Dubai’s ‘Flexi Rent’ to help tenants save money upfront

MONTHLY INSTALMENTS REPLACE CHEQUES AS DUBAI MODERNISES RENTALS

- BY ZAINAB HUSAIN

Paying your rent in Dubai will become easier, with more flexible payment options.

In a major shift for the emirate’s real estate market, the Dubai Land Department (DLD) recently launched the ‘Flexi Rent’ programme. This initiative allows residents to bypass heavy upfront costs by spreading their rent across monthly instalments and other flexible payment structures.

The traditional model, requiring tenants to pay annual rent in one to four bulk cheques, is increasingly at odds with modern financial habits.

Increase in demand for monthly rent

Demand for flexible payment terms has surged across the emirate. Rajneel Kumar, co-founder and COO of Rentify, a UAE-based proptech firm designed to replace cheque-heavy systems, notes that consumer expectations have fundamentally changed.

“Demand for monthly rentals has grown considerably,” Kumar says. “Over 70 per cent of tenants on our platform opt for monthly payments; for many, it has become a deciding factor in which property they choose. The traditional cheque model no longer reflects how people manage their finances.”

This trend is backed by broader data. In 2025, a Visa study indicated a clear shift in consumer behaviour, with UAE residents actively ditching physical cheques in favour of direct debits and digital alternatives when settling rent.

How does ‘flexi rent’ work?

Under the first phase of the framework, participating landlords and property management companies will offer tailored payment plans ranging from monthly and quarterly schedules to semi-annual options. In some cases, schedules can be extended up to 12 months, allowing salaried professionals to align their biggest living expense directly with their monthly income.