Across the UAE, landlords and tenants are increasingly abandoning the long-standing practice of paying rent in four cheques, opting instead for flexible monthly installment plans that offer convenience and ease.
Monthly Instalments Replace Traditional 4-Cheque Rent System in the UAE.
Monthly rental payments are steadily emerging as a practical and attractive choice for many UAE residents, marking a significant departure from the region’s traditional reliance on post-dated cheques. Industry specialists say this evolving preference has the potential to reshape the way millions budget for their homes, easing the financial strain that often accompanies large, lump-sum payments. Instead of committing to hefty cheques every few months, tenants are increasingly gravitating toward a system that mirrors the convenience of monthly utility or subscription payments.
Proptech companies, which play a central role in transforming the real estate landscape, report a noticeable rise in requests from tenants seeking alternatives to the conventional cheque-based method. These residents are looking for smoother, more manageable payment structures that align with their monthly income cycles, helping them maintain better financial control throughout the year. At the same time, property owners — once hesitant to move away from a decades-old norm — are showing greater openness to modern digital transactions. Many landlords are recognising that receiving consistent, predictable monthly payments can enhance cash flow, reduce administrative burdens, and even make their properties more appealing to a broader pool of renters.
This shift in mindset has sparked a wave of innovation across the market. Companies operating in the proptech sphere are rolling out new tools, financing models, and collaborative solutions designed to streamline the rental journey for both sides. These offerings include platforms that automate payments, services that guarantee landlords timely rent transfers, and partnerships that integrate flexible instalment plans into existing property management systems. Collectively, these developments reflect a broader movement toward convenience, transparency, and digital efficiency — signalling that the UAE rental market may be on the brink of a long-term transformation in how housing payments are structured and experienced.
A major indication that the UAE’s rental market is entering a new phase emerged recently, underscoring how quickly the shift toward flexible payment models is accelerating. Property Finder, one of the country’s most influential real estate platforms, revealed that it has entered into a strategic partnership with — and made a financial investment in — Keyper, a rapidly growing proptech company focused on modernising the rental experience. This collaboration is designed to integrate Keyper’s monthly rent–payment technology directly into Property Finder’s ecosystem, making it easier than ever for tenants to move away from the long-standing practice of issuing a handful of bulky cheques each year.
At the heart of this initiative is Keyper’s core service: a mechanism that enables tenants to spread their annual rent across 12 straightforward monthly instalments. Instead of being tied to the traditional upfront cheque cycle, residents will soon be able to pay for their homes in a way that mirrors everyday financial habits—similar to how they handle phone bills, internet subscriptions, or regular household expenses. This shift is especially significant in the UAE, where the reliance on cheques has been deeply rooted in rental culture for decades.
Property Finder’s plan is to weave this payment functionality directly into both its mobile application and its website, essentially turning the process of finding a property and arranging flexible payments into a seamless, unified journey. According to the company’s current timeline, the integration is expected to go live in the first half of 2026. Once launched, tenants browsing for homes on the platform will be able not only to search for properties but also to choose monthly payment options at the same time, eliminating the need for separate negotiations or third-party arrangements.
For residents, this upcoming feature is poised to make budgeting and financial planning substantially easier. Instead of preparing several months’ worth of rent in one large chunk — a challenge for many, particularly new arrivals and young professionals — tenants will be able to authorize recurring payments through a debit or credit card. Direct debit will also be an option, offering a more automated, low-effort approach for those who prefer having payments deducted without manual intervention. This flexibility aligns with a broader global trend in which consumers increasingly gravitate toward predictable, spread-out payment schedules rather than irregular high-value transactions.
The partnership also reflects Property Finder’s broader ambition to take a more active role in shaping the rental experience rather than simply listing properties. By aligning with Keyper, the company signals that it wants to influence how landlords and tenants interact, how rents are collected, and how financial processes can be modernized. For landlords, the integration promises a more consistent and reliable stream of rent, facilitated by digital tools that minimize administrative tasks and reduce the likelihood of late payments.
For Keyper, the deal represents a major leap in visibility and adoption. Being embedded in a platform used by millions of residents gives the company a direct pipeline to tenants seeking a modernised approach to renting. The collaboration could also encourage more property owners to embrace instalment-based systems, as the backing of an established real estate giant lends credibility and assurance.
Taken together, the partnership signals a strong push toward digital transformation in the UAE’s rental landscape. It is not just a technological upgrade but a structural shift—one that may influence how leases are negotiated, how residents manage their housing costs, and how the market operates in the years ahead.
