Your complete guide to Dubai Law on shared accommodation

• Dubai Shared Accommodation Law
• Cohabitation in Dubai
• Bachelors Sharing Accommodation
• Shared Accommodation Facilities
• Registering Ejari
• FAQs

Sharing an apartment in Dubai can certainly save you money but it can be problematic if you don’t follow the rules and regulations. There are clear laws and restrictions on sharing accommodation in Dubai and it’s important to know and understand them to avoid legal repercussions. Here’s everything you need to know about the Dubai Rental Law on shared accommodation:

WHAT DOES THE DUBAI RENTAL LAW ON SHARED ACCOMMODATION SAY?

Sub-leasing or shared accommodation in Dubai is governed by the Article 24 of Law No.26 of 2007, which along with the RERA tenancy laws form part of the broader Real Estate Law in Dubai.

Sharing accommodation in Dubai is not permissible unless the landlord approves it. According to Article 24 of Law No.26 of 2007, the tenant cannot sublease the property without the landlord’s permission, unless it is specifically mentioned in their Dubai tenancy contract.

The law states,

“Unless otherwise agreed in the tenancy contract, the tenant shall not assign benefit or sublease premises without obtaining the landlord’s approval.”

If any tenant sublets the property without obtaining permission from the landlord, he can be asked to evict the premises along with the sub-tenants, regardless of the expiry of their tenancy period.

Article 25 of Law No.33 of 2008 corroborates the above statement. It states that:

“The landlord may demand the eviction of a tenant prior to the expiry of the tenancy period if the tenant subleases the property, or part thereof, without the landlord’s written approval and, in such a case, eviction shall be applicable to the tenant and the sub-tenant.”

RULES FOR APARTMENT SHARING IN DUBAI

Those looking at the prospect of legally sharing bed space in Dubai must follow certain rules.…

• The tenant cannot lease or sub-lease any of the premises without obtaining formal written approval from the landlord.
• The sub-tenant has rights on the leased premises till the time the original tenancy contract remains valid.
• Sub-lease contract shall determine the relationship between tenant and sub-tenant. Regardless of the state of their relationship, the obligations of the tenant towards the landlord will remain the same as previously agreed upon.  

Please note that the number of tenant(s) or sub-tenants who can live in an apartment largely depends on the area where the property is located. So, one cannot simply speculate about one area based on the statistics of another.

THE LAW ON COHABITATION IN DUBAI

One of the most commonly asked questions over the past has been “can unmarried couples legally share accommodation in Dubai?“

Until recently, it was illegal for unmarried couples and people of opposite genders (not related by blood) to live together in the same house under the provisions of Dubai Rental Law on shared accommodation.

However, with the recent relaxations and the introduction of new personal and family laws in the UAE, you no longer need to be married or related to legally share accommodation in Dubai. Sharing accommodation in Dubai for family is obviously allowed.

The new law applies to all sorts of accommodations including hotel rooms, houses and apartments for rent in Dubai.

SHARED ACCOMMODATION RULES FOR BACHELORS IN DUBAI

Finding accommodation in Dubai can prove challenging for both bachelors and single women. Even though cohabitating with someone of the opposite gender is not illegal anymore, singles must abide by the Dubai Rental Law on shared accommodation to avoid hefty fines.

As such, there is no rules for sharing accommodation in Dubai that restricts single women or men to share an apartment with people of their own gender. However, landlords sometimes do not let out their property to a group of men and/or women, especially in family-friendly residential areas.

The basic rule remains, that singles can share apartments in Dubai with the landlord’s permission. The main concern here would be finding homeowners willing to let and sub-let their properties to a group of men and/or women.

After getting approval from the landlord, tenants also need to fulfil the requirements set by the Dubai Municipality. There are designated areas within Dubai that allow shared accommodation for single women and bachelors.

However, single women and bachelors sharing accommodation in Dubai can get evicted if they’re found to be indulging in antisocial behaviour or illegal activities, such as loud music, drug consumption, etc. Thus bachelors, as well as ladies sharing accommodation in Dubai, have to be very careful.

