Villas for rent in Dubai

The emirate of Dubai is certainly one of the most sophisticated addresses in the world. People from around the globe flock here for work, business deals and leisure each year which has also made this place a popular destination to live and work in. A community where 70% of the population includes expats, the country welcomes over 200 nationalities. It is now not only an attractive emirate for singles but families also prefer settling here considering the quality of life on offer. Undoubtedly, its educational, transportation and health sectors are at par with other highly developed nations. This is perhaps the very reason why there has been a surge in the demand for houses for rent in Dubai.

With a range of residential properties on offer including apartment blocks constantly adding to Dubai’s stunning skyline, post-modern clusters of villas, townhouse complexes and secluded island resorts, finding a house for rent in Dubai might seem a bit overwhelming. One thing to consider beside annual rents is the accessibility to other areas. Transportation options and location are also some of the key deciding factors when finding houses for rent in Dubai. There are some villa-only communities with shared facilities provided by the developer while some places have a mix of residential apartments and villas. 

Types of Villas in Dubai

There is a range of villas for rent in Dubai suitable to the requirements of singles, couples and families alike. Those looking to experience beach living can find many options closer to Jumeirah Public Beach. Rental trends for these properties would be comparatively higher. Next, there are several new projects in the emirate and villa-only communities where you find homogenous clusters of living spaces like Arabian Ranches 3.

Bigger families generally prefer to rent a villa in Dubai as these properties boast generous living spaces, attached parking areas and private gardens. Some luxury villas also include swimming pools, large balconies/terraces and outdoor spaces. The types of villas in Dubai vary based on many factors besides architectural styles, covered areas, bed-types and floor plans. For instance, there are attached villas with shared facilities. Whereas, those looking for more privacy can go for semi-detached and detached villas.

Prospective tenants can choose between 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6-bedroom villas for rent in Dubai. A 2-bed unit has covered space of 1,300 sq.ft. to 2,000 sq.ft. Mostly, expansive units are found in Palmera, Arabian Ranches and Al Awir, Desert Palm. Similarly, 3 and 4-bedroom villas span across 3,000 sq.ft. to 4,500 sq.ft., respectively. If you are looking for more space, you can rent a villa in Dubai coming in with 5 and 6 bedrooms and spanning across 10,000 sq.ft. to 14,000 sq.ft.

Most units feature separate rooms for the house help, guest bathrooms, a barbecue space, a laundry area and private balconies to maximize the views of the community. Those that are closer to key landmarks like the beaches in Dubai, Burj Khalifa and other notable locations are usually high-priced and equipped with world-class amenities. Some villa communities also feature family parks, playgrounds, CCTV surveillance and clubhouse facilities. 

Popular Areas to Rent Villas in Dubai

There are two options if you are looking for villas for rent in Dubai. You can either rent a villa part of a villa compounds or in a villa community. The difference between gated villa communities and compound villas in Dubai isn’t much but depends on what facilities you’re looking for. A villa community is generally larger with various amenities. Villa compounds are rather smaller clusters of 25 to 50 units with shared facilities. 

There are many communities in Dubai known for lush green landscaping or for views of sandy beaches or lakes and for housing golf courses. Some popular villa communities include Jumeirah, Mirdif, Emirates Hills, Palm Jumeirah and The Meadows. Mirdif is also one of the most popular areas to rent 3-bed, 4-bed and 5-bedroom villas. Other popular locations include Umm Suqeim and Reem. If you are interested in villas near golf clubs in Dubai, you can find many options in Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills Estate and DAMAC Hills (Akoya by DAMAC). Dubai Hills Estate has some of the most luxurious options and it is one of the newest villa communities. 

Rental Trends for Villas in Dubai

Annual rents for 2-bedroom houses start from AED 50k. These may go up to AED 170k per annum for more luxurious units in an upscale neighbourhood like Palm Jumeirah. If you are on a budget looking to rent 3-bedroom villas in Dubai under 115k, there are relevant options in Mirdif, Akoya Oxygen, Reem, DAMAC Hills (Akoya by DAMAC) and International City. Further, the rental rate for a 4-bedroom house would be around AED 90k to AED 800k. 5-bedroom homes are priced from AED 70k in Akoya Oxygen to AED 1.1M in Palm Jumeirah. 

How to Rent a Villa in Dubai?

Searching for a suitable villa for rent in Dubai is pretty simple using Bayut. The first step is to search for villas using the different tabs and filters on the website and analysing the property based on your requirements. Once, you have chosen and connected to the real estate agent, it is time to negotiate and sign the tenancy agreement. Rents are generally calculated on a per-annum basis and paid in post-dated cheques. However, some realtors and landlords offer monthly scheduled payments for the convenience of tenants. Your landlord may ask for payment in one to four cheques, or more, it is advisable to check the terms and conditions in the tenancy contract beforehand.

Cost Associated with Renting a Villa in Dubai

There are a few other costs related to renting villas in Dubai besides the agreed-upon annual or monthly rent. If you choose to get a villa for rent through a real estate agent, they will charge their commission that generally ranges from 2% to 5% of the annual rent. The amount payable will be calculated by the agency. To avoid this cost, you can simply rent the property directly from the landlord. Security deposit is another cost associated with renting villas in Dubai. Generally, 5% to 10% of the annual rent is paid to the landlord as security to be utilised in case the property needs reconditioning when vacated. This amount is refundable depending on the condition of the property when the tenant moves out of the house.

While signing the tenancy agreement, your landlord will also need you to register for an Ejari, a government initiative by RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Agency) to manage tenancy contracts in Dubai. Each Ejari tenancy contract comes with a unique number used to get the electricity, water, gas, internet and phone connections. This will include a nominal Ejari registration or renewal fee of AED 215 + 5% VAT.

Another cost to consider is the cost of utility connections. There are chiller/district cooling fees (for the air-conditioning) considering the weather of Dubai. If district cooling services are provided, there will be a fee consisting of consumption charges based on metre readings, demand charge, fuel surcharge and connection fees as well as district cooling deposits. Emicool and Empower are the main district cooling and chiller services providers in Dubai. Some villas are chiller-free where the landlord boars the cost of chiller/district cooling services. 

You also need to get utility connections through DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) the upfront cost of connection and admin fee will be approximately AED 230. DEWA also charges a security deposit of AED 4,000 for villas which is refundable upon vacating the premises and adjusting final bills.