What do Dubai landlords check during a move-out inspection?

Dubai landlords typically check the following during a move-out inspection:

Walls and ceilings: marks, holes, stains, and non-standard paint colours. Normal scuffs from everyday living cannot be charged — but large marks, holes from heavy fixings, or non-standard colours can be deducted.

Flooring: scratches, stains, and damage beyond normal wear. Carpet wear from normal use over 2+ years is not a legitimate deduction. Significant staining or burns are.

Kitchen: oven and hob cleanliness (inside the oven is the most common cleaning deduction), extractor fan, inside cupboards, grease on surfaces, and condition of appliances.

Bathrooms: limescale on taps and showerheads, mould on grout, condition of sealant around bath/shower.

Fixtures and fittings: door handles, locks, light switches, sockets, and any items that were present at the start of the tenancy.

The most common deposit deduction reasons in Dubai: oven not cleaned, bathroom grout mouldy, non-standard wall colours, marks on walls, and belongings left behind.

How to protect yourself: do a professional deep clean before the inspection (keep the receipt), fill any small holes from picture hooks with white filler, repaint back to white if you painted non-standard colours, and request that the inspection is done with you present so you can dispute anything in real time.