Property management in Dubai costs 5 to 8 percent of your annual rent on a long term tenancy, and 15 to 25 percent of revenue on a holiday home. Below about AED 100,000 of rent, most firms switch to a flat fee of roughly AED 3,950 to AED 5,000 a year.
The percentage is the easy part. What separates a cheap quote from an expensive one is what sits inside it, and that varies more than the headline rate does. Figures current as of September 2026.
| Model | Typical fee | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Long term residential | 5 to 8 percent of gross annual rent | An apartment or villa on a normal annual contract |
| Short term or holiday home | 15 to 25 percent of gross revenue | Nightly and weekly letting, where someone handles turnover |
| Flat fee package | Around AED 3,950 to AED 5,000 a year | Rents below roughly AED 100,000, where a percentage is not worth anyone's time |
On an apartment let at AED 90,000, a 6 percent fee is AED 5,400 a year, so a flat fee at AED 4,500 is the cheaper of the two. On a villa at AED 300,000 the percentage wins for the manager and the flat fee is rarely offered.
At the standard rate you should expect the agent to market the unit and find the tenant, run viewings, check references, draw and register the Ejari contract, collect the rent and the cheques, hold the deposit, arrange routine maintenance, handle renewals, and serve notice correctly when a tenancy ends. That last one matters more than it sounds. A notice served the wrong way can cost a landlord a full year.
Almost every quote excludes the things that cost real money. Budget separately for:
It is worth it if you do not live in the UAE, if you own more than one unit, or if you would struggle to answer a burst pipe at midnight. On a single flat, in the country, with a tenant who pays on time, the honest answer is that it is a convenience rather than a saving. Six percent of AED 90,000 buys a lot of plumber visits.
The one place it reliably pays for itself is the gap between tenancies. An empty month costs more than a year of management on most units, and getting the unit relet quickly is the part a good manager is genuinely better at.
Ask both firms the same five questions and the difference stops being about the percentage.
If you would like us to look at a specific unit and what it should be renting for, get in touch. You can also browse Dubai communities to compare rents before you commit to a manager.
Between 5 and 8 percent of the gross annual rent for a long term tenancy. Holiday home management runs much higher, at 15 to 25 percent of revenue, because someone is handling guest turnover, pricing and cleaning.
Yes. On rents below roughly AED 100,000 most firms offer a flat annual package of about AED 3,950 to AED 5,000, which usually works out cheaper than a percentage at that level.
No. Service charges are billed to the owner by the owners association and are separate from anything the manager charges. They are usually the larger of the two costs.
Sometimes, and it is the single most important thing to confirm in writing. Some firms include letting in the percentage, others charge a separate fee equal to 5 percent of the annual rent each time the unit is let.
You are not required to have one, but you do need someone in the country who can handle maintenance, tenant contact and the Ejari paperwork. For most overseas owners that is the main reason to appoint a manager.
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TRPE Real Estate is a company registered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Trade License No. 999314 · RERA ORN 28357 · Office 1201, Ascott Park Place, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. Regulated by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA).
