Villas for rent in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is one of the seven emirates and the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It consists of 200 islands and a coastline stretching 700km. The emirate experiences a rapidly growing economy with a high GDP and per capita income. This boom in the economy has attracted professionals from all over the world. As a result, a large number of individuals and families relocated to the emirate. According to the Abu Dhabi Statistics Centre, the statistical yearbook of 2020 mentions the population of the emirate to be 2,908,173 from which 2,356,638 were expatriates. 

With the rise of expat families moving to Abu Dhabi, there has been a surge in demand for rental villas in Abu Dhabi. To cater to the demand, a number of housing projects have been launched. These residential developments are equipped with family-friendly amenities such as supermarkets, schools, mosques and recreational facilities. A wide range of villas to rent in Abu Dhabi are available for families in areas like Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Khalifa City A and Al Mushrif. 

Types of Villas in Abu Dhabi

Villas for rent in Abu Dhabi come in different configurations ranging from 2-bedroom to 8+ bedroom villas. Most of the houses for rent in Abu Dhabi are double-storey where the living area, kitchen and guest room are located on the ground floor while bedrooms are on the upper floor. Tenants can also generally find a covered parking area and landscaped garden in a villa for rent in Abu Dhabi. Other features include a maid’s room with bathroom, storeroom and powder room. 

Popular Areas to Rent Villas in Abu Dhabi

There are several luxurious and outstanding villa communities in the capital of the emirate for those planning to move to a villa for rent in Abu Dhabi for more space. Tenants can find affordable and spacious houses for rent in Abu Dhabi in areas like Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Khalifa City A and Al Reef. The luxurious houses for rent in Abu Dhabi are available in areas such as Yas Island, Al Bateen and Saadiyat Island. These areas offer integrated lifestyles with a variety of amenities and attractions. 

Rental Trends for Villas in Abu Dhabi

Rental prices for 2-bedroom villas in Abu Dhabi start from AED 40k and go up to AED 165k in areas like Al Reef and Khalifa City A. 3-bedroom villas can be rented in AED 50k to AED 310k in neighbourhoods such as Al Bahia and Saadiyat Island. Prices for 4-bedroom houses in Abu Dhabi can go up to AED 620k in areas such as Marina Village. The starting price for 5-bedroom villas for rent in Abu Dhabi is AED 95k in areas like Al Karamah and Mohammed Bin Zayed City and can go up to AED 700k in Al Bateen and Al Reem Island. Tenants can also rent a villa in Abu Dhabi with the 6-bedroom layout in a price range of AED 110k to AED 750k annually. The emirate also has expansive 7, 8 and 10-bedroom villas for rent in areas like Shakhbout City, Al Nahyan and Baniyas. 

How to Rent a Villa in Abu Dhabi?

The first step to rent a house in Abu Dhabi is to search for available villas using Bayut. Tenants can find a number of properties listed by real estate agents on the online property portal with a detailed description of available facilities and amenities. The next step to rent a villa in Abu Dhabi is to sign the tenancy contract in which the payment method for the annual lease and other details are stated. Landlords/real estate agents usually demand post-dated cheques for an annual lease in Abu Dhabi. The number of cheques for paying the yearly lease of villas for rent in Abu Dhabi can vary from one to four to twelve in some cases. 

Costs Associated with Renting a Villa in Abu Dhabi

Apart from the yearly leasing price of a house for rent in Abu Dhabi, there are other costs associated with renting a villa in the city. Once you have selected the property of your choice, you will have to pay 2% to 5% of the rental price as a commission to the real estate agent/agency. Along with the commission, the tenant will also pay the security deposit to the landlord which is usually 5% of the rental price. The security deposit is refundable but the owner reserves the right to deduct a certain amount if there are damages to the property. 

Tawtheeq is a registration system for a tenancy agreement in Abu Dhabi. This process applies to anyone involved in renting a villa in Abu Dhabi to protect both the parties; tenant and landlord. The registration process for Tawtheeq is done by either the real estate agent or the owner of the property. One can visit the online portal or the Customer Service Centre at the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City to initiate the registration process. The registration fees of leasable property in Abu Dhabi is AED 1,000 while one has to pay AED 100 for a new tenancy contract registration or renewal of the contract. 

Once you are registered with Tawtheeq, the Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC) will set up the water and electricity connection. As the systems are linked together, ADDC will be informed automatically and there is no need to send a separate moving application. However, one must check that the ADDC has received the request for connection two days before the starting date of the contract. A security deposit of AED 1,000 will be paid in the first bill for setting up the connection. 

Another charge related to renting a villa in Abu Dhabi is district cooling or chiller fees. Most of the villas for rent in Abu Dhabi have the connection through Tabreed or ista, two major district cooling suppliers in the emirate. In this case, the tenant is liable to pay for the consumption based on the meter reading. Some villas are chiller-free units where the landlord pays the charges for chiller/district cooling.