Can the owner simply deny the renewal under the existing conditions and ask me to vacate the apartment?

Question: 

I currently live in a 3-bdr apartment with a renewable 1-yr lease term ending 24.9.22. The apartment is the penthouse of a hotel building, but it’s an Ejari apartment and not a serviced hotel apartment, although owned by the same company.

The annual rent is 165kAED. The landlord company has asked for an increase of 20kAED to 185kAED starting with the new lease term of 25.9.22. As this is below the average rent (146k-179kAED) of similar 3-bdrm apartments in Dubai Marina, the RERA rental index calculator stipulates no increase. The owner thinks that this is not a normal 3-bdr apartment but a penthouse and as such the RERA index for a 3-bdr apartment is not applicable. I would like to renew the lease but under the same conditions as today. How should I proceed? Can the owner simply deny the renewal under the existing conditions and ask me to vacate the apartment?

Answer:

Whereas rent increment has to be agreed mutually between the landlord and the tenant, and if either party is not in agreement, then they may approach the rental dispute center to adjudicate the dispute.  It is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in rental dispute matters so that you get qualified representation in this matter.