Tawtheeq

Overview

Tawtheeq is Abu Dhabi's electronic tenancy registration system run by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) and accessed through the TAMM platform. Every residential and commercial lease in Abu Dhabi emirate must be registered on Tawtheeq before the tenant can connect ADDC electricity and water, enrol children in Abu Dhabi schools, sponsor family members for residence visas through ICP, or file a dispute at the Abu Dhabi Rent Dispute Centre. The system was launched in 2011 and is the Abu Dhabi counterpart to Dubai's Ejari.

Tawtheeq registration is the landlord's legal responsibility. Unlike Ejari (which tenants commonly arrange themselves), Tawtheeq is typically pushed through TAMM by the landlord or the building's property manager, and a copy of the registration is then shared with the tenant. The Tawtheeq number appears on the lease and on the ADDC bill, and is what every other Abu Dhabi authority queries to confirm housing. The system covers freehold units, leasehold units, and units in government housing schemes, and ties into the Abu Dhabi address register.

Three operational points matter. First, no separate Tawtheeq fee is charged in the same way Ejari is; the cost is rolled into the property manager's service fee and varies by building. Second, the Tawtheeq number must match the unit details exactly when ICP processes a family residence visa, so a wrong floor or unit number silently stalls the visa. Third, modification of a Tawtheeq (extending the lease, changing tenant name, adding a co-tenant) is initiated by the landlord, which is why many disputes between tenants and landlords in Abu Dhabi escalate around end-of-lease procedural delays. Confirm any specific fee or process on tamm.abudhabi.

How to access

1. 1. Sign the Abu Dhabi tenancy contract

   Sign the standard Abu Dhabi tenancy contract with the landlord or property manager. The form must include unit details, agreed rent, payment terms, tenant Emirates ID, and the building's plot number.

2. 2. Landlord initiates Tawtheeq on TAMM

   The landlord or property manager logs into TAMM with UAE Pass and files the Tawtheeq registration. As a tenant, you typically supply your Emirates ID and passport copy to the landlord, who pushes the registration through. Buildings managed by Aldar, ADCP and similar large managers do this automatically as part of move-in.

3. 3. Receive the Tawtheeq number

   Once approved, the system generates a Tawtheeq number which appears on the lease and on subsequent ADDC bills. The PDF Tawtheeq certificate is shared with the tenant by email or through TAMM.

4. 4. Connect ADDC using the Tawtheeq number

   Open the ADDC portal or app, file a new connection or transfer request, and enter the Tawtheeq number. ADDC verifies the registration in real time and opens the connection.

5. 5. Renew or close at lease end

   Sixty days before lease end, agree renewal terms with the landlord or give notice. The landlord renews or terminates Tawtheeq through TAMM. Always confirm closure or renewal directly on TAMM before assuming the file is updated.