Key Takeaways
The UAE's upfront rent system creates a major cash flow problem for tenants who earn monthly salaries.
"Rent Now, Pay Later" (RNPL) apps solve this by paying your landlord the full year's rent, so you can make 12 monthly payments instead.
This guide explains how the top rent-splitting services work, focusing on key differences like property restrictions and security deposit coverage.
Rently UAE stands out by working with any residential property and bundling your security deposit into one simple monthly plan.
A common frustration for UAE tenants is the mismatch between monthly salaries and annual rent payments, often summarized with a simple question: why do I have to pay for a full year upfront when I get paid every month?
If you've ever found yourself asking that question at 11pm — frustrated, staring at a tenancy agreement demanding two cheques before you can even get the keys — you're not alone. This isn't a wealth problem. It's a cash flow problem. You earn monthly. Your rent is billed annually. That gap is a structural challenge, not a personal one.
And the financial hit doesn't stop at rent. As one Dubai tenant noted, this comes on top of all the other moving costs: “You’re already spending so much on deposits, furniture, etc. and then you need to come up with a giant chunk for rent.” Some people end up stuck in hotels or shared apartments for months, just saving up enough to afford their own place. That's the reality of renting in the UAE for a lot of people.
The good news? A category of services called Rent Now, Pay Later (RNPL) — or what many people search for as a split your rent app UAE — has emerged to solve exactly this problem. These platforms pay your landlord the full annual rent upfront, allowing you to make 12 comfortable monthly payments.
The bad news? Not all of them are equal. Some lock you into specific property platforms. Others don't cover your security deposit. And yes, the service fees vary. We've seen tenants ask if the convenience is worth the cost, wondering if the fees associated with platforms like Keyper or Rently are just "wasted money." It's a fair question.
To help you understand how these services work, this guide breaks down the different rental payment options available in the UAE. We’ll explore the key players — Rently, Keyper, Rentify, ezy.rent, and Rewa — focusing on the practical differences that matter most to tenants, so you can make the right call for your situation.
Now let's go deeper on each one.
Deep Dive: The 5 Best Rent Now, Pay Later (RNPL) Services in the UAE
1. Rently — The Most Flexible Option for Any Property
Rently is a UAE-based proptech and fintech company with a straightforward mission: pay your landlord the full annual rent upfront, allowing you to make 12 fixed monthly payments. No cheque scramble. No wiping out your savings.
How it works:
Fill out an online form (2 minutes): Enter your annual rent, number of cheques, emirate, move-in date, and whether you want Rently to also cover your security deposit. The calculator gives you an instant monthly estimate.
Submit your documents: Emirates ID (or UAE Pass), proof of income (salary certificate for employees, bank statements for self-employed), and an AECB credit report.
Get approved within 24 hours: For eligible applicants, Rently confirms approval within one business day.
Sign digitally: The contract is sent via DocuSign — no printing, no in-person visits needed.
Make your first monthly payment to Rently.
Rently pays your landlord the full rent. You move in, and continue paying Rently monthly for the duration of your lease.
Not yet found an apartment? You can get pre-approved in advance, so when you find the right place, you're ready to move fast.
Decisive Differentiator #1: Property-Agnostic Freedom
This is arguably Rently's biggest advantage over every competitor on this list. Rently is not tied to any real estate portal, agency, or platform. Whether you found your apartment on Bayut, Property Finder, Facebook Marketplace, or through a friend-of-a-friend landlord — Rently works with it. Any residential property, any landlord, across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah. You're never forced to limit your housing search to a specific platform's listings.
Decisive Differentiator #2: Bundled Security Deposit Coverage
Most RNPL platforms ignore the security deposit entirely — leaving you to find 5–10% of your annual rent as a separate lump sum. Rently solves this by covering the deposit upfront and folding it into your monthly payments. Just toggle "I want Rently to pay it for me" during your application. At the end of your lease, the full deposit is returned to you directly by the landlord.
For a tenant renting an AED 100,000/year apartment, that could mean saving AED 5,000–10,000 in upfront cash on day one.
Other noteworthy features:
Minimum income requirement: AED 7,000/month
Pay via Visa, Mastercard, or Amex — and earn credit card rewards on your rent (turning your biggest expense into points or air miles)
Backed by $3M Pre-Series A funding, with partnerships including GEMS Education, Chubb, and Blueground
Fee transparency note: Rently's service fee is personalized based on your credit profile, income, and payment method, which is why the table shows a range of 5–16%. The best way to get your exact number is to use Rently's free calculator.
2. Keyper — A Well-Funded Player for Property Finder Users
Keyper is one of the most prominent RNPL names in the UAE, having raised $34 million in financing and managing over AED 2.81 billion in property value. It's a credible, well-funded platform — and it shows in their product polish.
What works well: Keyper allows tenants to split annual rent into 12 monthly payments via credit card or bank transfer, with a service fee in the 6–12% range. They've been recognized as a Future 100 company and awarded "Property Investment Solution of the Year."
What to watch out for: Keyper's platform is heavily integrated with Property Finder, which effectively limits your apartment search to listings within that ecosystem. If you've already found a property through another channel — or you're dealing with a private landlord — Keyper may not be able to help you. It also does not offer security deposit coverage, so you'll still need to produce that lump sum on your own.
Best for: Tenants who are actively searching on Property Finder and don't need deposit assistance.
3. Rentify — RNPL with Utility Payment Coverage
Backed by a recent $500K funding round, Rentify is another Dubai-focused player in the RNPL space. Its core offering, Rentify Pay, allows tenants to split their annual rent into 12 monthly payments.
