RDSC — Rental Disputes Settlement Centre

The RDSC was established by Law No. 26 of 2007 (as amended) and became fully operational in 2013. It has exclusive jurisdiction over all rental dispute cases in Dubai — meaning neither party can take a tenancy dispute to the Dubai Civil Courts unless the RDSC declines jurisdiction. This exclusivity ensures specialist knowledge at every stage of the process.

Cases at the RDSC pass through three potential stages: the Conciliation Stage (amicable settlement attempt), the Primary Court (first-instance ruling), and the Appeal Court (challenge to the primary ruling). A further appeal to the Revision Circuit is available in limited circumstances. Most straightforward cases — simple deposit disputes, for example — are resolved at conciliation or primary court level within 30 to 90 days.

Filing fees are calculated as 3.5% of the annual rent value with a minimum of AED 500 and a maximum of AED 15,000 for financial claims. Non-financial cases (such as eviction) are charged a flat fee. These fees are generally lower than Dubai Civil Court fees and recoverable from the losing party in most cases.

To file a case, a tenant needs: the Ejari-registered tenancy contract, Emirates ID, the property's DEWA account number, and all supporting evidence (notice letters, photos, bank records, WhatsApp correspondence, etc.). Cases can be filed online via the Dubai REST app or in person at the RDSC building on Baniyas Road, Deira.

RDSC judgments are enforceable through the DLD's execution department, meaning a winning party can apply for enforcement orders — including bank account freezes, travel bans, and property attachments — against non-compliant defendants.