1. What are the rental requirements  in the UAE? 

Expats (non-Emiratis) looking to rent a house or an apartment in the UAE – whether in a compound or part of a private property – are required to provide a copy of their passport, their UAE residency visa, and copies of their roommates’ passports if applicable. 

2. Can the landlord increase the rental at any time? 

According to The Real Estate Regulatory Agency, the landlord must provide a 90-day notice before making any changes to the lease agreement, revoking it, or increasing the rental. A 10% increase is deemed legal under the Dubai law if the rental value is 21-30% less than the average rental of similar properties within the same area. A 15% increase can be tacked onto the rental if the value of the latter is 31-40% less than similar units within the same community. The maximum rental increase is 20% if the current rental value is 40% less than similar units within the same area.

3. Can the landlord refuse to renew the lease? 

In the Emirates, there are four main reasons that allow the landlord to refuse a lease renewal or evict a tenant: 

• If the owner wishes to demolish the property for reconstruction or make adjustments that prevent the tenant from using the leased property, provided that necessary licences or permissions are obtained.
• If the property requires renovation or comprehensive maintenance that cannot be executed while the tenant is occupying the property, provided that a technical report issued by the Dubai Municipality or accredited by it is submitted to this effect.
• If the owner of the property wishes to recover the property for personal use or make it available to their next of kin, provided that they prove they don’t own a suitable alternative property for that purpose.
• If the owner of the property wishes to sell the leased property.

4. Is rental paid on a monthly basis? 

Landlords  in the UAE mainly accept rental payments on a quarterly basis, but the tenant must pay the utilities on a monthly basis. However, it has been known that landlords can be flexible depending on the property location. The tenant should research the location they are considering and discuss with the (potential) landlord what works for both parties. 

References: 
https://dubailand.gov.ae/media/051bem5a/tenancyguideen.pdf
https://www.imexre.com/faq/#id-39533
https://www.expatica.com/ae/housing/renting/renting-in-the-united-arab-emirates-72086/