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Articles

Practical writing on Dubai rentals, deposits, and inspection evidence.

Blog

Move-out Inspection in Dubai: Hand Over Without Losing Your Deposit

Move-out day is when your deposit is decided. The week-before checklist, the walkthrough against your check-in report, and what to do about deductions.

5 min read
Blog

Security Deposit Amounts in Dubai: 5% or 10%, and What the Law Actually Says

Dubai deposits run 5% unfurnished and 10% furnished by convention, not by law. What is legal, what is negotiable, and how to pay so you can prove it.

4 min read
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Ejari Explained: What It Costs, Who Pays, and Why It Matters in a Dispute

Ejari registers every Dubai tenancy contract. What it costs, who pays, what it unlocks, and why an unregistered contract weakens you in a dispute.

4 min read
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Snagging vs Property Inspection in Dubai: What's the Difference?

Snagging is the defect check of a brand-new Dubai property. How it differs from a rental condition report, which one you need, and when each applies.

4 min read
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Can My Landlord Deduct Cleaning and Repainting From My Deposit in Dubai?

Repainting: no, it is the owner's cost. Cleaning: only if the unit was returned genuinely dirty, with proof. The rules, the exceptions, how to push back.

4 min read
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White-Label Inspection Reports: Your Agency's Brand on Every Report

What a white-label inspection report is, why a branded PDF in the landlord's inbox helps Dubai agencies win mandates, and what branding cannot do.

4 min read
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What Is a Check-in Report and Why Dubai Judges Ask For It First

The anatomy of a check-in report, what makes one valid in a Dubai court, and why it is the first document an RDC judge looks for in every deposit dispute.

4 min read
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How Much Does It Cost to File a Case at the Dubai RDC? (The Real Fee Schedule)

The RDC fee most blogs quote is wrong for deposit cases. The real two-track fee schedule, worked examples, who ends up paying, and the hidden costs.

4 min read
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Renting in Dubai vs France, the UK and Germany: Deposit Protection Compared

France, the UK and Germany each protect a rental deposit by law. Dubai does not. A country-by-country comparison of what actually protects your money.

5 min read
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Move-in Inspection Checklist Dubai: What to Document on Day One

Room-by-room checklist for a Dubai move-in: what to photograph, the spots everyone misses, and how to turn a walkthrough into court-grade evidence.

4 min read
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Can I Keep My Tenant's Deposit in Dubai? (What Landlords Must Prove)

Yes, if you can prove it. The three lawful grounds for keeping a Dubai tenant's deposit, the two-part burden of proof, and when not to file.

4 min read
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Normal Wear and Tear vs Damage: Where Dubai Law Draws the Line

Faded paint, scratched floors, limescale, AC filters: what counts as normal wear and tear in a Dubai rental, what counts as damage, and who decides.

6 min read
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The Complete Checklist Before Renting in Dubai (Verify Before You Sign)

Verify the agent, owner, price, building and contract before you sign a Dubai rental: the official tools, the chiller trap and the scams to avoid.

6 min read
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Just Got Your Keys? Your First 48 Hours in a Dubai Rental

Your first 48 hours in a Dubai rental: DEWA, Ejari, move-in permits, and the 20-minute task that protects your deposit for the whole tenancy.

5 min read
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How Much Does a Property Inspection Cost in Dubai? (2026 Prices)

Traditional inspections cost AED 1,200-3,500 in Dubai. 2026 prices by property type, what you get for the money, and cheaper alternatives.

4 min read
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Photos vs Signed Reports: What Counts as Evidence at the Dubai RDC

WhatsApp photos vs signed reports: what the Dubai RDC weighs in deposit cases, and why most tenant evidence fails before it is even read.

5 min read
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Is a Check-in Report Mandatory in Dubai? (What Expats Get Wrong)

No, Dubai law does not require a check-in report, and that is why you need one. What the law says, what expats get wrong, and how to protect yourself.

5 min read
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Can Your Dubai Landlord Legally Keep Your Full Deposit?

Almost never. What Dubai law lets a landlord deduct, when full withholding is illegal, and the demand letter to send, template included.

5 min read
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What Happens at the RDC When There's No Check-in Report (A Real Case)

I went through a Dubai deposit dispute as a tenant: AED 4,000 claimed for repainting, no check-in report. Here is exactly how the RDC ruled, and why.

5 min read
Blog

Best Property Inspection Apps in Dubai (2026 Comparison)

SnapInspect, HappyCo, Property Inspect and Snagify compared for Dubai: pricing, RDC evidence, Arabic support and who each tool fits.

6 min read