — certified tenancy contract translation (see pricing catalog)
• 2,500 to 3,000 — approximate number of rental dispute cases filed monthly at RDSC

Need your tenancy contract’s Arabic section translated before your RERA hearing? Send it on WhatsApp: +971 50 862 0217. Same-day service available.