Key Takeaways
The "small service fee" on Rent Now, Pay Later plans can differ by thousands of dirhams a year between Dubai providers.
Compare providers on more than just cost; approval speed, deposit coverage, and property choice are critical factors.
Personal loans and credit cards are usually the most expensive and slowest options for paying rent in installments.
Rently UAE helps reduce upfront move-in costs by bundling rent and security deposit payments into one monthly plan.
Let's talk about the thing no one in the Dubai rental market seems to want to say out loud.
Every Rent Now, Pay Later (RNPL) platform in Dubai advertises a "small service fee." What they don't always make clear is what that fee actually costs you in real dirhams — and across the top providers, that number can swing by thousands of AEDs per year.
And yet, for many people navigating Dubai's demanding upfront rent culture — where a single post-dated cheque for a full year's rent is standard — paying a service fee to spread costs over 12 months is often the only practical route.
The challenge isn't that RNPL services exist. It's that when you're comparing rent payment platforms in Dubai, the advertised percentage doesn't tell the whole story. A 5% fee and a 20% fee look very different when you're signing an Ejari contract for AED 100,000 a year.
So we did the math for you.
To help you see the real cost of paying rent monthly, this guide breaks down four of the top rent payment options available in Dubai. We compare them all using a standardized AED 100,000 annual rent scenario and score each on the three factors that matter more than the advertised fee:
Speed of approval (because in Dubai's rental market, losing a unit over a 5-day approval delay is painfully common)
Security deposit coverage (an often-overlooked upfront cost of 5–10% of annual rent)
Property eligibility breadth (how much freedom you have to choose any apartment)
How We Ranked: The True Annual Cost Method
For every provider below, the True Annual Cost is calculated as the total of all 12 monthly payments including the service fee, applied to one standard scenario:
AED 100,000 annual rent, paid as a single cheque, with the total cost spread over 12 monthly payments.
This gives you an apples-to-apples comparison. Secondary criteria (approval speed, deposit coverage, property freedom) are scored qualitatively based on publicly available information and product specifications.
The 4 RNPL Options in Dubai, Ranked
🥇 #1 — Rently
True Annual Cost: AED 112,500
Monthly Payment: AED 9,375
Effective Service Fee: ~12.5%
Approval Speed: 24 hours
Security Deposit Coverage: ✅ Yes (bundled)
Property Eligibility: Unrestricted choice of any property
Rently is a Dubai-based proptech and fintech provider purpose-built for the RNPL use case. Here's how it works: Rently pays your landlord the full annual rent upfront — in 1, 2, 3, or 4 cheques, whatever your lease requires — and you pay Rently in 12 fixed monthly payments via credit or debit card, plus a service fee.
Based on the website's calculator, an AED 100,000 annual rent costs AED 9,375/month, putting the True Annual Cost at AED 112,500 — a service fee of ~12.5%. Importantly, this fee is personalised (it varies based on your credit history, monthly obligations, and landlord payment method), so eligible applicants with strong credit profiles may see a lower rate. Rently's service fee can range from as low as 5–10% for applicants with strong profiles, to higher for those with more risk.
What sets Rently apart?
First, it's property-agnostic. Unlike some platforms that lock you into their managed listings or partner portals, Rently works with any residential unit from any landlord or real estate agent across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah. You find the apartment you want — Rently funds it.
Second — and this is the real differentiator — Rently bundles security deposit coverage directly into the monthly payment plan. The security deposit in Dubai is typically 5% of annual rent for unfurnished properties (AED 5,000 on a AED 100,000 lease) and up to 10% for furnished. Rently can pay this to the landlord upfront and spread the cost across your 12 payments. At the end of your tenancy, the deposit is returned to you by the landlord, subject to the terms of your lease agreement. It's a single toggle on the application form — no separate product, no extra paperwork.
The application process is fully digital:
Submit a 2-minute online form with your rent details and move-in date
Provide proof of income (salary certificate or bank statements), your AECB credit report, and Emirates ID
Receive approval within 1 business day
Sign the contract digitally via DocuSign
Make your first monthly payment — Rently pays the landlord
Not yet found a property? Rently also offers pre-approval, so you're ready to move fast in a competitive market.
→ See your personalised monthly cost: Try the Rently calculator
Eligibility: Valid UAE working visa, minimum monthly income of AED 7,000.
🥈 #2 — Keyper
True Annual Cost: ~AED 115,000 – 120,000
Effective Service Fee: ~15–20%
Approval Speed: Not publicly stated
Security Deposit Coverage: ❌ Not bundled
Property Eligibility: Limited (platform-linked)
Keyper is one of the more established names among rent payment platforms in Dubai, offering RNPL as part of a broader property management and investment ecosystem. It's frequently integrated with Property Finder and similar portals, which makes discovery easy — but also means your property choice is partially constrained by Keyper's managed listings or partner network.
Fees are not transparently listed on the website and require a direct inquiry, which makes budgeting harder upfront. Based on available market information, the effective service fee tends to land in the 15–20% range, putting the True Annual Cost somewhere between AED 115,000 and AED 120,000 on a AED 100k rent. Security deposit coverage is not offered as a bundled feature. The approval speed is not publicly stated.
