Rent is a primary expense for most people. In Dubai. What you spend on rent depends on your household size and lifestyle. Single people who opt for a 1 bedroom apartment, spend about AED 4,000 to AED 7,000 on rent. If you are a couple, you can budget about AED 6,000 to AED 10,000 to rent a 2 bedroom apartment in a prime location. For families, it’s about AED 10,000 to AED 15,000 a month to rent a villa.
Can you live in your desired neighborhood at those prices? And where are the best places to rent in Dubai?
Where to Rent an Apartment in Dubai
The real estate market in Dubai is thriving. The city is popular among tenants and holiday renters, which makes it an even more attractive market for investors looking to earn passive income. More property developments are rising and new off-plan projects in Dubai are on offer. All of this is driving the prices up for rental properties, both for luxury and affordable categories.
Where is the best place to rent an apartment in Dubai?
You have plenty of options for apartments in prime areas, such as Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, and Downtown Dubai. You’ll also have affordable options in excellent neighborhoods, like Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), International City, and Dubai Creek Harbour.
Rent for luxury apartments went up 7.23% this year versus a 10.87% rise in the average rent for affordable apartments in Dubai.
Let’s have a look at rental prices in a few neighborhoods in Dubai.
JVC
One of the best places to rent in Dubai with family is Jumeirah Village Circle. Families love it for its tranquil, slower pace and the more than 30 parks and green spaces across 870 hectares of prime land.
JVC is known for its affordable living. Whether you’re budget is on the lower or higher end, you can certainly afford the quality of life in this community, which is developed by Nakheel.
Studios on average are AED 52,000 (up 10.64%). For one-bedroom apartments, the average annual rent is AED 74,000 (up 5.71%), and two-bedroom apartments are at AED 111,000 (an increase of 12.12%). The average annual rent for budget-friendly properties is AED 80,000 (an increase of 12.68%).
Aside from apartments for rent in JVC, you’ll also find villas if you need more room.
Downtown Dubai
Downtown Dubai is where you’ll typically find a lot of the tourists. The Burj Khalifa is here along with the massive Dubai Mall and the always stunning Dubai Fountain. It’s a pulsing community that features all sorts of amenities you’ll need as a resident.
If you’re looking for properties for rent in Downtown Dubai, it will be on the upscale end, with Emaar Properties spearheading projects in Dubai’s crown jewel.
The average annual rent in Downtown is AED 214,000, which has actually dropped from the previous year’s rent. Most of the price drops come from the two-bedroom (7.38% reduction) with an average yearly rent of AED 226,00 and three-bedroom apartments (5.68% cut) with an average annual rent of AED 382,000.
The lone price increase (at 0.74%) comes from one-bedroom apartments, which cost an average of AED 137,000.
The studio apartments are more affordable with an average annual rent of AED 85,000. Although McCone still has listings starting at AED 69,500.
If those rent prices are not within your budget but you still want that premier property neighborhood, check out Business Bay.
Business Bay
Business Bay is the perfect location for young professionals and couples with growing families who want proximity to their workplace. The business hub features a lot of great quality housing, lifestyle amenities, schools, and hospitals.
What do Business Bay apartments for rent cost?
Rent for luxury apartments in this neighborhood have gone up 0.8% in the first quarter of this year, with an average price of AED 123,000. For studio apartments, the average annual rent in Business Bay is AED 75,000, though you can find options as low as AED 60,000. For a one-bedroom apartment, expect to pay an average of AED 102,000, which is up 6.25%. For a two-bedroom apartment, the average rent is AED 153,000, up by 3.38%, and for a three-bedroom apartment, the average rent is AED 233,000, up by 2.19%.
Among the list of premier neighborhoods, Business Bay has the most affordable average annual rent for luxury apartments. Considering the quality of properties and amenities, it’s one of the best affordable places to live in Dubai.
Dubai Creek Harbour
If you have a bit more room in your budget, Dubai Creek Harbour is another good place to rent. Developed by Emaar Properties, Dubai Creek has nine districts, with retail spaces, schools, healthcare facilities, massive outdoor spaces, and plenty of lifestyle amenities.
With a number of apartments for rent in Dubai Creek Harbour, this neighborhood qualifies as one of the best places to rent in Dubai with your family.
On average, the annual rent is AED 169,000, which is an increase of 12.67%. A one-bedroom apartment in Dubai Creek can cost about AED 114,000 (up by 6.54%). For two-bedroom apartments, expect to pay AED 178,000 (up by 12.66%), and for three-bedroom apartments, it’s AED 260,000 (up by 10.17%).
The steep rent increases in this neighborhood are due to the number of developments going up. You’ll definitely have plenty of options as inventory grows.
Dubai Marina
When you seek the Riviera kind of lifestyle, Dubai Marina is the perfect address. The major residential and commercial hub features some of the most iconic high rises and premium properties in proximity to posh dining places, cafes, bars and clubs, and 130 retail shops.
The average rent here is AED 153,000 (an increase of 1.32%). Although some of the apartments for rent in Dubai Marina are on the high end, you’ll still find studio apartments with an average rent of AED 75,000 per year. For one-bedroom apartments, the average yearly rent is AED 111,000 (up 2.78%). For two-bedroom apartments, the average is AED 170,000 (up 0.59%).
International City
If your budget is about a quarter of what people pay in premier locations, International City is an ideal location. It’s one of the more popular areas for affordable apartments.
Developed by Nakheel Properties, the community features low-rise buildings that follow the architectural styles of different countries. These buildings are then divided into clusters, such as Morocco, Greece, France, and Emirates.
Most residential properties are studios and one-bedroom apartments, making it ideal mostly for single people and couples. You can also find a few villas and townhouses on the rental market.
With an average annual rent of AED 41,000 (up 13.89%), International City is one of the cheapest areas to rent in Dubai.
Studios have an average rent of AED 31,000 (an increase of 19.23%), one-bedroom apartments are at AED 44,000 (up 18.92%), and two bedrooms are at AED 58,000 (up 5.45%)
Whatever your budget, expect rental prices across most neighborhoods in the UAE city to be up since last year. If you’re looking at multiple rental properties in Dubai, consider the market value of the property along with other factors.
The market value of the property tends to play a part in just how much a landlord can increase the rent.
If the rent is 10% lower than the market value of the property, you might not see an increase. If the rent is 10% to 20% lower than the market value, you could expect a 5% increase. If the rent is 40% lower than the market value, the increase could be up to 20%.
We Help You Find the Best Places to Rent in Dubai
When you’re in the market for a rental property, we can help you find the perfect home that meets not only your budget but your lifestyle needs as well.
We have decades of experience helping people find the best places to rent in Dubai.
Talk to us today, and let’s get started on finding you that perfect home.
