Tawtheeq is the official registration of a lease in Abu Dhabi. The landlord starts it online on DARI, the tenant accepts it, and the contract is issued once the fees are paid. For a home let for under four years, DARI and TAMM list a registration fee of AED 50 a contract. On Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands the lease goes on ADGM's own register instead. Below are the steps, what to prepare and the official fees, each with its official page.
What is Tawtheeq, and why should I register?
Tawtheeq is the name used for online lease registration in Abu Dhabi. You do it on DARI, or through TAMM, for the Department of Municipalities and Transport. The registered contract is the official record of who rents your home, for how long and at what rent.
That record matters more in 2026. When ADREC announced the temporary 0% rent increase on 3 June 2026, it said every renewal and new agreement will reference the rent in the property's last registered Tawtheeq contract. Abu Dhabi's tenancy law also requires leases to be in writing, and under the property registration law an unregistered lease of more than four years has no effect beyond the personal obligations of the two parties. Anyone can check a registered contract by its number on ADREC's Verify Document page.
Who registers the lease, and who pays?
The landlord starts it and the tenant accepts it. On DARI the landlord enters the contract and sends it; the tenant is notified and can accept it or return it with a reason. If it comes back, the landlord can edit the contract or terminate it.
The form asks who pays the municipality fee, the tenant or the landlord, so agree that point before you start. For renewals, DARI's answers say only the landlord can apply, the tenant cannot be replaced on a renewal, and there is no penalty for a late renewal.
How to register a lease on DARI
- Log in to DARI, open Services, choose Lease, then Register Tenancy Contract.
- Select the property you are letting.
- Property details: choose residential, commercial or industrial, the tenant type, and enter the Premise ID.
- Tenant details: enter the tenant's Emirates ID or Unified Number, or the trade licence for a company, and add the occupants.
- Rent details: the total rent, start and expiry dates, deposit, payment method, number of instalments, who pays the municipality fee and whether subletting is allowed.
- Attach any appendix or documents, review everything and send the contract to the tenant.
- Pay the fees shown in the application and download the registered contract once it is issued.
DARI notes that a contract longer than four years needs an official approval from the Department of Municipalities and Transport. The Premise ID is a 10-digit number shown on your electricity bill.
What do I need before I start?
- Your home in your DARI account, since you select it at the first step.
- The Premise ID from the electricity bill.
- The tenant's Emirates ID or Unified Number, email and phone, or the company's trade licence.
- The agreed rent, dates, deposit, payment method and number of instalments.
- Who pays the municipality fee, and whether subletting is allowed.
TAMM's page for this service lists municipality permits, a passport, an official letter and the concerned entity's approval, plus supporting documents if needed. A building or villa must be enrolled in Tawtheeq before leases can be issued on it; TAMM's Enrol and Register Units for Lease service does that.
What does Tawtheeq cost?
| Item | Official amount | Listed on |
|---|
| Residential lease under 4 years | AED 50 a contract | DARI, TAMM |
| Residential lease of 4 years or more | 1% of a year's rent | DARI, TAMM |
| Municipality fee, tenants who are not UAE nationals | 5% of the yearly rent, at least AED 450 | DARI fee page (January 2024) |
| Renewal | AED 50 | TAMM |
| Enrolling units for lease | AED 900 plus AED 5 a unit | TAMM |
DARI's fee page says fees change with the contract type, so check the amount shown in your application before you pay.
What about Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands?
Both islands sit inside ADGM, which keeps its own property register, so a lease there is registered on ADGM's AccessRP, not Tawtheeq. ADGM says only the landlord, a representative with a power of attorney, or a property management company under an active agreement can start it; the tenant approves it; and the landlord pays the registration fee. A lease can be registered up to one month after its start date without a penalty.
For a residential lease, ADGM's service page lists an application fee of AED 100 for under four years, an electronic service fee of AED 40 before VAT and an ADGM fee of 5% of the lease value.
Official sources
Read on 29 October 2026. Rules and fees can change: check the official page before you act.
Frequently asked questions
Who registers Tawtheeq, the landlord or the tenant?
The landlord starts the registration on DARI and the tenant accepts it. For a renewal, DARI says only the landlord can apply.
How much does Tawtheeq registration cost?
For a residential lease under four years, DARI and TAMM list AED 50 a contract, and 1% of a year's rent for four years or more. DARI's fee page, last edited in January 2024, also lists a municipality fee of 5% of the yearly rent, at least AED 450, for tenants who are not UAE nationals ("non-Local" on DARI). TAMM's current page does not list it, so check the amount shown before you pay.
How long does registration take?
TAMM lists the service as taking 1 day. The tenant also has to accept the contract on DARI, so send it when the tenant is ready to reply.
When can I renew a Tawtheeq contract?
DARI says a contract can be renewed within 1 month before its expiry, by the landlord only, and TAMM lists a renewal fee of AED 50. Since 3 June 2026, renewals outside ADGM are at a 0% increase until further notice.
Can I register the lease while I am abroad?
Yes. DARI says you can start, approve or decline applications from abroad, and ADGM says the same for AccessRP on Al Reem and Al Maryah.
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