Guide to Finding Apartments for Rent in Dubai

Dubai is a beautiful place to live. The city’s filled with ex-pats who are in search of a better standard of living and career opportunities, while native Emiratis hope to make a better life for themselves too.

According to reports, Dubai will likely maintain its dominance in the UAE real estate sector due to tourism growth and increasing demand for office spaces.

Even though it may seem complicated, finding an apartment that meets your lifestyle can be surprisingly simple. Just follow some simple steps, and you’ll find the apartments for rent in Dubai that are right for you.

1. Costs

First, you will need to decide whether or not you want to rent or buy. Buying makes more sense if you’re planning on settling down and making Dubai your home for many years, but renting may be preferable if you’re passing through.

Of course, this choice will ultimately depend on your budget. If you’re looking for cheap apartments for rent in Dubai, then your best bet may be older buildings that haven’t been renovated yet.

You can also check out government-subsidized housing, which tends to be very affordable and is available in several different locations.

You may not need to pay the total amount upfront if you have a good credit score. Most landlords will let you pay a deposit and then installments on top of that, which can help to spread the cost.

2. Location

According to reports, there were more than 34,000 real estate investors in 2019, with a 14 percent growth rate, compared to 29,846 in 2018.

Dubai is a wealthy city, so its apartment buildings are generally safe and well-run. However, there are some areas where your safety may be at greater risk than others.

You’ll want to avoid living in or around old buildings, particularly if you’re a woman. Although the UAE is generally safe and crime rates remain low, some incidents in newer buildings have caused concern among tenants.

If you don’t want to spend too much time traveling between work and home, you should also consider your office while searching for apartments for rent in Dubai. Most people spend at least an hour commuting every day, so it’s wise to avoid areas that are too far away from your job.

3. Size and Amenities

If you’re used to living in a big house with plenty of outdoor space, then resizing may be hard for you. However, most new buildings in Dubai still have pretty small apartments.

It may not seem like there’s much you can do about this, but remember that new buildings tend to include all the amenities that matter most.

For example, some recent developments even come with features such as rooftop swimming pools and gyms for their residents to enjoy.

Of course, if your top priority is having plenty of outdoor space for your children to run around in, then buying an older apartment or house may be a better option.

You won’t have incredible amenities, but you’ll get more living rooms and could even add your swimming pool if you want.

4. Areas to Avoid

Dubai has beautiful beaches and gorgeous suburbs such as Jumeirah, but it’s also a fast-growing city with a lot of construction. Unfortunately, this can create a few problems for apartment dwellers.

The prices of older buildings in Dubai have skyrocketed over the last few years due to high demand, which has made them unaffordable for most people.

That’s why many landlords prefer to rent out their apartments to tourists and other short-term tenants, regardless of whether they plan to live there for a long time.

Unfortunately, that means that your neighbors may be noisy and unreliable, which can make life difficult for you. If you want the best service and security standards possible, consider renting an apartment in a new building.

5. Longer Leases

If you’re searching for apartments for rent in Dubai for a long duration, then it’s wise to look at the terms of your contract carefully.

Most people will find an apartment that can provide them with services for up to six months or one year, but few buildings are willing to offer anything longer.

You don’t want to find yourself unable to move out of your home for more than a few years, so you should avoid long-term leases if possible.

You may be able to get around this by signing deals with several different landlords simultaneously. It enables you to leave one contract early if another becomes available somewhere else.

6. Other Expenses

Although you’ll have to cover the cost of rent, most Dubai landlords won’t expect their tenants to pay for all expenses. It makes it even more important to research what’s included before signing a contract.

Some buildings have built new utilities into their rates, so making one payment each month covers things like water and electricity.

Other facilities may ask for a deposit when you sign up, which can help you avoid being charged extra for utilities or repairs later.