FAQ
Will I be required to clear accumulated past dues?
You will not be asked to pay any old dues. The new process does not require payment of any previous amounts as part of the application or registration.
Which channels may I use to complete the lease contract?
You can fully finalize the lease contract through visiting RAK Government’s digital platform https://rakdigital.rak.ae/
Is there any need to visit any government entity to complete the lease contract?
• Residential Contracts: physical presence is not required; all procedures are fully digital.
• Commercial Contracts: physical presence is not required unless there are specific requirements from the Department of Economic Development (Site Inspection Form), which can subsequently be completed electronically through their digital platform.
Investment Contracts: physical presence is not required; all procedures are fully digital.
I live in a rented property. Am I still obligated to register the lease agreement with the RAK Municipality?
Yes, you must register and attest the lease contract with Ras Al Khaimah Municipality annually. If the contract is not renewed or attested, the applicable fees will continue to be collected via the monthly bill as long as the electricity service remains active.
What should I do if I renew the contract annually without updating the registration?
You may simply submit for a contract renewal immediately so you can properly register the contract and update and organize its data.
I used to pay 5% of the rental value upfront to Ras Al Khaimah Municipality. Has this procedure changed?
Yes, this amount is now collected in installments. The payments will be collected through the monthly utility bill once the electricity service is connected.
What if didn’t register the previous lease contract?
You must apply for a lease contract through official channels to ensure you can access all related services in the future.
I used to renew the lease agreement through the owner only. Is it allowed to continue doing that?
Yes, you can, as the procedures remain flexible and the owner can finalize the renewal process on your behalf according to the approved procedures.
Are there any concealed fees in the new system?
There are not. All charges are clearly stated and announced. This ensures full transparent registering and renewing of your lease contract.
What are the sequences of not registering or renewing a lease agreement?
Electricity and water services will not be activated for new contracts. Moreover, municipal fees for existing contracts will continue to be collected through the monthly bill until the service is terminated.
I've been living in the same house for years and I didn’t re-register. Do I need to start from the beginning?
If you have been living in the same property for years without re-registering, you do not need to start from the beginning. However, the lease contract must be officially registered to comply with approved procedures. This will allow you to continue without any interruptions.
Will Etihad Water and Electricity (EWE) services be impacted if I do not complete the registration?
The service will remain unaffected; however, the fees will be estimated, and the attestation fees will be forwarded to Etihad Water and Electricity to be included in your monthly bill.
Is it possible to file a rental dispute if the lease contract is unregistered?
According to the Emiri Decree, the certified lease contract must be registered with the Municipality Department to be recognized by all government departments and to complete all legal procedures.
Is registering the lease contract mandatory when leasing for the first time?
Yes, it is required to register the lease contract with the Municipality Department at the time of renting. The registration is necessary to activate electricity and water services and to conduct transactions with any government entity that requires a valid lease agreement.
Do I still need to create an account with Etihad Water and Electricity?
The activation of electricity and water services is now linked directly to the lease agreement. There is no need to visit Etihad Water and Electricity to activate services if the application for contract attestation was submitted through the Municipality’s digital portal.
How can I settle the 5% lease attestation fee?
The fee is paid through your monthly bill from Etihad Water and Electricity. Rather than paying the full amount upfront, the fees are automatically allocated across your monthly bills once the service has been connected.
Are there any fines for current tenants who do not register or renew their lease according to the new system?
No, according to the new system there are no fines imposed on current tenants.
Is there an official deadline for current tenants who were not previously registered? If so, how long is it and when does it start?
There is no official deadline. Tenants are encouraged to register their lease contracts as soon as possible to ensure the contract is properly documented.
If a lease is canceled within the first 10 days, are municipal fees applied? If so, are they refundable?
Yes, municipal fees are applied, and the amount is non-refundable.
What are the specific cases where a customer is exempt from paying the 5% municipal fee?
There are no exemptions from municipal fees; they apply to all contracts subject to the approved procedure.
How will the 5% fee be indicated on the Etihad Water and Electricity bill?
The 5% fees can be found under the Municipal Fees on the bill.
If a tenant moves from the unit during mid-year, how is the remaining portion of the 5% fee handled?
The 5% municipal fee is calculated proportionally based on the actual period of stay on the property. The charges will only reflect the duration of occupancy.
Does the 5% fee change automatically when rent amount changes during the year due to an amendment or dispute?
If an amendment in the contract resulted in the rental value changes during mid-year, a request must be submitted to amend the lease contract and update the rental value. When the updated contract is approved, the fee will be automatically adjusted according to the new rental value.
Is a court-issued Power of Attorney (POA) sufficient to manage properties in the RAK Digital system?
No, a court-issued Power of Attorney (POA) alone is not sufficient to manage properties in the RAK Digital system. You must also submit a POA request through the system to obtain the necessary authorization.
The system is asking me to enter the “Premise ID number”—what number is required?
You are required to enter the property number (“Premise ID”), as this is the correct identifier used in the system.
Why am I unable to proceed with payment on the Tenancy Contract service using my mobile browser?
In some cases, the payment page may not open if pop-ups are blocked on your browser. The Tenancy Contract service uses a secure payment gateway that opens in a new window (pop-up).
To proceed with payment, please ensure that pop-ups are enabled on your browser. Below are quick steps for common browsers:
For Safari (iPhone):
Go to Settings
Scroll down and tap Safari
Turn off “Block Pop-ups”
For Google Chrome (Mobile):
Open Chrome
Tap the three dots (⋮) menu
Go to Settings → Content Settings → Pop-ups
Enable Pop-ups
For Desktop Browsers (Chrome / Edge / Safari):
Check your browser settings and allow pop-ups for the RAK Digital website
Alternatively, when prompted, select “Allow Pop-ups” from the browser notification
If the issue persists, try using a different browser or device, or contact customer support for assistance.
