New Tenancy Rule: Dubai Land Department requires tenants to register co-occupants

The Dubai Land Department has notified all owners, developers, property management companies and tenants to register their co-occupant details in owned and leased properties.

The registration can be done through the Dubai REST app and must be completed within a “maximum of two weeks with immediate effect,” a circular issued by the Dubai Land Department said.

The rules apply to all owners, developers, property management companies and tenants.Some tenants and homeowners in Dubai have already begun receiving instructions from their property owners or developers on details of how to register co-occupant details.

To register their co-occupants, all owners, developers, property management companies and tenants must follow an eight-step process, including adding personal details and the Emirates ID.

The update follows changes to family laws in the UAE to allow unmarried couples to live together, as well as unrelated flatmates.

Once registered, details of co-occupants will automatically be updated on the tenancy contract, allowing each resident to use an Ejari contract as proof of address.

How to register co-occupants using Dubai REST App?

1. Open Dubai REST App and log in to the Application. Please register if you’re a new user.

2. Choose your role as an “individual” and log in with UAE PASS for quick access

3. Authenticate yourself via the UAE PASS application

4. From the dashboard, select the property where you are a tenant/ owner

5. Select manage co-occupants to proceed

6. Select “add more” to add co-occupants to the property where you are a tenant 7. Enter the Emirates ID and date of birth of the co-occupant and select ‘verify.’

8. Add all family members who are living on that property. To remove a co-occupant, select the delete icon and submit.

So far no details have been provided about potential penalties for failing to register co-occupants within the two-week deadline.