Facilities tenants/sub-leasers can enjoy in shared accommodations

Residents, including tenants and sub-leasers, living legally in any building in Dubai can enjoy all the facilities available. They can use swimming pools, car parking areas, health clubs, sports halls and playgrounds.

The rules for sharing accommodation in Dubai however, may slightly differ based on the agreement between tenants/sub-tenants and landlords. The list of amenities we shared above is in accordance with the Dubai Rental Law on shared accommodation. There may be some exceptions, thus it’s always better to discuss this with your landlord first.

Make sure that you don’t disturb others while living in a shared setting to avoid any kind of legal issue. 

Article 24 of Law No.27 of 2007 states that, “Subject to the association constitution, unit owners and occupiers and their guest must use the common areas … in a way that does not compromise the rights of others to use those areas or disturb others or put their safety or the safety of the jointly owned property at risk.”

Fellow residents, in case of any disturbance or trouble, can share their concerns with the landlord and can even approach the Dubai Municipality if they’re not getting a satisfactory response.

The policy of the Ejari registration system

Tenants and landlords register the Tenancy Contract with Ejari, a regulatory system for monitoring rental contracts in Dubai for both freehold and non-freehold properties. It establishes a transparent relationship between the tenants and landlords and makes the tenancy contracts a legally binding part of the legal framework.

In the case of sub-tenants, Ejari’s policies are a bit different. The registration is granted to the tenant but if the tenant decides to sub-let the flat without seeking approval of the landlord first, the sub-tenant will get no support from the system. Tenants, landlords and real estate agents can conveniently register Ejari online.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here are the most frequently asked questions related to the Dubai Rental Law on shared accommodation.

How much is the fine for sharing a flat illegally in Dubai?

Any tenant caught yielding their apartment on lease to someone that neither has the Dubai Tourism permit, nor approval of the landlord, will be liable to pay a fine of between AED 200 to AED 20k. If they’re then found guilty a second time, they will have to pay as much as AED 100k.

IS SHARING ACCOMMODATION LEGAL IN DUBAI?

Under the Dubai Rental Law for shared accommodation, the only legal way to share an apartment or accommodation in Dubai, is to do it with the landlord’s consent.

IS SUB-LETTING LEGAL IN DUBAI?

Sub-leasing is only allowed in Dubai if it is approved by the landlord. Also, sub-leasing in certain areas of Dubai may come with additional legal stipulations and the tenants/sub-tenants should ensure they’re aware of them.

CAN UNMARRIED COUPLES LIVE TOGETHER IN DUBAI?

Yes, according to the latest changes to the personal and family laws in the UAE, unmarried couples can now legally stay together in shared accommodations and/or hotel rooms.

We hope the information we covered in this blog will help whenever you’re faced with the question, ‘how to legally share an apartment in Dubai?’. 

Since apartment sharing for some people is a temporary arrangement, it does not mean that they can easily opt for early termination of the rental contract in Dubai. There are rules for that too and it’s best to know the legal repercussions of the move.

Also, the process of paying rent in Dubai is quite different from what you’ll find in other countries. So, make sure you’re familiar with that.

Have you decided where exactly you would want to share rental accommodation in Dubai? You could think about living in Deira, one of the oldest commercial districts in the emirate and a vibrant and bustling cultural hub that sublimely combines traditional and modern Dubai. However, before making your big move, know the pros and cons of Deira community so you’re aware of what to expect.

Other than Deira, there are many popular areas where you can think of sharing an apartment in Dubai. Check out the major communities with furnished flats in Dubai. Each of them offers well-furnished apartments so you can live with total convenience.

Thinking of sharing apartments for rent in Dubai in some chiller-free places? Take a look at our list that includes the most famous areas to rent chiller free apartments in Dubai.

For more information and updates about the areas to share accommodation in Dubai, stay tuned to MyBayut.