Legal notices
Notice to pay rent through a notary public in Dubai
When a tenant in Dubai has not paid the rent, the landlord's first formal step is a notice asking for payment. Dubai tenancy law gives the tenant 30 days from the date the notice is served to pay. The notice must be served through a notary public or by registered mail, and if the tenant still does not pay, it is the basis for an eviction or payment claim at the Rental Dispute Centre.
We draft the notice in Arabic and English, and you sign it before our in-house notary public at our Business Bay office. WhatsApp requests are answered 24/7.
- Unpaid rent is a reason to ask for eviction before the lease ends, unless the parties agreed otherwise.
- The tenant has 30 days from the date the notice is served to pay the rent or the part that is missing.
- The notice is served through a notary public or by registered mail.
- A bounced rent cheque may follow a different legal route; ask a lawyer about that part.
- Eviction at the end of the lease is a different notice: see eviction notice through a notary.
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What the law says
Article 25(1)(a) of Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008, allows the landlord to ask for eviction before the lease expires where the tenant fails to pay the rent, or any part of it, within 30 days from the date a notice asking for payment is served. For this purpose the law says the landlord serves the notice through a notary public or by registered mail.
The Rental Dispute Centre's own guidance repeats the rule: the tenant fails to pay within 30 days from the date of notification by the landlord. The waiting period runs from the date the tenant receives the notice.
Step by step
How the notice to pay rent works, step by step
- Send us the tenancy contract With the Ejari details and a list of what is unpaid: the cheque numbers, dates and amounts.
- We draft the notice In Arabic, with an English copy. It names the tenant and the unit, states the unpaid amount, and gives 30 days to pay.
- Sign before the notary public Our in-house notary public checks your ID and attests the notice.
- Serve it on the tenant It goes to the address, email and phone number in the tenancy contract.
- Wait 30 days from service If the tenant pays, the matter ends there.
- If not, take the next step The notice and the proof of service go with your claim at the Rental Dispute Centre.
The wording
What the notice should say
Notice to pay rent
- The landlord and the tenant, as named in the tenancy contract.
- The property and the contract dates.
- The exact amount unpaid and the instalments it covers.
- A clear demand to pay within 30 days of receiving the notice.
- That the landlord may ask for eviction and payment if the rent is not paid.
Price
We give you a written price before we start. The notary's fee for attesting the notice is added at cost.
How long does a tenant have to pay after the notice?
Thirty days from the date the notice is served, unless the tenancy contract agreed something different.
Can I send the notice by WhatsApp?
For this notice the law names two routes: a notary public or registered mail. Use one of them so the notice counts.
Can I evict a tenant immediately for not paying rent?
No. The notice comes first, and the tenant has 30 days to pay. Only after that can the landlord ask the Rental Dispute Centre for eviction.
What if the tenant pays part of the rent?
The law speaks of the rent or any part of it. Tell us what was paid, and the notice states the amount still unpaid.
Talk to us
Start with a message
Send us the tenancy contract and a list of what is unpaid.
Phone and WhatsApp
Office
707 Burj Khalifa Blvd, Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE
Hours
Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Dubai time)
Legal notices
More in this section
Hub
Legal notice through a notary public
How a legal notice is sent through a notary public in Dubai: drafting in Arabic, signing before the notary, service on the other party, and proof.
Sources for this page
- Law No. 33 of 2008 amending Law No. 26 of 2007 (landlords and tenants in Dubai), Articles 2 and 25: 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 on tenancy: https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/frequently-asked-questions/
- Rental Dispute Centre, frequently asked questions: https://rdc.gov.ae/en/frequently-asked-questions/
- Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022, Civil Procedure Code, Article 143: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1602