How an Eviction Notice Works in Dubai
Twelve Months or Thirty Days, Then the RDC
An eviction notice in Dubai is the landlord's written notification that starts the eviction procedure under Law No. (26) of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai, as amended by Law No. (33) of 2008. It must rest on one of the grounds listed in Article 25 and is served through a notary public or by registered mail. To recover the property when the contract ends, the landlord notifies the tenant of the reason at least 12 months before the eviction date. During the contract, unpaid rent or a breach is addressed by a notice giving the tenant 30 days from service to pay or comply.
The notice does not end the tenancy by itself. If the tenant remains after the notice period or the rent stays unpaid, the landlord files an eviction claim with the Rental Disputes Settlement Centre (RDC) at the Dubai Land Department (DLD). The claim is supported by the notarised notice with the notification officer's report, or by a registered letter with its acknowledgement of receipt.
At EGSH, the notice is prepared in Arabic and English from your tenancy contract and attested through the EGSH Notary Department in one visit, without queues. Legal notices for unpaid cheques, debts and contract breaches follow the same procedure.
Notarised Eviction Notice and Legal Notice in Dubai
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How to Serve an Eviction Notice in Dubai
From Tenancy Contract to Notarised Notice
01
Visit EGSH
Visit the EGSH centre without queues, bringing your tenancy contract and details of why you need the property back or how much rent the tenant owes.
02
Legal Ground and Notice Period
Your reason is matched to the corresponding ground under Article 25 and to the notice that ground requires: at least 12 months before eviction, or 30 days to pay or comply.
03
Notice Drafted in Arabic and English
The notice is drafted in Arabic and English with the parties and the property exactly as they appear in the Ejari tenancy contract, together with the ground and the deadline.
04
Your Notarised Eviction Notice
The notice is attested by the notary and served on the tenant, and you receive the notarised notice with the notification officer’s report required for an eviction claim.
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Documents Needed for an Eviction Notice in Dubai
Owner, Contract, Tenant and Ground
Landlord’s Identity and Authority
The owner’s Emirates ID or passport or, for a company, the trade licence and proof of the signatory’s authority, with a valid power of attorney where a representative signs.
Tenancy Contract and Title Deed
The current tenancy contract registered in Ejari and the title deed, so that the notice names the correct property, parties and contract dates.
Tenant’s Details
The tenant’s full name as stated in the tenancy contract, together with the unit number and the address for service.
Proof of the Ground
For unpaid rent, the amounts due and any returned cheques with the bank return memo; for renovation, demolition or rebuilding, the technical report of the Dubai Municipality or the building permits.
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Two Kinds of Eviction Notice in Dubai: 12 Months or 30 Days
Article 25 of Law No. (26) of 2007, as amended by Law No. (33) of 2008, separates eviction during the term of the tenancy contract from eviction when the contract expires. Each list is closed: a landlord can seek eviction only on a ground it contains, and the notice must name that ground. Under Article 7 of the Dubai rental law, neither party can end a valid tenancy contract alone during its term, except by mutual consent or in accordance with the law.
During the contract, unpaid rent and breaches of the law or the contract lead to eviction only after a notice giving the tenant 30 days to pay or comply. The other grounds of Article 25(1) carry no period to remedy: subletting without the landlord's written approval, illegal use, business premises left unoccupied, dangerous changes or wilful damage, use for another purpose, a building likely to collapse, and a government decision to demolish and rebuild.
When the contract expires, eviction is possible only on the four grounds of Article 25(2), with notice of the reason given at least 12 months before the eviction date. For both lists, the law requires service through a notary public or by registered mail. The general definition of notice in the law also covers hand delivery and approved electronic means, but these do not satisfy Article 25, so an eviction letter sent by email, SMS or WhatsApp, or a notice left at the door, does not meet the requirement.

12-Month Notice to Vacate: Sale, Own Use, Demolition or Renovation
A 12-month notice to vacate relies on one of four grounds under Article 25(2). Demolition and reconstruction, or new structures that prevent the tenant from using the property, require the permits of the competent authorities. Restoration or comprehensive maintenance that cannot be carried out while the tenant occupies the property requires a technical report issued or certified by the Dubai Municipality. Repossession for the owner's own use or for a first-degree relative requires the owner to prove that he owns no other suitable property, and sale requires only the owner's intention to sell.
The eviction date falls on or after the expiry of the contract. A sale completed during the contract does not end the lease: the buyer becomes the landlord under it, and a tenant under a fixed-term contract remains in occupation until the contract ends and a valid notice takes effect.
The grounds carry continuing obligations. Where the RDC awards possession for the owner's own use, the property cannot be let to a third party for two years if it is residential, or three years if it is non-residential, from the date of repossession; otherwise the former tenant may claim compensation. After demolition and reconstruction, or after renovation, the former tenant has a right of first refusal to return, which must be exercised within 30 days of the landlord's notification.