What is the Attestation Fee?
The Attestation Fee is a government fee equivalent to 5% of the annual rental value stated in the tenancy contract. The fee is applicable to registered tenancy contracts in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
Why am I being charged the Attestation Fee, and why only now?
The Attestation Fee is applicable to registered tenancy contracts in accordance with the applicable regulations in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, and it contributes to the registration and attestation of tenancy contracts. It is now being applied through the current tenancy registration and renewal process to ensure consistent implementation of these regulations.
Is this fee mandatory and is there a law requiring it?
Yes. The Attestation Fee is mandatory for applicable tenancy contracts and is governed by the applicable laws and regulations of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
How is the Attestation Fee calculated?
For residential tenancy contracts, the Attestation Fee is calculated as 5% of the annual rental amount stated in the tenancy contract.
Example:
Annual Rent: AED 100,000
Attestation Fee (5%): AED 5,000
Monthly amount added to your EWE bill: AED 416.67
Is the Attestation Fee paid all at once, and why is the amount on my EWE bill different from 5% of my annual residential rent?
No. For residential tenancy contracts, the annual Attestation Fee is divided into 12 equal monthly installments, which are added to your monthly EWE bill. This is why the amount shown on your bill represents only the monthly portion of the total annual fee, rather than the full 5% of your annual residential rent.
How and where do I pay the Attestation Fee?
To simplify the payment process, the Attestation Fee is collected through your Etihad Water and Electricity (EWE) monthly bill instead of requiring a separate payment. It is automatically added to your bill and paid together with your regular water and electricity charges.
Do I need to make a separate payment to the Municipality, or will I receive a separate receipt?
No separate payment to Ras Al Khaimah Municipality is required — the fee is collected through your monthly EWE bill. It will be reflected as part of that bill, and no separate receipt is issued unless otherwise specified by the relevant authority.
Is the fee based on my current tenancy contract, and what happens if I renew, change my rent, or move to another property?
Yes. The Attestation Fee is calculated based on the annual rental amount stated in your current registered tenancy contract. When your contract is renewed or updated — including any change in the rental amount, or a move to another property — the fee is recalculated based on the rental value of the new or updated contract and applied in accordance with the applicable procedures.
Why do I need to renew my tenancy contract every year?
Annual renewal ensures that your tenancy information remains accurate and up to date and allows the applicable Attestation Fee to be calculated based on your current tenancy contract.
My tenancy contract was signed several years ago. Will I be charged for previous years?
No. Previous years' Attestation Fees will not be collected retrospectively. The fee will only be applied to your current and future tenancy contract registrations and renewals, in accordance with the implementation of the current process.
Why is my Attestation Fee different from someone else's?
The Attestation Fee is calculated based on the annual rental amount stated in each tenancy contract. Since rental values differ, the fee will also differ.
Who is responsible for paying the Attestation Fee, the landlord or the tenant?
The Attestation Fee is the responsibility of the tenant, as it is associated with the registration of the tenancy contract and is collected through the tenant's EWE account.
Does the Attestation Fee apply to both residential and commercial tenancy contracts?
Yes. The Attestation Fee applies to both residential and investment tenancy contracts in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. However, the collection method differs. For residential tenancy contracts, the 5% Attestation Fee is collected through the monthly EWE bill. For investment tenancy contracts, the applicable Attestation Fee is collected directly by Ras Al Khaimah Municipality.
Does the Attestation Fee apply if the property is vacant?
No. The Attestation Fee only applies to non-cancelled tenancy contracts with an active registered EWE account. If the tenancy contract has been cancelled or there is no active EWE account registered for the property, the Attestation Fee is not applicable.
What happens if my tenancy contract is cancelled before it expires
Fee collection will stop once the tenancy contract has been terminated with the Municipality and a clearance certificate has been issued by the electricity service provider, as both services are linked through the RAK Digital Portal.
What happens if I do not pay the Attestation Fee?
As the Attestation Fee forms part of your EWE bill, non-payment may affect your utility account in accordance with EWE's applicable policies and procedures.
Does the Attestation Fee include VAT?
No. VAT is not applicable to the Attestation Fee. The Attestation Fee is charged without VAT
Who should I contact if I have questions about the Attestation Fee, or if I believe it has been calculated incorrectly?
For any enquiries about the Attestation Fee, you may contact Ras Al Khaimah Municipality’s Call Center on 800661. If you believe the fee has been calculated incorrectly, you may raise your request through the same number. Your request will be reviewed, and the fee will be verified based on your registered tenancy contract.
How is the Attestation Fee calculated, and is it prorated if my tenancy contract is for less than one year?
The Attestation Fee is calculated as 5% of the annual rental value stated in the tenancy contract.
If the tenancy contract is for a period of less than one year, the Attestation Fee will be prorated based on the actual duration of the tenancy contract, rather than charging the tenant for a full year.
For example, if the applicable annual Attestation Fee is AED 5,000 but the tenancy contract covers only six months, the applicable fee will be calculated proportionately for the six-month contract period.
The applicable Attestation Fee is then collected through the EWE bill in accordance with the applicable billing process.
Is there a minimum Attestation Fee?
Yes. The minimum Attestation Fee is currently AED 200. This means that if the calculated Attestation Fee based on 5% of the rental value is less than AED 200, a minimum fee of AED 200 will apply.
This minimum amount is based on the current applicable requirements and may be updated once the new law or regulations are issued.
The minimum Attestation Fee for investment contract is currently AED 500 for one year. This means that if the calculated Attestation Fee based on 5% of the rental value is less than AED 500, a minimum fee of AED 500 will apply.
This minimum amount is based on the current applicable requirements and may be updated once the new law or regulations are issued.