A property manager looks after a let home for its owner. In Abu Dhabi the arrangement is a Property Management Agreement, registered on DARI, or on ADGM's AccessRP for homes on Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands. The agreement sets what the manager may do, such as collecting rent for you, how long it lasts (at most 4 years on DARI) and the agreed value, written as a percentage or, on some DARI forms, a fixed amount. An owner of one home can often handle the lease online, so it is worth knowing what management covers before you sign.
What does a property manager do?
The official agreement defines the manager's powers. On DARI the owner chooses permissions such as collecting rent on the owner's behalf and terminating the agreement, lists the homes covered, and sets the duration and the value. On Al Reem and Al Maryah, ADGM says a property management company with an active agreement can register and renew leases for the owner on AccessRP.
These tasks are not an official list; ask which of them the agreement includes:
- Advertising the home for rent and finding a tenant.
- Registering the Tawtheeq lease and each renewal.
- Collecting the rent and cheques, and passing the money to you.
- Handling repair requests and inspections.
- Reporting to you, and how often.
Repairs matter because the duty stays with the landlord. Abu Dhabi's tenancy law asks the landlord to keep the home fit for use and carry out necessary repairs, apart from minor ones, unless the lease says otherwise. If the landlord delays after being told, the tenant may get the Rental Dispute Settlement Committee's permission to do the work and deduct the cost from the rent.
Is it the same as the building's management company?
No. The common parts of a building or community, such as pools, gardens and car parks, are run by a management company the developer selects from companies approved for that purpose. Under Abu Dhabi's real estate law as amended in 2025, that company collects the service fees approved by the Department of Municipalities and Transport and may not charge owners any other fees. The developer selects it, an Owners' Committee can advise on it, and it does not manage your lease.
What should I check in a management agreement?
- Who the manager is: on DARI an individual is identified by Emirates ID and a company by its trade licence. DARI's company form asks the property management company to have the activity active on its licence.
- Permissions: whether the manager collects rent, and whether it may terminate the agreement.
- Homes covered: the exact units listed.
- Duration: DARI allows up to 4 years; ADGM sets no maximum.
- Value: the percentage or, where the DARI form allows it, a fixed amount in dirhams, written into the agreement.
- Ending it: how and when either side can end it, and what happens to the rent and the keys.
- Reports and repairs: what the manager reports and how quickly it answers a tenant.
What official rules apply?
- Registration: on DARI the owner registers the agreement, the manager accepts it, returns it with amendments or rejects it, and it is issued once paid.
- Advertising: a property management company can request an advertising permit for rent only, not for sale. DARI asks it for a valid trade licence, an active agreement and at least one licensed broker on its staff.
- Leases and rent: leases are still registered on Tawtheeq, and the 0% rent increase announced on 3 June 2026 applies outside ADGM until further notice.
- On Al Reem and Al Maryah: ADGM says only licensed property management companies can manage homes for owners. While an agreement is active the owner cannot start a lease, and after it expires it must be terminated before the owner can act on the home.
When might I not need a property manager?
You may manage well without one if you can register and renew the lease yourself on DARI, which DARI says works from abroad too; if you have one home and a tenant who renews; and if you can answer repair requests quickly. A licensed broker can still find you a tenant under a brokerage contract, which is a different service from management. A manager is an option when you own several homes, cannot deal with repairs yourself, or want someone else to collect the rent.
Official sources
Read on 29 October 2026. Rules and fees can change: check the official page before you act.
Frequently asked questions
What does a property management company do in Abu Dhabi?
It acts for the owner under a registered Property Management Agreement. On DARI the owner sets its permissions, such as collecting rent, plus the homes covered, the duration and the agreed value.
Does DARI manage my property for me?
No. DARI says it is not a property management company. It provides services such as issuing Property Management Agreements and registering leases, while the owner, or a manager the owner appoints, does the day to day work.
How long can a property management agreement last?
DARI says the maximum duration is 4 years. On Al Reem and Al Maryah, ADGM says there is no maximum duration.
Can a property manager advertise my home for sale?
Not as a property management company. DARI's permit rules let a property management company request an advertising permit for rent only, not for sale. A sale is advertised by a licensed broker under a brokerage contract.
How do I end a property management agreement?
On DARI the owner starts the termination and the manager accepts or rejects it. On AccessRP both parties must approve, and an expired agreement must be terminated before the owner can act on the home.
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