How Much Does It Cost to Rent an Apartment in Dubai?

How Much Does It Cost to Move from Dubai To...?

Moving to Dubai? One of the first things on your checklist should be finding housing at an affordable rate in Dubai. Dubai has a wide range of neighborhoods, each catering to a different target group. By analyzing data from the Dubai Land Department, ServiceMarket has prepared a rental guide on apartment prices in Dubai for you. This price guide can help you narrow down your search to a locality depending on your budget and requirements. You can get quotes from ServiceMarket for a local move if you are looking for moving companies in Dubai.

The Best Locales and Cost of Apartments in Dubai

One-bedroom apartments have been the benchmark for this rental price guide. For areas where villas outnumber apartments, the ranges given refer to 3-bedroom villas. You can use this guide to see which areas in Dubai suit your budget, but rents can vary and some apartments may be beyond the ranges mentioned here.

1) Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai Marina, and Jumeirah Lakes Towers: These high-density areas are packed with those who are looking for a high-rise living in Dubai. JLT is a very family-friendly neighborhood with its parks and lakes. JBR offers great access to amenities and the beach, also making it well-suited for families. Whereas Dubai Marina apartments are more popular among couples and single people.

Dubai Marina (1BR apartment): AED 62,000 to AED 180,000 per year.

Jumeirah Beach Residence (1BR apartment): AED 90,000 to AED 155,000 per year.

Jumeirah Lake Towers (1BR apartment): AED 52,000 to AED 130,000 per year.

2) Emirates Hills, The Springs, The Meadows, and The Lakes: These areas are ideal for families with children or pets as they are full of spacious villas with gardens. Developed and managed by Emaar, each of these communities also have their own community centers that usually contain gyms, pools, grocery stores, and restaurants. The Springs is the most affordable option in this area. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a high-end property, then check out Emirates Hills. However, this is one of the most expensive areas in Dubai and you are unlikely to find anything below AED 370,000 per year.

The Lakes (3 BR villa): AED 220,000 to AED 260,000 per year.

Meadows (3 BR villa): AED 299,000 to AED 270,000 per year.

Springs (3 BR villa): AED 175,000 to AED 200,000 per year.

Emirates Hills (3 BR villa): starting from AED 370,000 per year.

3) The Palm Jumeirah: This caters to those who truly want to experience the luxurious lifestyle of Dubai. The premium residences, of course, come with a hefty price tag.

Palm Jumeirah (1BR apartment): AED 90,000 to AED 260,000 per year.

4) Jumeirah Village: Even though Jumeirah Village is one of the more recently developed areas in Dubai, its villas, townhouses, and apartments have become very popular. It has a reputation as one of the more reasonably priced areas. It is located near Al Khail Road, making it relatively accessible.

Jumeirah Village (1BR apartment): AED 43,000 to AED 120,000 per year.

5) The Greens: Developed in a central location, this area has a mix of low-rise and high-rise apartments. There are a number of restaurants, lakes, and a nice jogging track to serve its residents. Many people move to this area because of its welcoming community. It is also a central location for people who work in Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City.

Greens (1BR apartment): AED 65,000 to AED 120,000 per year

6) Arabian Ranches, Motor City, and Sports City: You will be able to find many apartments and townhouses in Motor City, which is located between Arabian Ranches and Dubai Sports City. Developed and managed by Emaar, Arabian Ranches is a community with beautiful villas and private gardens. With a central community center and many shops and restaurants, it is a high-end area where living is more expensive compared to some of the other areas in Dubai.

Motor City (1BR apartment): AED 45,000 to AED 80,000 per year.

Dubai Sports City (1BR apartment): AED 45,000 to AED 89000 per year.

Arabian Ranches (3BR villa): AED 145,000 to AED 320,000 per year.

7) Downtown Dubai, DIFC, and Business Bay: This is where you’ll find high-flying professionals and business leaders since the area provides quick access to Sheikh Zayed Road and the commercial districts of DIFC and Business Bay. This is also the area around the popular Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa. Many consider it as one of the most prime areas in Dubai – and its high rental prices reflect this!

Business Bay (1BR apartment): AED 40,000 to AED 199,000 per year.

DIFC (1BR apartment): AED 70,000 to AED 200,000 per year.

Downtown (1BR apartment): AED 85,000 to AED 1,750,000 per year.

8) Jumeirah, Umm Sequim, and Al Wasl: Most of the residential properties in this area are villas. Some of them are located in small compounds but most are independently built. It is renowned as one of the most beautiful residential areas in Dubai and is close to the beach. Many people are willing to rent expensive villas in Jumeirah because it is very centrally located and is an excellent area for families.

Al Wasl (3BR villa): starting from AED 190,000 per year.

Jumeirah (3BR villa): AED 175,000 to AED 220,000 per year.

Umm Suqeim (3BR villa): AED 190,000 to AED 260,000 per year.

9) Deira and Bur Dubai: Both, Deira and Bur Dubai, are considered to be among the oldest areas of Dubai. They consist of a mix of older and more contemporary buildings and have an increasingly dense population. You will find many hotels, shops, restaurants, and shopping malls in these areas. They are ideal for families who are looking for affordable apartments.

Bur Dubai (1BR apartment): AED 38,000 to AED 155,000 per year.

Deira (1BR apartment): AED 28,000 to AED 115,000 per year.

10) Festival City: You can find apartments, townhouses, and villas in this area. With several shopping malls, schools, hospitality venues, and a golf club, it is an ideal residential area for families.

Festival City (1BR apartment): AED 35,000 to AED 84,000 per year.

11) Mirdif: This neighborhood is best suited for those who want to enjoy the luxury of having their own private garden and villa, but have budget constraints as well. It is ideal for those who work near the Airport or on Sheikh Zayed Road. Affordability is the main factor that draws people to Mirdif; you can get a spacious villa without breaking the bank.

Mirdif (3BR villa): AED 100,000 to AED 220,000 per year.

12) Dubailand: This new area attracts people who are looking for spacious but affordable apartments. It offers all the basic amenities that you need for day-to-day living.  

Dubailand (1BR apartment): AED 45,000 to AED 170,000 per year.

Additional Points to Consider

Rent payments usually take the form of post-dated cheques. Many people choose to split the yearly payments, typically into 2-4 installments. This can vary depending on the agreement you sign with your landlord. However, remember that you can use this as a negotiating factor. Many landlords will agree to reduce the rent price if you agree to pay a year’s rent in advance.

When you rent property in Dubai it is normal to have to pay a fee to your real estate agent. Even though the law does not set a fixed amount, you can expect to pay around 5% of the total lease.

In addition to the basic rent and the agent’s fee, tenants also have to pay a security deposit of 5% of the annual rent for an unfurnished apartment. Although this is a refundable deposit, the landlord can use this amount to pay for any repairs necessary to restore the property to the state it was in when you first rented it.

You will also have to register your tenancy contract with Ejari, which is going to cost you AED 155 (excluding VAT and other fees). To set up your DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) account, you will also have to pay a refundable deposit of AED 2,000 for an apartment and a deposit of AED 4,000 for a villa.

If any of the above locales catch your eye and you are looking for movers to help with the shifting process, get free quotes from reliable movers and packers in Dubai on ServiceMarket now.

Moving soon?

GET FREE MOVING QUOTES NOWBook-now