Taswea: The New Mandatory First Step for Abu Dhabi Rental Disputes

If a tenant stops paying rent, disputes a deposit deduction, or raises a maintenance complaint, Abu Dhabi landlords can no longer go straight to the Rental Dispute Committee — a new mandatory mediation step now stands in between, and skipping it isn't an option.

WHAT'S CHANGED FOR ABU DHABI LANDLORDS

Mediation is no longer optional — it's the entry point

Taswea (also referred to as Tasweya), the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Settlement Centre operating under ADREC and the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, is now the mandatory first stop for real estate and rental disputes in the emirate. Landlords and tenants can no longer file a case directly with the Rental Dispute Settlement Committee without first obtaining a mediation outcome through Taswea.

• Mediation first → A case can no longer be filed directly with the Rental Dispute Committee without going through Taswea's mediation stage.

• 5–7 working days → Most maintenance and deposit-related disputes are resolved within this window through Taswea's digital portal.

• Up to AED 10,000 → The complaint fee is typically 4–5% of the annual rent, capped at this amount.

• Legally binding → A settlement reached through Taswea is enforceable without needing a separate court judgment.

HOW THE TASWEA PROCESS WORKS

Three stages, starting with case registration

Taswea doesn't accept walk-in complaints directly. The process begins with registering the dispute through Enjazi, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department's case registration platform, before Taswea's jurisdiction over the case is confirmed.

• Register via Enjazi → The dispute must first be logged through Enjazi, the ADJD's case registration system, before Taswea can accept it.

• Mediation session at Taswea → A conciliator brings both parties together to attempt an amicable resolution, which is where the large majority of straightforward disputes are settled.

• Settlement or committee ruling → If mediation succeeds, the settlement becomes legally binding immediately; if not, the case proceeds to a formal hearing before the Rental Dispute Settlement Committee.

WHAT KINDS OF DISPUTES GO THROUGH TASWEA

It covers far more than just late rent

Taswea handles the full range of landlord-tenant conflicts in Abu Dhabi, not just non-payment cases. Understanding which categories apply helps you know what documentation to prepare before a dispute even arises.

• Rent cap violations → Disputes where a tenant believes an increase exceeded the legal cap, or where the increase notice wasn't properly issued.

• Maintenance obligations → Conflicts over a landlord's structural maintenance responsibilities versus a tenant's day-to-day upkeep duties.

• Deposit return disputes → Disagreements over how much of a security deposit should be returned at move-out, and why.

• Non-payment & eviction → Cases where a landlord is pursuing eviction or recovery of unpaid rent from a tenant.

WHY A REGISTERED TAWTHEEQ CONTRACT MATTERS MORE THAN EVER

Your case is only as strong as your paperwork

A valid, registered Tawtheeq contract is the foundational document in any Taswea proceeding. Without one, a landlord's position in mediation — and in any subsequent committee ruling — is significantly weaker, regardless of how legitimate the underlying dispute may be. If you're not certain whether your tenancy contracts are correctly registered and up to date, this is worth checking before a dispute ever comes up, not after.

HOW TPM SUPPORTS YOU

You don't have to navigate Taswea alone

Whether you're dealing with a non-paying tenant, a deposit disagreement, or a maintenance-related complaint, this is exactly the kind of process our property management team handles on behalf of owners day to day.

✓ Tawtheeq registration & compliance — We make sure your tenancy contracts are properly registered, so your position is protected before any dispute arises.

✓ Dispute documentation support — We help compile the evidence, correspondence, and records Taswea and the Rental Dispute Committee require.

✓ Mediation coordination — We represent your interests through the Taswea mediation process, so you're not navigating it without local expertise.

✓ Ongoing property management — Reducing the disputes that occur in the first place through proactive tenant management and maintenance oversight.

Abu Dhabi's rental dispute process has genuinely become faster for owners who know how to use it correctly — but that speed only works in your favour if your documentation and registration are already in order.