Dubai registered 1.38 million tenancy contracts in 2025, including more than 513,000 new leases, according to the Dubai Land Department. Every new lease usually means someone else moving out, and with a security deposit of usually about 5 percent of annual rent for an unfurnished home and 10 percent for a furnished one, the handover matters. This end of tenancy cleaning Dubai guide covers what the law says about your deposit, typical prices by home size, a handover checklist and a simple move out timeline.
In practice, protecting that deposit comes down to handing back a clean, empty home that matches its move in condition, with photos and a dated cleaning receipt. A professional end of tenancy clean in Dubai typically costs AED 300 to 500 for a studio, AED 400 to 650 for a one bedroom flat and AED 1,000 to 1,800 for a villa.
What Dubai law says about your security deposit
Dubai’s tenancy law is Law No. (26) of 2007 on the relationship between landlords and tenants. Two articles matter at move out:
- Article 20: the landlord may take a security deposit to ensure maintenance of the property at the end of the lease, and must refund the deposit or what remains of it when the lease ends.
- Article 21: the tenant must hand the property back in the condition it was received, except for ordinary wear and tear or damage beyond the tenant’s control. Disputes go to the Rental Disputes Centre.
The law does not mention cleaning by name. Property Finder’s deposit guide notes that routine cleaning is not a fair deduction unless the property is left excessively dirty, and recommends a joint handover inspection with a checklist. Your tenancy contract may also include its own cleaning or handover clause, so read it before you book. This is general information, not legal advice.
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End of tenancy cleaning Dubai prices
These typical ranges come from our cleaning price calculator. Dubai runs slightly above Sharjah because of travel time; your exact price is fixed before you book, based on size, condition and whether the home is furnished.
| Home | Typical Dubai price | Typical Sharjah price |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | AED 300 to 500 | AED 250 to 450 |
| 1 bedroom | AED 400 to 650 | AED 350 to 600 |
| 2 to 3 bedrooms | AED 550 to 1,100 | AED 500 to 1,100 |
| Townhouse | AED 800 to 1,300 | AED 700 to 1,100 |
| Villa | AED 1,000 to 1,800 | AED 1,000 to 1,800 |
Compared with a deposit of thousands of dirhams, the clean is usually the cheaper side of the argument. Our end of tenancy cleaning service covers Dubai and Sharjah, and if you are moving within the Northern Emirates, our Sharjah end of tenancy guide covers the same job there.
End of tenancy cleaning checklist for Dubai handovers
An end of tenancy clean is a full clean of an empty property, carried out to the standard a handover inspection expects. It goes further than a deep home cleaning because every cupboard and wardrobe is empty and every surface is visible.
Kitchen
- Oven, hob, extractor hood and filter degreased, inside and out.
- Inside every cupboard and drawer, plus cabinet fronts and handles.
- Fridge, dishwasher and washing machine wiped inside and out where they belong to the landlord.
- Sink, taps and splashback descaled.
Bathrooms
- Limescale removed from taps, shower screens, heads and tiles; our limescale removal guide explains why Dubai water leaves so much.
- Grout and silicone scrubbed, toilet and drains disinfected, mirrors polished.
- Extractor fan covers and vents wiped.
Bedrooms, living areas, windows and balcony
- Inside wardrobes, shelves and drawers.
- Skirting, doors, frames, switches, sockets and light fittings.
- Internal glass, frames, sills and sliding door tracks.
- AC vent grilles, balcony floor and railings, and every floor vacuumed and mopped to the edges.
Extras such as carpet or sofa shampooing left by the landlord, or anything outside the standard scope, can be requested at an extra cost, confirmed at booking.
A simple Dubai move out timeline
The clean works best as the last job before the keys go back. Your contract sets notice periods and handover terms, so use this as a planning guide.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| About 4 weeks before | Read the contract’s handover and cleaning clauses, find your move in photos and book the clean |
| About 2 weeks before | Request DEWA move out for your handover date and arrange other utility closures |
| Moving day | Movers take everything out, then the cleaning team starts on the empty home |
| Handover day | Joint inspection with the landlord or agent, new photos and videos, keys returned |
| After handover | Full refund, or an itemised list of deductions with invoices |
DEWA links electricity and water deactivation to the Ejari cancellation and issues a clearance certificate once the final bill is settled, as Gulf News explains. Keep the clearance and the cleaning invoice with your handover photos. If you are also moving into a new place, our move in cleaning checklist covers the other end of the move.
Furnished or unfurnished: what changes
- Unfurnished. The quickest job: every surface is clear, so the team covers the whole property in one pass. Book it for after the movers leave, not before.
- Furnished. Furniture, mattresses, curtains and appliances that belong to the landlord stay and must be clean too, so it takes longer and sits higher in the range. Tell us when you book so the quote is right.
Our cleaning services in Dubai page lists the areas our teams cover, from Dubai Marina and JLT to Mirdif and Al Barsha. Staying in Dubai after the move? Our guide to a part time maid in Dubai covers hourly help for the new home.
Frequently asked questions
How much should an end of tenancy clean be?
In Dubai an end of tenancy clean typically costs AED 300 to 500 for a studio, AED 400 to 650 for a one bedroom flat and AED 550 to 1,100 for two to three bedrooms. Townhouses typically cost AED 800 to 1,300 and villas AED 1,000 to 1,800, depending on size, condition and furnishing. Our price calculator shows the range for your home.
What should be cleaned at the end of tenancy?
Everything a handover inspection can see: the oven, hob and extractor, inside every cupboard and wardrobe, bathrooms descaled, internal windows and tracks, skirting, doors, switches, AC vents, the balcony and every floor to the edges. Landlord appliances and furniture are cleaned too in a furnished home. Our end of tenancy cleaning service works to this checklist.
How much does deep cleaning cost in Dubai?
A deep clean of a lived in Dubai home typically costs AED 400 to 550 for a studio, AED 450 to 650 for a one bedroom and AED 600 to 900 for two to three bedrooms. Villas typically cost AED 900 to 1,800. A deep clean suits a home you continue to live in, while an end of tenancy clean is built for an empty handover, as our Dubai cleaning services page explains.
Can landlords take a cleaning fee from a deposit?
Under Dubai law the deposit is held to ensure maintenance of the property, and the tenant must return it in its move in condition, apart from ordinary wear and tear. A landlord may claim the cost of cleaning a property left clearly dirty, but routine cleaning is not usually seen as a fair deduction, according to Property Finder. A dated professional cleaning receipt and handover photos are the simplest evidence.
What is the security deposit law in Dubai?
Article 20 of Dubai Law No. (26) of 2007 lets a landlord take a security deposit to ensure maintenance of the property and requires its refund, or the balance, when the lease ends. Article 21 requires the tenant to return the property in the condition received, apart from ordinary wear and tear. Disputes are referred to the Rental Disputes Centre.
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