Under Dubai's legal framework, a tenancy contract is a binding document mutually agreed upon by both parties. After signing the contract, you are obligated to pay the rent specified in it. However, if you observe significant decreases in rents for other tenants in the same building, you have the right to negotiate a rent reduction with the landlord.
You need to ensure that your tenancy contract has been registered with the Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) through the Ejari system. This is a crucial step as only contracts officially registered are legally protected and enforceable.
According to Dubai's legal regulations, both landlords and tenants are obligated to adhere to the terms and conditions outlined in the contract. Tenants are required to pay the rent specified in the contract. However, under revisions in Dubai's tenancy laws, landlords and tenants have the right to renegotiate rents before renewing lease contracts.
If you find out that other tenants are getting lower rents upon renewal, you can discuss with your landlord and request a rent reduction. You can refer to Article 13 of the Dubai Rent Law amendment, which allows for the modification of any terms or reconsideration of rents before renewing lease contracts. According to this law, if both parties fail to agree on the rent, the court may determine the final rent amount based on the standard of fair rent.
It's important to note that during the validity of the tenancy agreement, the landlord has the discretion to decide whether to agree to a rent reduction. Despite your desire to negotiate with the landlord, the ultimate decision lies with them.
If you cannot reach an agreement with the landlord on the rent, you can seek assistance from the Dubai Rental Dispute Center. The Rental Dispute Center is an independent entity dedicated to handling rental disputes. You can submit an application to the center, and they will adjudicate the fair rent for your rented apartment based on relevant laws and regulations.