What works well: Like Rently, Rentify is property-agnostic, meaning it works with any property you find, not just ones on a specific portal. Its most unique feature is the option to include utility payments within its plan, which no other provider on this list currently offers.
What to watch out for: The service is primarily focused on the Dubai market. Critically, it does not offer any coverage for your security deposit, so you'll need to have that 5% cash ready upfront.
Best for: Dubai tenants who have their security deposit saved and are interested in bundling rent and utility bills into one payment.
4. ezy.rent — Flexible RNPL for the Dubai Market
ezy.rent is another RNPL provider that gives tenants the freedom to pay monthly on any property they choose.
What works well: The biggest advantage is its flexibility — ezy.rent is not restricted to a specific property portal or network of agents. This gives you a wider choice of apartments. The platform also provides access to a network of partner services (like movers and cleaners) to help with the moving process.
What to watch out for: The service is primarily Dubai-focused, so it may not be an option for those renting in other emirates. It also does not provide security deposit coverage, meaning you'll still need to pay that lump sum yourself.
Best for: Tenants in Dubai who have found their own property and don't require assistance with the security deposit.
5. Rewa — A Rewards-First Payment Platform (Not RNPL)
It's important to clarify that Rewa is fundamentally different from the others on this list. It is not a "Rent Now, Pay Later" service. Instead, it's a platform designed to let you pay your rent using your existing credit or debit card, with a primary focus on helping you earn credit card rewards (points, miles, etc.).
How it's different: Rewa doesn't pay your landlord on your behalf and then collect from you monthly. It simply acts as a payment gateway. This means it cannot solve the core cash flow problem of needing to pay for a full year upfront if your landlord demands it. It's a tool for payment convenience, not financing.
What to watch out for: Because it's not a financing service, it doesn't offer RNPL, security deposit coverage, or pre-approval. It's best for tenants who already have the full rent amount available and simply want to pay by card to maximize their rewards.
Best for: Tenants who can afford their rent upfront but whose landlords don't accept credit cards, and who want to earn rewards on the transaction.
How to Choose the Right Rent Splitting App for You
Not sure which service fits your situation? Work through these three questions:
Step 1: What is your main priority?
Paying monthly AND covering the security deposit? → Rently is the only service on this list that bundles both into a single monthly plan. This significantly reduces your upfront moving costs.
Just paying monthly (you have the deposit already)? → Rently, Keyper, Rentify, and ezy.rent are all options. Your choice will depend on the factors below.
Just earning credit card rewards (you can pay upfront)? → Rewa is the right tool for this specific need.
Step 2: Where is the property?
In Sharjah, Ajman, or Ras Al Khaimah? → Rently is your only choice, as it's the only one with coverage across all five major emirates.
In Dubai or Abu Dhabi? → You have more options, but Keyper is tied to Property Finder, while Rently, Rentify, and ezy.rent work with any property.
Step 3: Have you found an apartment yet?
Yes, and it's listed on Property Finder? → Keyper is a strong option. Rently, Rentify, and ezy.rent also work.
Yes, and it's on another portal or from a private landlord? → Rently, Rentify, or ezy.rent are your go-to options, as they are property-agnostic. Keyper will not work.
No, I'm still searching? → Getting pre-approved with Rently is the most flexible strategy. It allows you to search anywhere (any portal, any agent) with your financing already secured, giving you a major advantage when you find the right place.
The Right Apartment Shouldn't Depend on Your Chequebook
The main takeaway is simple: the UAE's upfront rent system creates a cash flow problem, but you don't have to solve it alone. While many "Rent Now, Pay Later" services exist, the best ones give you the freedom to choose any property you like—not just those on a specific platform—and help with the security deposit, too.
If you're in the middle of an apartment search, you're probably weighing the perfect location against the stress of paying a huge lump sum. It's easy to feel pressured into a compromise. But securing your payment plan before you sign a lease puts you in control, letting you choose a home based on what you love, not just the number of cheques the landlord demands.
We designed our service to be property-agnostic for exactly this reason. Because we cover the full annual rent and the security deposit for any residential unit, you can focus on finding the right home. If you have viewings scheduled, it's worth taking two minutes to check your monthly estimate so you can walk in with a clear budget.
Rently is licensed in the UAE under Prime Refin Real Estate L.L.C. and operates across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah. Service fees are personalized and subject to credit assessment.
FAQs
What exactly is a "Rent Now, Pay Later" service?
A "Rent Now, Pay Later" (RNPL) service is a payment solution that pays your annual rent to your landlord in one lump sum. This allows you to make 12 convenient monthly payments, solving the cash flow problem of upfront rent payments in the UAE.
How do I qualify for a rent splitting service like Rently?
To qualify for a rent splitting service like Rently, you typically need to provide your Emirates ID, proof of income (like a salary certificate), and an AECB credit report. Most services have a minimum income requirement to ensure you can afford the monthly payments.
Can I use an RNPL app for any apartment I find?
It depends on the provider. Some, like Keyper, are tied to a specific ecosystem (Property Finder). However, services like Rently, Rentify, and ezy.rent are property-agnostic, meaning they work with any residential property you find, regardless of the landlord, agent, or listing portal. This gives you much more freedom in your apartment search.
Do these rent payment services cover the security deposit too?
Most rent payment services do not cover the security deposit. Rently is the standout exception, offering a key advantage by allowing you to bundle your security deposit into your monthly payment plan. This saves you another large upfront cost when moving.
What happens to my security deposit at the end of the lease?
At the end of your lease, your security deposit is returned directly to you by your landlord, per your tenancy agreement. The RNPL provider facilitates the upfront payment; the refund process remains between you and the landlord.
