Abu Dhabi set for digital monthly rent platform

One-off cheques could soon be a thing of the past as Abu Dhabi pilots a new initiative set to completely transform the rental sector.

The rental payment system in Abu Dhabi is set for a radical reform as pilots of a new monthly rental system continue across the Emirate.

Advanced Real Estate Services (ADRES) has partnered with UAE PropTech company Keyper on the new Rent Now, Pay Monthly (RNPM) scheme.

Pilot deployments have been rolled out with a number of Abu Dhabi’s largest landlord and property managers.

The standards process of writing post-dated cheques look set to become a thing of the past, as the move towards the monthly payments model which provides more flexibility to tenants is also being pushed by real estate authorities in Abu Dhabi.

The initiative which is currently in its pilot phase is expected to onboard its first batch of tenants and landlords in Q4 of 2026.

Abu Dhabi’s real estate decisionmakers are fully supporting the Rent Now, Pay Monthly (RNPM) service as it closely aligned with the emirate’s objective of fully digitising the rental payment systems.

How does the new rental service work?

Under the rental payment model, tenants will make monthly payments by debit or credit card through the platform.

Landlords will continue to receive rent according to the tenancy agreement.

ADRES also added that the service is a payment facilitation model rather than a credit facility, meaning it does not fall under the UAE Central Bank’s Debt Burden Ratio (DBR) framework.

In terms of the facilitation fee, there is no rigid fixed cost, but it is expected to range between 4.75 per cent to 12 per cent of the annual rent.

A facilitation fee ranging from 4.75 per cent to 12 per cent of the annual rent will apply, depending on factors including the original payment terms and tenant eligibility.

Accessibility

It has been well documented that the cost of providing large upfront payments has made life difficult for those moving to Abu Dhabi for the first time.

Many are still on the job hunt, whilst others may be on probation, and the cost of big one-off payments can put young professionals under a lot of pressure from the off.

Real estate analysts believe the new scheme in Abu Dhabi makes it more accessible to move the emirates.

The systems is definitely one that tenants will embrace, and whilst some landlords may still be unsure, the general consensus appears to be that it’s a better deal for all parties.

However, questions remain over the implementation, and there are still some grey areas that need to be ironed out.

One of the key questions is how disputes would be handled if tenants stop making monthly payments after landlords have already received their agreed rent.

The pilot will continue over the course of the summer, before moves to onboard landlords and tenants ramps up in the final quarter of the year.