Notice During the Contract: Unpaid Rent and Other Breaches
For unpaid rent, the notice requests payment of the amount due, and the tenant has 30 days from the date of service to pay, unless the parties agreed otherwise. If the rent remains unpaid, the landlord files an eviction claim with the RDC. The same debt can also be pursued by a writ of payment at the RDC, which requires a payment notice served through a notary public or by registered mail and is filed if the debt remains unpaid five days after notification. Dishonoured rent cheques are enforced directly at the RDC on the basis of the cheque and the bank return memo.
For a breach of the law or the contract, the notice identifies the obligation and requests compliance within 30 days of service. For the remaining grounds of Article 25(1), the notice states the ground, and the landlord proceeds to the RDC without a period to remedy. The tenant remains liable for rent for the whole period of the case, until the judgment is issued and executed.
Article 34 prohibits the landlord from disconnecting services or disturbing the tenant's use of the property in any manner. Changing the locks or cutting utilities amounts to illegal eviction in Dubai, and the tenant may report it to the police station with jurisdiction over the property and claim damages before the RDC.

What an Eviction Notice in Dubai Must Contain
The notice identifies the landlord and the tenant by the names in the Ejari contract and describes the property by its unit number, building and area. It states the contract dates, the ground and the paragraph of Article 25 it relies on, and the deadline that applies. A 12-month notice gives the reason and the eviction date. A notice for unpaid rent states the amount, the period it covers and the 30-day deadline from service. The owner, or a representative under a property management power of attorney, signs it before the notary.
Notarial instruments in Dubai are written in Arabic. A notice may also be prepared as one bilingual Arabic and English document signed on every page, or in a foreign language with an Arabic translation by a certified legal translator attached. The RDC accepts documents only in Arabic or with a legal translation into Arabic, so the bilingual text serves both the notary and the claim.

Notarising the Eviction Notice: Dubai Courts or a Private Notary
The law allows an eviction notice to be served through a notary public or by registered mail, and both methods are equally valid. A notarised eviction notice has the evidentiary value of an official document under Law No. (4) of 2013, and its validity can be challenged only by a claim of forgery.
Under Law No. (4) of 2013 Concerning Notaries Public in the Emirate of Dubai, notices are attested by government notaries of the Dubai Courts and by private notaries whom the Dubai Courts register on the Roll and who practise through authorised firms. Before attestation, the notary verifies the identity, capacity and consent of the landlord or the representative, and declines a notice that conflicts with the legislation in force. A landlord who holds a passport without an Emirates ID appears before the notary in person. Notices prepared at EGSH are attested through the EGSH Notary Department.
The Dubai Courts government fee for attesting a legal warning or notice is AED 200 under Executive Council Resolution No. (72) of 2025, with AED 100 for the electronic entry of each party's data. Attestation of a translator's signature costs AED 25 per page of the original. Private notaries collect fees set by a resolution of the Director of the Dubai Courts.

Serving the Notice and Keeping Proof for the RDC
For an eviction claim, the RDC requires a copy of the notarised notice with the report of the notification officer who served it, or the registered mail with the acknowledgement of receipt.
The date of service starts the 30-day periods of Article 25 and the 12 months before eviction, so the notarised notice, the service report or postal receipt, and the tenancy contract form the core of the RDC file.
All documents are uploaded to the RDC system electronically, and hard copies are not accepted.

Other Legal Notices: Unpaid Cheques, Debts and Legal Warnings
The Dubai Courts notary attests a legal warning or notice that requires the recipient to perform a specific act or refrain from it, or informs an agent that a power of attorney has been cancelled. The notifying party must be at least 21 lunar years old for a civil matter and at least 18 for a commercial matter. A legal notice for non-payment of an invoice or loan and a demand to perform a contract are attested through this service.
A legal notice is drafted in the same format as an eviction notice: it names the parties, states the basis of the demand, the amount or act required and the deadline, and sets out the action that follows if the deadline passes. In a tenancy, a notice of intent to amend the contract terms at renewal is served at least 90 days before the contract expires, unless the parties agreed otherwise.
A legal notice for cheque dishonour records the demand for payment and the deadline before the creditor takes further action.

After the Notice: Rental Disputes Centre and Timeline
The Rental Disputes Settlement Centre (RDC) at the Dubai Land Department (DLD) has exclusive jurisdiction over rental disputes in Dubai under Decree No. (26) of 2013. If the tenant stays after the notice period or does not pay, the landlord's eviction claim is registered with the RDC together with the tenancy contract registered in Ejari, the Emirates ID or trade licence, a bank letter showing the IBAN, and the notice with its proof of service. The fee is 3.5% of the annual rent, with a minimum of AED 500 and a maximum of AED 20,000, and half is refunded if an amicable settlement is reached.
The dispute first goes to the Mediation and Conciliation Directorate, which seeks a settlement within 15 days of the parties' appearance. A tribunal of the First Instance Division decides the claim within 30 days of referral, and both periods can be extended. An eviction judgment can be appealed within 15 days from the day after the hearing in which it was issued, whatever the value of the claim.
Final judgments are enforced by the RDC's Judgment Enforcement Directorate. Executing an eviction judgment costs 1% of the annual rent, up to AED 5,000. The total time therefore comprises the 12-month or 30-day notice period followed by the RDC stages, whose length depends on the case.