Keyper, a relatively new entrant to the UAE’s proptech scene, was first introduced in 2023 with a mission to reshape the way residents handle their rental obligations. The company’s main offering centres on allowing tenants to break down their yearly rental commitment into manageable month-by-month payments. Instead of writing several large cheques in advance, tenants can use Keyper’s system to pay over 12 instalments, effectively operating under a rent-now-pay-later model. The service does come with an added charge—essentially a premium or facilitation fee—which covers the convenience of spreading out payments and the financial arrangements required to support such flexibility.
The model quickly gained attention because it addresses one of the biggest financial pain points in the UAE rental market: the bulk upfront payments that have long been the norm. By offering a structured monthly payment system, Keyper created an option that appeals to residents looking for better cash-flow management, especially younger professionals and families who prefer consistency over large periodic expenses.
Cherif Sleiman—chief revenue officer at Property Finder—shed more light on how this shift fits within the broader dynamics of the UAE property market. Sleiman emphasised that the introduction of monthly instalments is not intended to replace the traditional leasing framework. Instead, it is meant to complement it, adding another layer of choice for tenants who want more flexibility in how they spread out their payments. He explained that conventional tenancy agreements, which typically involve issuing a small number of post-dated cheques, will continue to exist for the foreseeable future. These established practices still hold strong in many parts of the UAE, and both landlords and tenants may choose to stick with familiar methods depending on what they are comfortable with.
Sleiman noted that the new payment solution is simply a modern alternative—one that can coexist with existing systems without disrupting them. He stressed that tenants who elect to use monthly instalments will still be operating within the recognised rental structure of the UAE, with all the standard legal and procedural frameworks remaining intact. The difference lies purely in how the yearly rent is split and settled.
One of the major benefits of the monthly instalment approach, he added, is the ability for tenants to take advantage of a more digital and automated process. Instead of managing physical cheques or preparing large sums at irregular intervals, tenants can control their rent payments through online dashboards, automated deductions, or card-based transactions. This makes it significantly easier for residents to organise their personal budgets, stay on top of monthly commitments, and plan their finances with greater clarity throughout the year.
Sleiman also highlighted that the rising demand for such options is reflective of broader consumer behaviour trends. People across the region are increasingly accustomed to subscription-style payments for day-to-day services—from streaming platforms to utilities—and many expect similar convenience when it comes to housing. Monthly rent payments, he suggested, align more naturally with how most workers receive income, making it a logical next step in the evolution of the rental market.
Ultimately, the introduction of Keyper’s service and its alignment with Property Finder’s vision demonstrates how the UAE’s property sector is gradually embracing greater flexibility, digitalisation, and tenant-centric innovations. While the traditional system remains firmly in place, the growing availability of modern alternatives indicates that the market is opening up to more inclusive and adaptable payment solutions.
The cost of choosing monthly rent payments can vary, and according to Sleiman, it really comes down to the expectations set by the landlord at the start of the agreement. He clarified that there isn’t a universal rule that monthly instalments automatically cost more; instead, the fees depend on how closely the tenant’s preferred payment schedule aligns with what the landlord already wants.
Sleiman explained that when a tenant agrees to pay rent on the terms the landlord originally requested—whether that’s a single cheque, two cheques, or any other arrangement—then simply carrying out the process through a digital platform does not add any new charges. In this scenario, the online system serves only as a tool to make the transaction smoother and more convenient, without creating extra costs for either party.
However, the situation changes when a tenant chooses to deviate from the landlord’s preferred structure and opts for 12 monthly instalments instead. Monthly payments offer greater flexibility and easier budgeting, but they also require additional financial handling behind the scenes. Because of this, tenants who want to shift from the agreed-upon cheque plan to a full monthly cycle will need to pay a convenience fee. This fee essentially covers the service of breaking the yearly rent into smaller instalments and ensuring the landlord still receives payments reliably.
On the landlord’s side, Sleiman noted that fees only apply in a very specific circumstance. If a landlord initially agrees to take several cheques throughout the year but later changes their mind and decides they prefer to receive the entire year’s rent upfront, then the landlord may be charged for altering the payment structure. This cost reflects the backend adjustments required to accelerate the payment schedule.
In short, monthly payments can be cost-neutral or come with a fee depending on the choices made by the tenant and landlord, but neither party is automatically charged simply for using a digital platform.
He clarified that people who pay their rent in fewer chunks can still expect better deals. In the digital setup, tenants will be able to choose from a variety of payment schedules, with each option having its own costs and perks.
n Dubai’s rental market, it has long been standard for tenants to settle their yearly housing costs through a small number of post-dated cheques — usually anywhere between one and six, depending on the landlord’s preference. These cheques are often issued months before the rental period begins, which requires tenants to prepare large sums of money upfront. Keyper introduces a different approach by giving residents the option to divide their annual rent into 12 evenly spaced monthly payments, creating a structure that aligns more naturally with how most people receive their income.
