Apartments for rent in Sharjah

Bordering Dubai is its more conservative neighbour, Sharjah. This city is a popular place to live due to its affordable rents as compared to Dubai and its overall family-friendly environment. It is an emirate that is better known for its residential neighbourhoods. Accordingly, many prefer to live here and commute to and from Sharjah as this helps them save on rent. However, what most people don’t know is that Sharjah is the third largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) but just like every other emirate, it has its own set of civil and criminal laws. It has been ruled by one family, the Al Qasimi Dynasty since the 18th century. Apart from being known as an affordable place to live, it has also been awarded the title of ‘Arab Capital of Culture’ by UNESCO. Another fun fact about Sharjah is that it was the very first place in the Middle East where ancient life was discovered. Recently, in the area of Jebel Fayah in Sharjah, the first evidence of human remains was discovered which dated back all the way to 85,000 B.C. Fun facts aside, Sharjah is considered a very practical place to live in. It has several malls, cafes, restaurants and other places of interest. If one decides to spend their weekend in Sharjah, they certainly won’t be disappointed. Rental properties in Sharjah are not only affordable, but they are up to par with Dubai in terms of amenities and features.

Types of Apartments in Sharjah

In Sharjah, apartments range from studios all the way to 4-bedroom units. Accordingly, a typical studio flat in Sharjah will come with 350 sq. ft. of floor space with 1 bath. When it comes to 1-bed rental apartments in Sharjah, the most popular floor plan seems to have 850 sq. ft. with 1 bath. Moving forward, the most sought-after 2-bed residential unit will have around 1,500 sq. ft. of floor space and 3 bathrooms in total. Those searching for a 4-bed unit most often express interest in renting a flat that comes with 2,200 sq. ft. of floor space and 4 bathrooms. Some flats will come with features such as a swimming pool, gym, Jacuzzi, electricity backup, prayer room in the building, intercom, and an ATM facility.

Popular Areas of Sharjah

There are a few areas in Sharjah that are more popular for renting apartments as compared to others. At the top of this list is Al Nahda. This area is on Dubai’s border and this is means that residents who commute to Dubai find it convenient to live here as they don’t have to encounter as much traffic as others and can get to work quicker. Coming in at second place is Muwaileh, which has one of the cheapest rental rates for 1-bed apartments. In third place is the community of Al Taawun. This is a popular tourist area which is home to Al Qasba and the Eye of the Emirate (a giant Ferris wheel that has become a landmark within Sharjah). This area is known for its family-friendly environment and is thus a popular place for expat families to rent apartments. In third place is the community of Al Majaz where rental prices have been decreasing which is why it has captured the attention of eager residents looking for affordable accommodation in Sharjah. Finally, in fourth place is Al Khan area where there has been a drop of 6.6 per cent in rental rates for 1-bed apartments.

Lifestyle in Sharjah

Since every emirate has its own unique culture and identity, one should never compare one with the other. However, this doesn’t mean that Sharjah doesn’t have any attractions or places of interests. For instance, one can visit Al Noor Island that is located in Khalid Lagoon. This place has been developed to highlight the cultural side of Sharjah. Visitors can reach this venue via walkways or boat. This is a great place to visit if one feels the need to get away from the urban jungle and experience some level of serenity. Moving on, another place worth visiting is the classic car museum. This museum has over 100 classic cars on exhibition and if classic cars fascinate you, then this is the place to be. Not only is this a place of marvel and intrigue but visitors will learn a great deal of information on automotive history. Moving on, Sharjah also has its own aquarium which has over 250 species of marine life. Finally, one of the best parts about residing in Sharjah is that you can visit the beach whenever you like. It’s summer all year round and there’s no shortage of public beaches in Sharjah. Apart from all this, Sharjah has a huge selection of casual and fine-dine eateries. Also, it has large malls where one can go on a shopping spree. These include Sharjah City Centre and Mega Mall.

Rent Price Trend for Apartments in Sharjah

The most popular studio flat in Sharjah will demand an annual rent of AED 13k per annum, while a 1-bed will demand yearly rent payment of AED 22k. Moving forward, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments will typically rent for AED 36k and AED 48k per annum, respectively. Finally, for those looking for a 4-BHK apartment in Sharjah, they can expect its rental price to be around AED 80k in annual rent payments. Furthermore, some realtors will ask for a deposit fee. This could vary depending on the type of apartment you choose to rent. In addition, rent is usually paid through 4 to 6 post-dated cheques. However, there are some realtors that will ask for a lump sum of yearly rent or through a bi-annual payment.