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Frequently Asked Questions
Does an eviction notice have to be notarised in Dubai?
No. Article 25 of Law No. (26) of 2007 allows an eviction notice to be served through a notary public or by registered mail. A notarised notice is proved by the notification officer’s report and registered mail by the acknowledgement of receipt; the RDC accepts either.
How many months' notice does a landlord need to give to evict a tenant in Dubai?
To evict a tenant when the contract expires, the landlord gives at least 12 months' notice before the eviction date on one of four grounds: sale, own use or use by a first-degree relative, demolition or new construction, and restoration or comprehensive maintenance. During the contract, a notice for unpaid rent or a breach gives the tenant 30 days from service to pay or comply.
What are the valid grounds for eviction in Dubai?
During the contract, the grounds are unpaid rent, breach of the law or the contract, unapproved subletting, illegal use, business premises left unoccupied, dangerous changes or damage, use for another purpose, a building likely to collapse and government-ordered demolition. When the contract expires, the grounds are demolition or new construction, restoration or comprehensive maintenance, use by the owner or a first-degree relative, and sale.
How long does it take to evict a tenant in Dubai?
The process starts with the notice period of 12 months or 30 days from service. The RDC then seeks a settlement within 15 days of the parties' appearance, and a first-instance tribunal decides within 30 days of referral, with both periods extendable. Appeal and execution add further stages, so the total time depends on the case.
Can a tenant be evicted immediately in Dubai?
No. Eviction requires a ground under Article 25, a notice served through a notary public or by registered mail, and a judgment of the RDC executed by its Judgment Enforcement Directorate. The landlord may not disconnect services, change the locks or otherwise disturb the tenant’s use of the property.
How do I evict a tenant in Dubai?
Identify the ground under Article 25 and serve the corresponding notice through a notary public or by registered mail. Once the notice period ends without payment, compliance or departure, file an eviction claim with the RDC, attaching the Ejari contract and proof of service. A final eviction judgment is then enforced through the RDC.
What is a legal notice in the UAE?
A legal notice is a written demand or warning attested by a notary public and formally served on the recipient. It requires the recipient to perform an act, such as paying a debt, or to refrain from one, and records the date of the demand for any later claim.
How do I send a legal notice in Dubai?
The notice is drafted with the parties, the demand and the deadline, in Arabic or as a bilingual Arabic and English document. It is attested by a notary at the Dubai Courts or a private notary and then served on the recipient, and the service report is kept as proof.
Can I send a legal notice for a bounced cheque?
Yes. A legal notice can demand payment of a dishonoured cheque and set a deadline before further action. For rent cheques, the RDC enforces the dishonoured cheque directly on the basis of the cheque and the bank return memo.
How much does a notarised eviction notice cost in Dubai?
The Dubai Courts government fee for attesting a notice is AED 200, plus AED 100 for the electronic entry of each party’s data. Attestation of a translator’s signature adds AED 25 per page of the original. Private notaries charge fees set by a resolution of the Director of the Dubai Courts.
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Official Sources
- Dubai Legislation Portal, Law No. (26) of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai
- Dubai Legislation Portal, Law No. (33) of 2008 Amending Law No. (26) of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai
- Dubai Legislation Portal, Law No. (4) of 2013 Concerning Notaries Public in the Emirate of Dubai
- Dubai Legislation Portal, Executive Council Resolution No. (72) of 2025 Amending Executive Council Resolution No. (4) of 2014 Approving the Fees and Fines Related to Notaries Public in the Emirate of Dubai
- Dubai Legislation Portal, Decree No. (26) of 2013 Concerning the Rent Disputes Settlement Centre in the Emirate of Dubai
- Dubai Courts, Legal Notices
- Rental Disputes Center, Register First Instance Lawsuit (Rental)
- Rental Disputes Center, Dispute Lawsuit (for Amicable Settlement)
- Rental Disputes Center, Register a Writ of Payment
- Rental Disputes Center, File an Execution – Cheques
- Rental Disputes Center, Register an Execution Proceeding – Rental
Disclaimer
Updated October 2026: eviction grounds and notice rules checked against Article 25 of Law No. (26) of 2007 as amended by Law No. (33) of 2008, notarial rules against Law No. (4) of 2013, notary fees against Executive Council Resolution No. (72) of 2025, the RDC stages against Decree No. (26) of 2013, and filing requirements and fees against the Rental Disputes Center service pages.
This page provides general procedural information about eviction notices and legal notices in Dubai and is not legal advice on a particular dispute. Notices are attested by a notary public, and whether a tenant is evicted is decided by the Rental Disputes Settlement Centre. Fees and procedures are set by the Dubai Courts and the Rental Disputes Settlement Centre and may change.













































































































































