fyi Dubai: Rent Apartment in Five Steps

Dubai rent apartments, villas, contract requirements, RERA, Ejari, and other jargon may seem a bit intimidating and complicated for an ex-pat to learn before making the move to the Middle East. We've narrowed it down to a checklist of 5 to help you make your move easy and worry-free. How to get Dubai Apartments for Rent? We share the answer to this question with you.

Renting an Apartment in Dubai in 5 Steps

1) Educate yourself first:

To cover the basics, you must first know the law of the land in Dubai for property finders. In a nutshell, try to read into law no. 26 of 2007 and law no. 33 of 2008 which covers rental rights and obligations. Another valuable resource to read is the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) which details regulations on apartment prices in Dubai. Most rental contracts lock you in annually and require a security deposit, agency/broker fees, and an advance rental payment which can be done monthly, quarterly, or annually. Other costs include the usual bills: electricity, wifi, and water. It is also extremely helpful to pool some information from existing residents and for that, Facebook groups Dirham Stretchers, Dubai Expat Community, and Abu Dhabi Q&A helpful ex-pats and locals, ready to dive into any queries and concerns. Make sure you are aware of the local laws, as the UAE is a Muslim nation. Things like drinking alcohol and cohabitating 

2) Identify your needs:

Depending on your needs, you’ll need to identify how many square meters of property you need. Are you looking to rent one bedroom apartment in Dubai or two? Do you want to rent apartments in Dubai for holiday? For Dubai's short-term rent, a studio apartment in Dubai Marina would be ideal. In Dubai, furnished apartments are also a popular option.

For a Dubai long-term rent, apartments with 2 bedrooms or villas would be the ideal kind of property to look for. Decide beforehand on the size, the number of rooms needed, and the location. Will you be requiring a big kitchen, storage space, and a large closet? Depending on those, are the prices you will be encountering. You’ll have to identify if you prefer proximity to your workplace or prefer to stay in the more metropolitan areas of the city. 

Businesses usually populate in the areas of Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT), Business Bay, and Financial Center. The more leisurely areas of Dubai are in The Greens, Jumeirah Beach Residences (JBR), and Citywalk in Al Safa which are near malls and beaches. All are easily accessible to a very centralized Dubai Metro which covers 5 zones of the city easily. 

Some areas which are further away from the city are Discovery Garden, Dubai Motor City, Healthcare City and Silicon Valley where you can get cheap rent in Dubai situated in quieter communities. 

In Abu Dhabi, businesses are situated at Al Reem and scattered throughout the city. Areas like Corniche and Al Bateen are situated within the city and in close proximity to malls, hospitals and parks. A few cheaper places to rent within the city would be in Khalidiya and the Tourist Club Area. Further away and closer to beaches and 5-star hotels are Saadiyat, Al Raha, and West Yas which are nearer to the Dubai border, theme parks, and event areas. Unlike Dubai, Abu Dhabi transportation only includes a bus system in addition to the usual taxis hence having your own vehicle is preferable.

3) Find the right portal

In the UAE most trusted platforms for Dubai apartment rent online are Dubizzle, PropertyFinder, Bayut, MyPropertyZ, Booking and Airbnb. Each gives you access to search platforms that let you pick according to size, location, and room requirements as well as your budget. For short-term rentals, Booking and Airbnb are available which gives you access to rentals from owners. For long-term Dubai rent, short term Dubai rent, and holiday homes, lets you access any time of listing to perfectly cater to your Dubai apartment rent requirements. On top of that, it is the only platform in the UAE rent market that enables users to earn rewards points. 

4) View your property

After you have chosen your new home in the UAE, viewing takes place. But you need to make sure to ask all the right things. Will you be having pets joining you? Let your agent know as some apartments in the UAE may or may not allow this. Other items of concern would be:

- available facilities in the property (gyms, spas, parks, and others)

- proximity to groceries, and other essential facilities

- allocated parking

- water chiller

- construction plans in the area 

- ventilation/exhaust above cooking areas

- sufficient lighting (above dining areas, sink, and others)

- electric or gas range compatibility

Make sure to view your place both during the day and at night to make sure there won't be any surprises when you move in such as construction noises and others that may not be there during your initial viewing.

5) Make your bid and finalize your contract

One rule of thumb in putting forward a bid for consideration is listing down prices in the same area and getting an estimated average. From there you can make a calculated guess on how much you can get your Dubai rent apartment or villa for. After a successful negotiation, make sure you have a contract created through Ejari or Tawtheeq which you can access online for your convenience and security. Make sure everything is itemized with your agreements and terms in order.

Moving to the United Arab Emirates shouldn’t be much of a hassle with all the regulations in place designed to protect tenants and landowners in parallel. The only thing you have to start with is to ask yourself whether to live in the city, by the desert, by the sea, or get tucked away in the quiet metropolitan areas.