The system was introduced in 2011 to establish and maintain a register of tenancy contracts in the Capital.
If you have ever rented an apartment in Abu Dhabi, you’ll likely have heard the term, “Tawtheeq”. This is Arabic for “attestation”. The Tawtheeq system was introduced in 2011 to establish and maintain a register of tenancy contracts in the Capital. Since its inception, Tawtheeq has provided a much-needed framework in order to safeguard the rights of landlords and tenants in relation to their properties in Abu Dhabi.
This article will explain why Tawtheeq is important, how to register for Tawtheeq and what fees are involved in getting Tawtheeq.
What is Tawtheeq and Why is it Important?
Tawtheeq is a system implemented by the Abu Dhabi government to regulate tenancy contracts for rental properties in the emirate. It serves as a framework to formalize tenancy agreements, promote transparency between landlords and tenants, and prevent future disputes. By mandating the registration of tenancy contracts, Tawtheeq ensures that all relevant information about the property and the parties involved is recorded and accessible.
The introduction of Tawtheeq was a significant step towards enhancing the regulation and efficiency of the real estate market in Abu Dhabi. It aims to protect the rights of both landlords and tenants by providing a reliable and transparent platform for managing tenancy contracts.
How To Register in Tawtheeq?
While the process is similar to Dubai’s Ejari, in Abu Dhabi, the registration of Tawtheeq is done by either the property owner or the real estate consultants managing the property on behalf of the owner rather than the tenant. The good news is Tawtheeq registration services are now 100% online. Landlords and property managers who are registering will need to open an account on the Abu Dhabi Municipality’s website.
All Tawtheeq registration processes can be completed via the Smart Hub platform. If you prefer to register in person, you can visit the Customer Service Centre at the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City (Head Office) or one of the Municipality’s affiliated external centres or customer service outlets.
There is a standardized form for all tenancy contracts, which will include the necessary details about the rented property. If the information you enter in the form doesn’t match the information in the Municipality’s database or there are any other discrepancies in the submission, the Municipality will contact you to clarify and the form will need to be resubmitted.
What Are The Documents Required For Tawtheeq?
Remember that in Abu Dhabi, it is the landlord (or property manager) who will register the contract, not the tenant. The documents required to register will depend on whether it is the landlord or a property management company who is carrying out the registration.
For Homeowners/Landlords:
- Account opening form
- Valid passport copy of the owner and authorized signatory or representative
- Valid Emirates ID copy for the authorized signatory or representative
- A Copy of the owner’s family book (if the owner is a UAE national)
- A Copy of the power of attorney for the property owner’s legal representative
- A Copy of the trade license (for companies)
- A Copy of the notarized signature of the property owner (if applicable)
- A Copy of the Chamber of Commerce and industry membership (for companies)
- Soft copy of the property owner’s tenancy contract and special terms and conditions, with a hard copy signed by the authorized signatory
For Property Managers/Management Companies:
- Account opening form
- A copy of the company’s trade license
- A Copy of the Chamber of Commerce and industry membership
- A copy of the notarized power of attorney for signature authorization or company’s Articles of Association or a signature authorization letter
- Valid passport copy of the authorized signatory (company’s legal representative)
- Valid copy of the residence permit for the authorized signatory (company’s legal representative)
- A copy of the national ID card for the authorized signatory (company’s legal representative)
- A soft copy of the company’s tenancy contract and special terms and conditions, with a hard copy signed by the authorized signatory
Once the account is opened, additional documents such as tenancy forms and identification documents for the tenant will need to be submitted.
Once the account is opened, additional documents will need to be submitted, including the tenancy forms, identification documents for the tenant, and copies of a valid Emirates ID.
Tawtheeq Fees
As your mother always said, nothing in life comes free — and doing paperwork in the UAE is no exception! There are several different fees associated with registering for Tawtheeq, some payable by the landlord and some by the tenant.
There are several different fees associated with registering for Tawtheeq, some payable by the landlord and some by the tenant.
- Initial registration of a leasable property is for AED 1000 plus AED 5 for each leasable unit
- Issuing a new tenancy contract is for AED 100
- Renewing a tenancy contract is for AED 100
- Updating, modifying, canceling, or terminating a tenancy contract is for AED 100
These fees may be subject to change, so it’s always a good idea to check with the Abu Dhabi Municipality for the most up-to-date information.
ADDC
In case you thought about skipping the expense or effort of Tawtheeq, your registered Tawtheeq contract is required in order to connect your electricity and water with the Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC), so avoid sitting in the dark and get on it! Other property transactions and utility services will also require Tawtheeq registration so remember to update your Tawtheeq registration with any renewals, cancellations and amendments.
The next step after learning about Tawtheeq is to check all communities in Abu Dhabi on Property Finder to choose your home!
Helpful Links
For more information about Tawtheeq please contact the Abu Dhabi Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities.
*Note: Contracts submitted only in English will be rejected by Tawtheeq. Any document you provide to a local authority must be in Arabic or bilingual in Arabic and English. As Arabic is the official language of the UAE, in the event of inconsistency in terms between the documents in either language, the Arabic document prevails.
