Apartments for Rent in Dubai

Apartment rents in Dubai are quoted per year, not per month, and are usually paid in one to four cheques. Fewer cheques means a lower price, so the same flat can be advertised at two different figures depending on how you pay.

This page explains how renting works here, what each area costs, and what to check before you sign. Our current listings are above.

How renting in Dubai works

Step	What happens	Cost
1. Offer	You agree the rent and the number of cheques	Nothing
2. Deposit	Refundable security deposit to the landlord	5% unfurnished, 10% furnished
3. Agency fee	Paid once, on signing	5% of annual rent
4. Ejari	Your contract is registered with the government	About AED 220
5. DEWA	Water and electricity connected in your name	AED 2,000 to 4,000 deposit
6. Move in	Building may charge a move-in fee	AED 500 to 2,000

Budget roughly 10 percent of the annual rent for everything on top of the rent itself, most of it refundable.

The cheque question

Rent is paid with post-dated cheques for the year. One cheque is the cheapest option and landlords prefer it. Four cheques, meaning quarterly, is common and costs more. Six or twelve cheques exist but narrow your choice of property considerably.

The gap between a one-cheque and a four-cheque price is often five to ten percent, so it is worth asking for both figures before deciding.

What you get for your budget

These are the communities we currently let in, with the range of what we have available. They are our listings rather than a market average, so treat them as a guide to what is out there rather than a survey.

• Under AED 80,000: Jumeirah Village Circle, Al Jaddaf. Studios and one-bedrooms, newer buildings, further from the centre.
• AED 80,000 to 150,000: Business Bay, Dubai Marina, Dubai Creek Harbour. One and two bedrooms with a commute you can live with.
• AED 150,000 to 300,000: Downtown Dubai, Mohammed Bin Rashid City, Dubai Hills Estate. Larger apartments, better buildings, family space.
• Above AED 300,000: Palm Jumeirah, Downtown penthouses, waterfront branded residences.

Before you sign

Check the Ejari

Your contract must be registered with Ejari. Without it you cannot connect DEWA, get a visa processed for family, or take a dispute to the rental committee. It is the landlord's obligation but chase it.

Ask what the rent includes

Chiller charges for air conditioning can add thousands a year and are sometimes separate. Ask whether chiller is included, and whether there is a maintenance contact who actually answers.

Know your renewal rights

A landlord must give 90 days notice to change the rent or the terms at renewal, and increases are capped by the RERA rental index. You are not obliged to accept an arbitrary rise.

Photograph everything on the day you move in

The security deposit is refundable, and disputes about its return are the most common problem tenants face. Dated photographs settle them.

Renting somewhere else in Dubai

If an apartment is not what you need, we also list villas for rent and townhouses for rent, which give more space for the money further from the centre.

For help choosing an area, read our guide to the best areas to rent in Dubai.

Looking to let your own property?

We manage lettings across Dubai, from finding a tenant to registering the Ejari. List your property with us or speak to a RERA-licensed adviser.