To illustrate how the pricing works, the company once shared a straightforward example shortly after its launch. Consider an apartment with an annual rent of Dh100,000, normally payable in four cheques. Under the traditional method, the tenant would provide those four cheques for the full amount. In contrast, Keyper would allow the same tenant to switch to monthly instalments by offering a revised total of Dh105,000 for the year. This amount would be split into 12 monthly credit card payments of Dh8,750 each. The difference — Dh5,000 above the original annual rent — represents the premium applied for converting four larger payments into a full year of smaller instalments. In this scenario, the added cost works out to roughly 5 per cent. This premium covers the financial structuring required to support monthly billing, as well as the operational and risk-management systems that make the arrangement possible.
The appeal of this model is clear for many residents: instead of having to produce substantial lump-sum payments, they can manage their rental obligations in the same way they handle most recurring bills. This approach helps tenants better regulate cash flow, reduces the pressure of saving large amounts in advance, and introduces a level of predictability that is often missing from traditional cheque-based arrangements. For individuals new to Dubai or young professionals still establishing financial stability, the convenience can be especially valuable.
Beyond individual cases, the impact of Keyper’s system is significant at a market level. The company’s platform now supports monthly rent payments for thousands of tenants across the emirate, reflecting a growing shift in consumer behaviour. According to the company’s data, the volume of rental transactions facilitated through its instalment model already represents more than Dh2 billion in annual rental demand — a strong indication that an increasing share of residents are embracing flexible payment options.
By offering a practical, technology-driven alternative to post-dated cheques, Keyper is reshaping expectations around how rent can be paid in Dubai, paving the way for a modernised and more adaptable rental landscape.
Growing appetite for monthly rent plans reshapes the UAE rental landscape
The shift toward paying rent on a monthly basis is gaining remarkable momentum in the UAE, and industry players say the surge in interest is far stronger and faster than expected. One of the newest entrants in this space is Takeem, a platform designed to make flexible rental payments easier for both landlords and tenants. Although the company has only been operational for a few months, the growth it has recorded highlights how quickly the market is embracing new financial models.
According to Rakesh Mavath — Takeem’s co-founder and chief executive — the platform has made substantial progress since its launch. Over a span of just seven months, Takeem has already processed and onboarded more than 50,000 rental units. These properties collectively represent over Dh5 billion in yearly rental value, a number that underscores not only the company’s rapid expansion but also the appetite among residents for payment choices that differ from the traditional cheque-based system. Mavath also confirmed that Takeem is preparing to introduce a dedicated consumer-facing version of its service. This upcoming rollout is expected to extend accessibility beyond its current institutional and enterprise users, enabling individual property owners and real estate agents across the UAE to adopt the model more easily.
Mavath describes the shift toward monthly rental payments as both urgent and widespread. He emphasised that the interest is not limited to a small demographic or a niche segment of the market; instead, he says the demand cuts across different income levels, property categories, and regions within the country. The appeal lies in the fact that each party involved in the rental ecosystem — landlords, tenants, and property managers — gains something meaningful from the arrangement.
From the perspective of landlords, monthly payments can actually translate into higher revenue. Mavath noted that by switching to systems like Takeem, property owners have access to new net income opportunities that were previously locked away. He explained that the platform has already generated more than Dh1 billion in incremental revenue for landlords, attributing this growth to reduced default rates, quicker lease transactions, and shorter vacancy periods. When properties stay occupied for longer and rent is collected more consistently, landlords naturally see higher overall returns.
Property managers are also benefiting from the change. Traditionally, rental management involves a significant amount of administrative coordination — from collecting cheques and following up on payments to handling overdue amounts. But with a digital monthly-payment system, these tasks become automated, streamlined, and easier to track. According to Mavath, property management firms using Takeem have already experienced an uplift of roughly Dh180 million in additional value, all without incurring any extra workload or operational expenses. The system effectively allows managers to enhance their revenue while maintaining the same level of effort.
Tenants, meanwhile, stand to gain perhaps the most immediate advantages. Instead of producing large amounts of cash in advance — a concern for many households — renters can now align their housing payments with the rhythm of their monthly salaries. This approach significantly reduces upfront financial pressure and eliminates the need to take on loans or credit-based products simply to secure accommodation. Mavath pointed out that tenants using Takeem’s model enjoy all the conveniences of monthly payments without entering into debt, making the system more financially sustainable for the average resident. In addition to lowering entry barriers, the structure also leads to faster maintenance turnaround times, since the platform encourages greater transparency and communication between tenants and property managers.
In summary, the surge in demand for monthly rent instalments is reshaping expectations in the UAE rental sector. With platforms like Takeem achieving rapid adoption and delivering tangible benefits to every stakeholder involved, the movement toward flexible payment models appears to be more than a temporary trend — it is emerging as a defining feature of the region’s evolving property market.
