| Tenancy contract | Ejari | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The private lease agreement between landlord and tenant | The official registration of that lease with DLD/RERA |
| Who makes it | The two parties (often typed in the unified format) | Registered through the official Ejari system |
| Output | A signed contract | An Ejari certificate / reference number |
| What it unlocks | Sets the terms of the tenancy | DEWA activation, residence visa, trade-licence renewal |
The contract comes first — once it’s signed, it’s registered in Ejari. If your contract has errors, they can cause the Ejari to be rejected, so it’s worth correcting the contract first. Need the contract itself? Use the free tenancy contract generator, then register it in Ejari.
No. A signed contract creates the tenancy, but you still need to register it in Ejari for it to be officially recognised and to use it for DEWA, visas or a licence.
No. Ejari registers the contract; it doesn’t replace it. Keep both.
The signed tenancy contract comes first; Ejari then registers it.
No — Ejari registers a real tenancy contract, so a genuine signed contract is required.
Educational overview; not legal advice. The Ejari certificate is issued through official DLD/RERA systems. ejaries.ae is an independent service, not a government website.
