Property Management in Dubai: What It Costs and What You Get

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 October 2026, drawn from Property Finder's 2026 guide and Bayut's fee guide.

What does property management cost in Dubai?

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.

How much does a property manager cost by property type?

Property Finder's February 2026 guide gives these sample base fees. They are estimates and vary by provider.

Bayut's guide, updated in October 2026, says fees commonly run from about 5 to 10 percent of annual rental income depending on property type, location, rent and services. Its worked example is a 6 percent fee on AED 120,000 of rent, which is AED 7,200 a year before extras. It also advises checking whether the percentage is charged on the contracted rent or on rent actually collected, because on a unit with a gap between tenants that is a real difference.

What does the fee actually cover?

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.

Read how Ejari and tenancy contracts work so you know what the manager is registering on your behalf.

What is not included?

Almost every quote excludes the things that cost real money. Budget separately for:

• Service charges, which are the owner's bill and not the manager's. See how service charges work in Dubai.
• Repairs and replacements above a set threshold, often AED 500 or AED 1,000 per item.
• Annual maintenance contracts for air conditioning and white goods.
• Ejari registration and any DEWA transfer charges, unless the quote says otherwise.
• Eviction and rent dispute work, which is usually billed separately.

What extra fees do property managers charge?

These are the add ons that turn a cheap headline rate into an expensive one. Property Finder's 2026 guide gives these typical figures.

For short term lets, add the onboarding and setup fee, and note that holiday homes need registration and approval through the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Our guide to short term rentals and holiday homes explains the rules.

Is property management worth it? See our manage it yourself or hire a manager.

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. If you would rather manage it yourself, read how to rent out your property in Dubai.

How do you compare two quotes properly?

Ask both firms the same five questions and the difference stops being about the percentage. See our checklist for choosing a management company.

• What is your repair approval threshold, and do you take a margin on contractor invoices?
• Is finding the tenant included, or charged as a separate letting fee?
• Who holds the deposit, and how quickly is it returned at the end?
• What happens, step by step, if the tenant stops paying? Our guide on what to do if your tenant stops paying shows what a good answer looks like.
• How many units does the person managing mine actually handle?

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.

See our short term rental management fees and licences.