Rent disputes in Sharjah: the Rental Disputes Center

How rent disputes work in Sharjah: the Rental Disputes Center under Sharjah Municipality, lease attestation, what to prepare and where to confirm filing steps.

In Sharjah, landlord and tenant disputes are decided by the Rental Disputes Center in the Emirate of Sharjah, a judicial centre affiliated with Sharjah Municipality; older guides often call this route the "rent committee". Sharjah Law No. 5 of 2024 on Property Leasing sets the rights and duties, and Law No. 6 of 2024 created the centre. Before filing, make sure your lease is attested, collect your evidence, and confirm the current filing channel and fees with Sharjah Municipality.

Who this guide is for

This guide is for tenants and landlords of residential, commercial, industrial or professional property in the Emirate of Sharjah who disagree about rent, eviction, repairs, deposits or other lease issues.

Rules differ between emirates. Dubai disputes go to the Dubai Rental Disputes Center, and Ajman has its own centre. Some Sharjah free zones have their own dispute bodies, and certain property types, such as hotel accommodation and some employer-provided housing, are outside the leasing law. If you are unsure which body applies, try the UAE authority navigator.

How the system works now

Many older guides refer to a "rent committee" at Sharjah Municipality and to earlier Sharjah tenancy laws. In September 2024 the Ruler of Sharjah issued two new laws, according to the Sharjah Government Media Bureau:

Law	What it covers
Law No. (5) of 2024 on Property Leasing in the Emirate of Sharjah	Lease contracts, attestation, rent increases, landlord and tenant duties, eviction rules
Law No. (6) of 2024 on the Rental Disputes Center in the Emirate of Sharjah	Creates the centre, affiliated with Sharjah Municipality, with first-instance courts, appeal courts and an enforcement department

Points from the official announcements that matter for disputes:

Attestation. The landlord must attest the lease, and any renewal, with the municipality or authorised bodies within 15 days of drafting it.
Rent increases. Rent may not be increased within three years from the start of the tenancy unless the parties agree otherwise.
Early eviction limits. A landlord may not ask the tenant to vacate within three years (residential) or five years (commercial, industrial or professional) from the start of the tenancy, except on grounds the law allows, such as non-payment or breach.
Notice. The announcement links this notice to the own-use ground. The landlord must notify the tenant at least three months before the eviction date, must not own another suitable home in the municipality's area, and must occupy the property, or have an adult first-degree relative occupy it, within two months for at least one year.
Sale. A transfer of ownership does not end the tenancy.
Deposits. The landlord must return financial guarantees at the end of the tenancy, unless they were deducted for damage caused by the tenant.
Rent deposits. A tenant may deposit rent with the centre under the controls in the executive regulations.
Unattested leases. Either party may still file a claim with the centre without an attested contract, according to the announcement.
Appeals. First-instance decisions in cases worth up to AED 100,000 are generally final, but the official summary lists exceptions, including decisions ordering eviction. Appeals must be filed within 15 days from the day after the session.

These points come from official summaries, not the full legal text. Check the full law and its executive regulations, or ask a lawyer, before relying on a specific rule.

Step by step

Confirm Sharjah rules apply. Check the property's location, use and whether it is in a free zone with its own body.
Check lease attestation. Confirm your contract was attested with Sharjah Municipality and keep the attested copy.
Write to the other party first. Set out the problem, what you want and a reasonable deadline.
Keep paying rent, or ask about depositing it. If there is a dispute over payment, ask the centre about depositing rent with it rather than simply stopping.
Build your file. Gather the contract, payments, messages, photos and notices. The evidence checklist builder can help.
Confirm the filing channel. Sharjah Municipality's website lists online inquiry services for rental dispute and enforcement cases. Contact the municipality to confirm how to register a new claim, and the current fee.
Register the claim. Describe the facts, your request and attach your documents, with legal Arabic translations where needed.
Attend hearings. Follow notices from the centre, including any remote sessions.
Track deadlines. Note the 15-day appeal window in the legal deadline organiser.
Enforce the decision. If the other party does not comply, ask the centre's enforcement department about next steps.

Documents checklist

Attested tenancy contract and any renewals
Emirates ID, or trade licence and manager's ID for a company
Passport copy, if requested
Title deed or proof of ownership, for landlords
Rent cheques, transfer records and receipts
Notices, emails, letters and messages between the parties
Photos or videos of the property's condition, with dates
Utility bills or repair invoices, if relevant
Power of attorney, if someone files for you
Legal Arabic translations of documents not in Arabic

Common mistakes

Relying on old articles. Information based on earlier Sharjah laws may be out of date since the 2024 laws.
Not attesting the lease. Late attestation can bring fines and makes your file harder to prove.
Stopping rent without advice. Non-payment is a ground for eviction. Ask about depositing rent with the centre instead.
Filing in the wrong emirate or body. Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and some free zones each have their own route.
Missing the appeal window. Fifteen days passes quickly. Diary it on the day of the session.
Guessing the fee. Confirm the current fee with the centre before filing.

When to speak to a licensed lawyer

Consider licensed advice if the claim is large enough to be appealable, if the landlord seeks eviction in the first three or five years, if your lease was never attested, if the property is commercial, or if the dispute involves bounced cheques. A lawyer can also explain how the 2024 laws apply to a contract signed before they took effect.

If you would like help finding someone, CaseDaleel can introduce you to an independent licensed professional, only if you choose. You can start with the free case check.

Frequently asked questions

Is there still a rent committee in Sharjah?

Disputes are now handled by the Rental Disputes Center in the Emirate of Sharjah, set up under Law No. 6 of 2024 and affiliated with Sharjah Municipality.

Which law governs leases in Sharjah?

Sharjah Law No. 5 of 2024 on Property Leasing, with executive regulations issued by the Sharjah Executive Council; older contracts may raise transition questions to check with a lawyer.

Can I file if my lease was never attested?

The official announcement says either party may file a claim with the centre without an attested contract, but attestation is still a legal duty and can affect fines and proof.

Can my landlord raise the rent every year?

The law says rent may not be increased within three years from the start of the tenancy, unless the parties agree otherwise.

How do I file a rent dispute in Sharjah?

Registration is handled through the Rental Disputes Center under Sharjah Municipality; confirm the current online or in-person channel and fee on the municipality's website before filing.

Can I appeal a decision?

Cases worth more than AED 100,000 can be appealed within 15 days from the day after the session; smaller cases are generally final, although the official summary lists exceptions, including decisions ordering eviction.

Does selling the property end my lease?

No; the law states that a transfer of ownership does not end the tenancy or harm the tenant.

Official sources

General information, not legal advice. CaseDaleel is not a law firm.