5 November 2026
Dubai Land Department (DLD) has officially launched “Rent Now, Pay Later”, a service that lets individual tenants of residential property in Dubai pay their annual rent in 6 or 12 monthly instalments with an eligible Emirates NBD credit card, while the landlord receives the agreed amount upfront. The tenant pays a 1% Emirates NBD processing fee and a 1.5% Noqodi fee on the transaction value, plus the AED 177.50 Ejari registration fee. Approval depends on the bank’s eligibility criteria and credit assessment, and the service does not cover companies, commercial property or the security deposit.
What DLD launched on 5 November 2026
The launch was reported on 5 November 2026 by Emirates 24|7 and Emarat Al Youm, both citing the DLD website. The service runs exclusively through Emirates NBD credit cards. Under the model, Emirates NBD pays the landlord the amount covered by the service at the start of the tenancy, and the tenant then repays the bank in monthly instalments over 6 or 12 months. The option to pay the full rent in a single payment remains available.
The service covers the amount agreed between the landlord and the tenant. That can be the full annual rent or only part of it. After the payment, the bank manages the tenant’s instalments separately from the landlord and tenant relationship, so the landlord does not wait for monthly transfers or collect post-dated cheques for the covered amount.
The plan was first reported in August 2026, when Emarat Al Youm wrote that DLD was preparing a “Rent Now, Pay Later” service with a local bank, then expected in September, under a mechanism described as interest-free for the tenant. The terms published at launch name Emirates NBD as the bank and list the tenant’s costs as fees.
Who can use the service
According to DLD, four conditions apply:
- the tenant holds an eligible Emirates NBD credit card;
- the tenant is an individual, not a company;
- the property is residential and located in Dubai;
- the payment relates to a new tenancy registration or the renewal of an existing Ejari contract.
DLD states that the service does not extend to companies or commercial properties. Passing the initial eligibility check does not guarantee approval or a specific instalment plan: every application remains subject to Emirates NBD’s eligibility criteria, credit assessment and final approval. The DLD website has a quick eligibility check with four questions that mirror the conditions above.
How the process works in the Dubai REST app
The landlord starts the process. The sequence published by DLD:
- The landlord creates a new residential tenancy contract or renews an existing one in the Dubai REST app.
- The landlord selects “Rent Now, Pay Later” and enters the amount agreed with the tenant.
- The landlord enters the correct IBAN and account holder name, signs the contract and sends it to the tenant.
- The tenant receives a notification with the service offer, reviews and approves the contract details.
- The tenant pays with an eligible Emirates NBD credit card and chooses a 6 or 12 month plan.
- The tenant confirms the payment and receives the transaction details and a downloadable receipt.
- The Ejari registration certificate is issued and the landlord receives the covered amount upfront.
Fees and a worked example
| Item | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates NBD processing fee | 1% of the transaction value | Tenant |
| Noqodi fee | 1.5% of the transaction value | Tenant |
| Ejari registration | AED 177.50, collected separately in Dubai REST | Tenant |
| Security deposit | Not included in the instalment plan | Paid separately |
| Instalment periods | 6 or 12 months | Repaid to Emirates NBD |
The cost calculator on the DLD website gives this example for AED 100,000 of rent covered by the service: a bank processing fee of AED 1,000, a payment fee of AED 950 and the Ejari fee of AED 177.50, a total of AED 102,127.50, or AED 8,510.63 a month over 12 months. The calculator figure for the payment fee is lower than 1.5% of AED 100,000. DLD describes the calculator as a guide only: the monthly payment, fees and total due are shown during the payment process before confirmation, and that screen is the figure to rely on.
What it means for residents, landlords and companies
For tenants, the service changes when the rent is paid, not how much the landlord receives. Instead of paying the covered amount when the tenancy starts, the tenant spreads it over 6 or 12 card payments to the bank. The cost is the fees above, and the full limit needed sits on an Emirates NBD credit card, which is issued under the bank’s own criteria.
For landlords, the main change is cash flow: the covered amount arrives at the start of the tenancy and the bank, not the landlord, collects the monthly payments. The landlord has to initiate the contract in Dubai REST and enter correct bank details, otherwise the tenant cannot use the option.
For companies, nothing changes. A lease signed by a company, staff accommodation under a corporate contract and any office, shop or warehouse are outside the service. Employers who pay housing allowances can note that an employee renting in their own name may now pay monthly through the bank, while the company’s own leases stay on the usual terms.
For people relocating to Dubai, the order matters. The service requires an Emirates NBD credit card, so the residence visa and the bank relationship come first. Our UAE bank account opening guide covers how banks assess new residents, and our recent article on Ejari registration and DEWA activation through DubaiNow explains the next steps after a tenancy is signed.
Checklist before you choose Rent Now, Pay Later
- Confirm that the tenancy is residential, in Dubai and in your own name, not a company’s.
- Check that you hold an eligible Emirates NBD credit card with enough limit for the covered amount.
- Agree with the landlord which amount the service will cover: the full rent or part of it.
- Ask the landlord to create or renew the contract in Dubai REST and select the service.
- Budget the security deposit separately, it is not part of the instalments.
- Add 1% bank fee, the Noqodi fee and AED 177.50 for Ejari to the rent.
- Read the final monthly amount and total on the payment screen before you confirm.
How Atlant Capital can help
Atlant Capital works with entrepreneurs and families who move their business and life to Dubai. We arrange the residence visa that comes before any UAE credit card, support personal and corporate bank account opening, and help with Ejari registration for homes and offices. For founders setting up a company, we also explain which leases belong to the company and which to the individual, since only personal residential tenancies qualify for this service.
Conclusion
From 5 November 2026, individual tenants of residential property in Dubai can pay annual rent in 6 or 12 instalments through an Emirates NBD credit card, with the landlord paid upfront. The tenant pays a 1% bank fee, a 1.5% Noqodi fee and AED 177.50 for Ejari, and approval rests with Emirates NBD. Companies, commercial property and security deposits are outside the service.
Source: Emirates 24|7, Emarat Al Youm.
FAQ
What is Rent Now, Pay Later in Dubai?
Rent Now, Pay Later is a Dubai Land Department service launched on 5 November 2026 with Emirates NBD. It lets individual tenants of residential property in Dubai pay annual rent in 6 or 12 monthly instalments with an eligible Emirates NBD credit card, while the landlord receives the agreed amount upfront.
How much does Rent Now, Pay Later cost?
The tenant pays an Emirates NBD processing fee of 1% of the transaction value and a Noqodi fee of 1.5%, plus the Ejari registration fee of AED 177.50. The DLD calculator estimates AED 8,510.63 a month over 12 months for AED 100,000 of rent. Final amounts are shown before payment confirmation.
Can a company pay office rent in instalments under this service?
No. DLD states that the service is available only to individual tenants of residential properties in Dubai. Companies and commercial properties such as offices, shops and warehouses are not covered, and corporate leases continue to be paid on the usual terms.
Does Rent Now, Pay Later cover the security deposit?
No. The instalment plan covers the rent amount agreed between the landlord and the tenant, either the full annual rent or part of it. The security deposit is not included and has to be paid separately.
