Sharjah has made a bold move to address longstanding issues around unregistered and expired lease contracts — news that comes as a breath of fresh air for tenants and landlords alike. On October 28, 2025, the Sharjah Executive Council announced a landmark settlement plan that offers full waiver of administrative fines and a 50% reduction in authentication fees for certain lease contracts.

What Has Sharjah Announced?

The key points of the settlement are as follows:

• It applies to lease contracts that were not previously attested and that expired before September 19, 2024.
• The exemptions will be in effect for a limited window only — from November 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
• The relief covers all types of leases: residential, commercial, industrial, and even investment.
• Tenants (and landlords) who regularize these contracts get a 50% discount on attestation (registration) fees.
• Most importantly, there is a full waiver (100%) of administrative fines for not having registered these leases earlier.

Sharjah Municipality has also clarified how to make use of this offer. There are 12 service centers across the emirate to help people attest their leases, and for those who prefer to do things online, there’s the Aqari platform (available via the Sharjah Digital app and website).

Why Is Sharjah Doing This?

On the surface, this might seem like just another administrative cleanup — but it’s more than that.

1. Legalising the Rental Market
   By encouraging people to register their old, informal lease contracts, Sharjah is bringing more transparency into its real estate system. Unregistered or “under the radar” leases lead to many problems: tenants don’t always have legal protection, and landlords may face uncertainty when enforcing their rights.
2. Avoiding Punitive Measures
   Rather than going after non-compliant tenants and landlords with steep fines, the Sharjah government is offering a grace period. It’s a more conciliatory approach — a “clean slate” — to help people get their affairs in order.
3. Administrative Efficiency
   With more leases formalized, the municipality and regulatory bodies can better manage housing data, enforce rules, and monitor the rental market. This helps in city planning, dispute resolution, and ensuring fair rental practices.
4. Supporting Social Stability
   The move also has a social dimension: giving relief to tenants and landlords helps build trust between residents and authorities. It reflects the government’s willingness to help people regularize without punishing them excessively.
5. Digital Transformation
   The introduction of digital attestation via the Aqari platform aligns with broader goals of digitizing government processes. This is not only more convenient for residents but also reduces the administrative burden on the municipality.

What Should Tenants (and Landlords) Do Now?

If you’re a tenant in Sharjah and your lease falls within the criteria, here’s what you should consider:

• Check Your Lease Date: Make sure your contract was signed (and expired) before September 19, 2024. That’s the cutoff for this settlement.
• Act Quickly: The window is only from November 1 to December 31, 2025. After that, the relief won’t apply.
• Choose How to Regularize:
  • Physically: Visit one of Sharjah’s 12 service centers to attest your contract.
  • Digitally: Use the Aqari platform if you want a faster, more streamlined process.
• Prepare Documents: Bring your original lease contract, ID (tenant and landlord), and any other required property documentation.
• Benefit from the Relief: When you attest, you’ll pay only half the usual fee, and you’ll not have to pay the administrative fines that would otherwise apply.

Potential Challenges & Considerations

While the initiative is generous, there are some things to watch out for:

• Short Timeframe: Two months is a tight window, especially for people who may not be aware of the settlement or who need to gather documentation.
• Capacity Constraints: Even though there are 12 centers and a digital platform, there could be a rush, which might stretch resources.
• Awareness: Some tenants and landlords may not even realize their lease qualifies, especially if they never formalized things in the first place.
• Future Lease Certainty: Regularizing an old lease doesn’t necessarily guarantee future rent stability—depending on how lease laws evolve, rent increases or other terms could still be a concern.

Why It Matters for the Broader UAE Real Estate Landscape

Sharjah’s move could be a signal to other emirates or regions. Here’s why it’s significant in a broader context:

• Model for Reform: By offering amnesty rather than punishment, Sharjah is modeling how governments can bring informal sectors into the formal fold in a fair, people-centric way.
• Boost to Tenant Rights: Legalizing lease contracts strengthens tenant protection, giving residents more security and clarity.
• Market Stability: A more documented and transparent rental market can help reduce disputes, improve data quality, and support long-term planning.
• Digital Governance: Using a digital platform for lease attestation aligns with global trends toward e-governance and paperless processes.

Final Thoughts

Sharjah’s decision to waive fines entirely and halve attestation fees for expired leases is a compassionate, forward-looking policy. It recognizes that not everyone may have been aware of, or had access to, formal lease registration processes in the past. By offering this window, Sharjah is not just cleaning up its real estate system — it is extending a hand to its residents to regularize and protect their rights.

For tenants, this is a rare opportunity: a chance to formalize what may have been an informal arrangement, without incurring punitive costs. For landlords, it’s a way to legitimize old contracts and ensure they’re operating within the law. And for the emirate itself, it’s a strategic step toward a more transparent, fair, and well-regulated property market.