Glossary · Ejari
What Is Ejari in the UAE
Ejari is the Dubai Land Department's rental registry: every tenancy contract in Dubai must be registered in it. In company setup it bites on the mainland — a Dubai DED license needs an Ejari-registered office tenancy before visa processing starts.
Why it matters
Why it matters when opening a company
No Ejari certificate — no visa file on a Dubai mainland license: the registry is part of the document chain, not an optional extra.
The same registration powers DEWA connections and staff visa files — one certificate, several downstream uses.
Process
How it works
-
Sign the office tenancy contract
Step 1 -
Landlord or agent registers it with Ejari
Step 2 -
Ejari certificate issued and attached to the license and visa files
Step 3
Mini-FAQ
Common questions
Does Ejari apply to free-zone companies?
No — free zones register tenancies in their own systems; Ejari is the Dubai Land Department registry used on mainland Dubai.
What does Ejari registration cost?
Official fees are a few hundred dirhams, usually paid with the tenancy; the office rent itself is the real cost line.