New Dubai tenancy rule: Step-by-step guide to registering cohabitants

[Editor’s Note: This guide was first published about two weeks ago, three days after the Dubai Land Department issued an advisory about the registration of cohabitants on September 23. In the circular, it was stated that tenants must complete the process within a “maximum of two weeks with immediate effect”.]

Dubai residents have two weeks to register all co-occupants staying in a residential unit for a month or more. The two-week deadline began on Friday, September 23.

According to the Dubai Land Department (DLD), the tenant under whose name the tenancy contract is registered must add all those staying with him/her.

The registration should include the co-occupant’s name and Emirates ID. For those who don’t have an Emirates ID, the passport number needs to be entered.

The registration process is simple and can be done on the Dubai REST app. Here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Download the Dubai REST app.

2. As soon as you start the app, this message will pop up:

3. Click on ‘Proceed’

4. If you have previously registered on the app or the DLD website, click on ‘Proceed to Login’ under ‘Already a registered user’.

5. If not, scroll down to ‘Not yet registered’ and click on ‘Proceed to register’.

6. You can register with any of the following:

Note: If your phone number is not linked to your Emirates ID, you will not receive the one-time password required to complete this step. You need to first update your phone number with Emirates ID.

7. For registration, you need your passport number and Emirates ID scans (front and back side). After registering, click on ‘Proceed to Login’ from step 4.

• Apartments for rent in Dubai: Can real estate agents insist on 4 cheques for payment?