Dubai Launches Flexi Rent to Support Tenants

The Dubai Land Department (DLD) has unveiled a new initiative designed to ease the financial pressure on tenants by allowing rent payments in monthly instalments. The programme, titled Flexi Rent, was announced on Tuesday in partnership with 12 major property companies, marking a significant shift in how residential leases can be managed across the emirate.

The scheme aims to provide a flexible and accessible rental solution, moving away from the traditional requirement of single or double cheque payments. Under the new arrangement, tenants can pay their rent using debit or credit cards, and the option to split payments into monthly instalments will be available for both new and renewed tenancy contracts.

Flexible Payment Terms

A key feature of the Flexi Rent initiative is the flexibility offered to tenants regarding payment structures. According to officials, the total rent amount will remain unchanged regardless of whether it is paid in instalments or traditional cheques, but the method offers greater liquidity for residents. Additionally, the fee for bounced cheques will be waived under the agreement.

Khalid Al Shaibani, director of the rental affairs department at the DLD, outlined the specific concessions available to partners in the scheme.

"We have an agreement with 12 real estate companies that they can divide the instalment plan, they can provide grace period, they can redesign the payment plan and, if there is any increment for this year, and only for specific cases, they can just ignore it," Al Shaibani said.

Among the companies participating in the rollout are Deyaar, Wasl, Dubai Investment Real Estate, and Driven Properties. Other partners include SBK Al Showaib, Al Ruwad, Modern Real Estate, Harbor Real Estate, and Dubai International Real Estate. Al Shaibani indicated that the list of partners would expand, noting, "We will have more [companies] join us."

Market Context and Future Plans

The initiative comes amid a backdrop of evolving market conditions. Dubai registered almost 1.2 million tenancy contracts last year, according to DLD figures. While the property market experienced a boom earlier in the year, rent growth decelerated in the first quarter of 2026 as new homes were delivered. Overall rent prices increased by approximately 4.1 per cent year on year, with apartments rising 4.9 per cent while villa costs remained stable.

Despite external challenges, including the fallout from the Iran conflict that began on February 28, property transactions have remained strong. Al Shaibani expressed confidence in the market's resilience alongside government support.

"Dubai always breaks through all challenges. We will recover very fast. These initiatives that government is launching will support this," he said.

The Flexi Rent programme is described as part of a broader suite of efforts to stabilize the housing sector. This follows previous measures such as a first-time buyers initiative and a smart rental index launched last year, as well as updated visa rules aimed at attracting overseas buyers.

Looking ahead, authorities hinted at further developments to enhance livability in the city.

"In the next two months, there will be another initiative that will support stability with 'the same goal to make … Dubai the best city to live, work, and enjoy'," Al Shaibani added, confirming that the affordable rental initiative sits under an umbrella of incoming projects designed to support tenant stability and market health.