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Rent cheque planner

Type your yearly rent, the start date and the number of cheques. See every cheque's date and amount, the cash you need to move in, and save reminders to your calendar.

AED
Number of cheques

When is the first cheque cashed?

The first cheque is usually handed over and cashed when you sign. Leave it as the start date if you are not sure.

Move-in extras (optional)
Security deposit

Common practice, not a fixed legal rate: often 5% of the yearly rent unfurnished and 10% furnished. Use the figure in your contract. It is refundable when you leave the home in good condition.

% of yearly rent

Common practice in Dubai is about 5% of the yearly rent, sometimes with a minimum fee. It is agreed with the agent: type 0 if you rent directly from the owner.

AED

Runs on your phone. Nothing you type is uploaded or saved.

Before you hand over the cheques

Keep every cheque covered

Post-dated cheques can be presented on their date, so keep the full amount in the account a few days before each one. The calendar file reminds you 3 days ahead.

A bounced cheque is still serious

Since 2 January 2022, a cheque that bounces for lack of funds is no longer a crime in most cases. But the bank pays whatever is in the account, and the landlord can take the returned cheque straight to an execution judge to recover the rest, without a full lawsuit. Fraud, forgery or bad faith are still crimes.

Unpaid rent can end the lease

In Dubai, the landlord can ask for eviction if rent is not paid within 30 days of being notified. If money will be short, talk to the landlord before the date, not after.

Ask for receipts

Write down each cheque's number, and ask for a signed receipt listing all the cheques and the deposit. Keep it with your registered contract.

Sources, checked on 27 October 2026: Central Bank of the UAE, Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Justice, joint statement on the amendments to the Commercial Transactions Law by Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2020 (from 2 January 2022, issuing a cheque without enough funds is no longer a criminal offence; the bank must pay the available balance unless the holder refuses; the returned cheque is an executive instrument enforced by an execution judge; forgery, fraud and bad-faith cases stay criminal) (centralbank.ae). Dubai Land Department, "Register / Renew Tenancy Contract" (Ejari: AED 177.75 in total by app, AED 220 at a trustee centre) (dubailand.gov.ae). Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008, Article 25 (eviction if rent is unpaid within 30 days of notice) (dlp.dubai.gov.ae). Sharjah: residential lease attestation fee of 4% of the yearly rent, as reported by Gulf News (16 November 2020, on the Sharjah City Municipality's temporary cut to 2% until 31 March 2021); we could not find the fee on an official page, so check with the municipality. Abu Dhabi (Tawtheeq), Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah: registration fees were not published on the official pages we checked, so they are marked "check". Market practice, not law: security deposit about 5% of the yearly rent unfurnished and 10% furnished, agency commission about 5% of the yearly rent (Gulf News, "Renting in Dubai: 11 extra costs"); VAT on the agent's fee at the standard 5% (Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017). Amounts in words follow common cheque wording. This is a planning guide, not legal or financial advice.