Verdict: Keyper is a credible option, particularly if you're already browsing property on platforms where it's integrated. But the lack of pricing transparency, restricted property eligibility, and absence of deposit coverage give it a narrower use case compared to Rently.
#3 — ezy rent
True Annual Cost: ~AED 115,000
Effective Service Fee: ~15%
Approval Speed: Not publicly stated
Security Deposit Coverage: ❌ No
Property Eligibility: Works with any property
ezy rent is a fintech-focused RNPL solution aimed at simplifying the landlord-tenant payment relationship. It positions itself as a straightforward monthly payment service, with an estimated effective fee around 15% — placing the True Annual Cost at approximately AED 115,000 on a AED 100,000 lease.
The approval timeline isn't publicly stated. Crucially, the platform works with any property, giving you unrestricted choice. The main weakness remains the lack of security deposit coverage, meaning you'll need to fund the deposit separately out of pocket before moving in.
Verdict: ezy rent is a solid mid-tier option for tenants who've already budgeted for their security deposit separately. But if minimising total upfront cash outlay is your priority, the lack of deposit coverage is a meaningful gap.
#4 — Rentify
True Annual Cost: ~AED 118,000
Effective Service Fee: ~18%
Approval Speed: Not publicly stated
Security Deposit Coverage: ❌ No
Property Eligibility: Works with any property
Rentify offers monthly rent payment plans with an effective fee of around 18%, meaning that on an AED 100,000 annual rent, you're paying roughly AED 118,000 over the year. Its approval speed is not publicly stated.
A key advantage is that the platform works with any property, offering an open-market approach. It also offers utility payment coverage, a unique feature in this list. However, with no security deposit coverage and a higher relative cost, it has some drawbacks.
Verdict: While the flexibility to use any property and cover utilities is a plus, the higher cost and lack of deposit coverage make it a less competitive option for tenants focused on minimising upfront expenses.
Quick Comparison: All 4 Options at a Glance
Rently
True Annual Cost (AED 100k Rent): AED 112,500
Approval Speed: 24 hours
Deposit Coverage: ✅ Yes
Property Freedom: Unrestricted
Keyper
True Annual Cost (AED 100k Rent): AED 115,000–120,000
Approval Speed: Not Stated
Deposit Coverage: ❌ No
Property Freedom: Limited
ezy rent
True Annual Cost (AED 100k Rent): ~AED 115,000
Approval Speed: Not Stated
Deposit Coverage: ❌ No
Property Freedom: Unrestricted
Rentify
True Annual Cost (AED 100k Rent): ~AED 118,000
Approval Speed: Not Stated
Deposit Coverage: ❌ No
Property Freedom: Unrestricted
Note: All cost estimates for Keyper, ezy rent, and Rentify are based on publicly available market information and should be verified directly with each provider, as fees are personalised and subject to change. Rently's cost is based on the live website calculator at time of writing.
That 'Small Service Fee' Can Still Cost You Thousands
The takeaway from comparing Dubai's rent payment options is simple: not all "small service fees" are created equal. As we've seen, the difference between providers can be over AED 7,500 a year on the same rent. Beyond just the cost, critical factors like 24-hour approval and the freedom to choose any property can make or break your move.
If you're in the middle of an apartment search, you're likely juggling viewings and comparing listings, with constant pressure to sign a lease before a good unit disappears. The worst time to figure out payments is when an agent is waiting for your signature. Now that you know the real costs and differences, you can plan ahead and avoid getting locked into a slow, expensive option out of sheer urgency.
We designed our service to solve these exact problems. By bundling the security deposit into your monthly plan and approving applications within 24 hours, we help you move faster with less cash upfront. Before your next viewing, it's worth taking two minutes to check your monthly estimate so you can walk in with a clear budget.
FAQs
What is the main benefit of using a Rent Now, Pay Later service in Dubai?
The main benefit of using a Rent Now, Pay Later service is to avoid paying a full year's rent upfront in one cheque. These services pay your landlord for you, letting you pay the amount in 12 manageable monthly payments, which improves your cash flow.
How much does it cost to use a rent payment service in Dubai?
The cost to use a rent payment service in Dubai varies widely, from around 12.5% to over 20% of your annual rent. This "service fee" can mean paying an extra AED 12,500 to AED 20,000+ on a AED 100,000 lease, so comparing providers is essential.
Can I use these services for any apartment in Dubai?
Whether you can use these services for any apartment depends on the provider. Some, like Rently, are property-agnostic and work with any landlord. Others restrict you to their managed listings or partner network, limiting your choice of where you can live.
Do Rent Now, Pay Later services also cover the security deposit?
Most Rent Now, Pay Later services do not cover the security deposit, meaning you must pay it upfront. A few providers like Rently are an exception, offering to bundle the deposit into your monthly payment plan to further reduce your move-in costs.
What do I need to apply for a Rent Now, Pay Later plan?
To apply for a Rent Now, Pay Later plan, you typically need a valid UAE working visa and a minimum monthly income (e.g., AED 7,000). You'll also provide standard documents like your Emirates ID, proof of income, and your AECB credit report.
