Apartments for rent in Dubai

Dubai has a history of creating something special out of nothing. Dubai’s real estate sector and its properties are quite well-known in the world. This is however not the only thing that makes the city an ideal place to live for tenants. The tallest building in the world, white-sand beaches, the largest mall in the world (Dubai Mall) and one of the world’s largest indoor theme park are proof that Dubai is indeed a special place. The city has a lot of cultural and festive landmarks that attract visitors from across the globe. People can catch up on history by visiting the Dubai Museum and the Al Fahidi Fort in Bur Dubai, which are the oldest buildings in the city. Dubai has a vibrant nightlife and there are plenty of outdoor activities available during the day. The city provides many choices to people looking to make Dubai home and they can live in an apartment or one of the many villa communities around town.

Dubai has a large tourist base and caters to travelers as well as folks looking to live here on a longer-term basis. Short-term visitors have the option of booking a hotel room, renting a hotel apartment, or even taking up an apartment or a villa near the beach. For those looking to make Dubai home for a longer period, there are rental flats available on a monthly basis or an annual basis. There are options of taking up unfurnished apartments or if one is not keen on moving or buying furniture, then opt for a furnished apartment. Whatever the case might be, one can start their search on Bayut by viewing apartments available for rent on the site and getting in touch with a real estate agent for further assistance.

Lifestyle in the City of Dubai

Dubai has primarily two seasons, summer and what most would call fall or spring-like weather. The outer communities near the desert tend to get a bit cooler than the central part of town. Dubai offers everything to its inhabitants, from mega malls, beautiful beaches, amusement parks, water parks, top restaurants in the world, great schools and lots more. The city has communities ideal for singles, young couples and families, families with grown-up kids, and even retirees can have a great living in Dubai. There are activities planned throughout the year and plenty of festivals that keep everyone busy throughout the year. In spring and fall time, people tend to head to music concerts, sports events, outdoor parks and more. In the summer, people hit the beach, spend time in the malls taking advantage of sales in Dubai, and visit the water parks. Children tend to attend summer camps and there are always activities that stay popular throughout the year, like desert safari, skiing indoors at the Mall of the Emirates and year-round shopping and food festivals.

Types of Apartments in Dubai

Flats for rent in Dubai come in all sizes. One can choose from cheap apartments for rent to luxury ones, renting on a monthly or short-term basis to renting on a longer-term basis, furnished or unfurnished apartments for rent, sea view penthouses or villas at the base of a building, and the list goes on. Dubai provides options for all sorts of budgets and space required. One can go for rental studios, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom or even 4-bedrooms and larger apartments. For those seeking a luxurious living, the best option would be a large duplex or a penthouse. The amenities and features vary from building to building but most of the apartments have basic features like plus-sized windows, balconies, fitted kitchens, and amenities like swimming pools, maids room, play areas and grocery stores nearby. When searching for apartments, one could come across chiller-free apartments for rent. Chiller-free apartments tend to have the cost of the cooling (AC) covered in the rent, so the utility bill is only for general household use and is a substantial cost saving. Most of the buildings have basement or parking available on the first few floors of the building but some buildings have parking available for rent on a monthly or annual basis.

Popular Areas in Dubai for Renting Apartments

Dubai isn’t short of popular landmarks and some of the areas are just as popular as the city itself. Burj Khalifa, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence, and plenty of other areas along Sheikh Zayed Road are examples of this. When looking for an apartment, you can rely on Bayut to assist in your search to find the most suitable place for you and your family in Dubai. There are a few factors to consider when looking to rent and this will help you decide what community to consider. 

If you are single and are looking for a more metropolis lifestyle, then Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai and Jumeirah Beach Residence should be high on your list. All of these areas give you quick walking access to world-class malls, plenty of eateries and restaurants, movie cinemas and other facilities. If one is looking to be more economical, then Greens, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Business Bay, Motor City, Dubai Sports City, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Discovery Gardens are good options. These are all relatively new communities and provide great facilities but some of them might be a bit longer commute if you work in one of the business districts in Dubai. Finally, one could also consider International City, which is a bit further away, but provides some great options while being gentle on the wallet. All communities tend to have a good mix of expats from all different parts of the world and provide great ethnic diversity. If you are looking for short-term rentals, then it is best to stay near a landmark or within quick access to Dubai Metro or RTA bus transport. Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Al Barsha, Deira, and anywhere along Sheikh Zayed are great options to consider. One can choose from the many furnished and serviced apartments available for rent on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. 

If one is moving in with a family then villas for rent are an option or if the decision is to rent an apartment then one should consider at least a 2-bedroom or larger apartment. The factors one would need to consider are proximity to work and proximity to schools if one has school going children. All the previously mentioned communities are great for families as well but one should definitely consider the traffic during rush hours to make sure road trips to school and work are manageable. Finally, for those looking to splurge a little extra, consider a duplex apartment for rent in either Jumeirah Beach Residence, Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai or Dubai Marina. JBR, Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina apartments can provide great views of the beach and the coastline.

Rental Price Trends for Apartments in Dubai

Flat rentals in Dubai starts at around AED 18,000 per year for a studio and can go as high as over AED 1 Million. The rent of a 1-bedroom apartment in Dubai starts at AED 25k but averages at 50k AED per year. Similarly, two-bedroom apartments start at 38k per year and can go as high as 195k, whereas 3 bedroom apartment can go from 57k to 625k AED. 4-bedroom apartments are limited in number and so are penthouses, which are a lot more costly and tend to be more available in only high-end areas like Dubai Marina and Downtown Dubai. You can go to the rentals trends section of Bayut to get a better understanding of the trends of rental prices over the last few years.

Renting your First Apartment in Dubai

For people who are new to the city and looking to rent an apartment, the journey begins by starting the search online. Bayut provides some great options for folks to search through and get in touch with real estate agents. Once people are in touch with an agent, they tend to help people walk through the journey. Once a tenant finds a place, the next step is to negotiate and sign a lease contract. Then one proceeds to officially register the lease with Dubai Land Department through a service called Ejari. Ejari is also required to sponsor family members residence visas and although fairly straight-forward, you can get assistance from your real estate agency or broker. Once registered, it's time to sign up for utilities with DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) and sign up home services via one of the two providers, Du or Etisalat. With all that sorted, you are ready to begin your new life in Dubai.