The United Arab Emirates (UAE) property market is no longer driven solely by location or price. Nowadays, how homes match people’s lifestyles has become just as important (if not more so).
Modern renters and buyers are seeking features that bring comfort, convenience, and a sense of belonging to their everyday lives. This includes balconies for fresh air, a private pool for leisure, and pet-friendly policies that reflect changing family dynamics.
Property Finder’s latest data from 2024 and 2025 reveals the most in-demand amenities across apartments and villas. The findings highlight what residents value most and how these preferences are shaping the future of real estate in the UAE, providing valuable insights for developers, investors, and anyone planning their next move.
Table of Contents:
- What UAE Residents Want Most in Their Homes
- Universal Essentials
- Climate and Community Needs
- Convenience and Luxury
- The UAE’s Top 10 Most-Searched Amenities
- Top 10 Most-Demanded Amenities
- What’s Next for the UAE Property Market
- Homes That Match How People Live
What UAE Residents Want Most in Their Homes
Our 2024-2025 search data reveals three distinct clusters of demand: Universal Essentials, Climate and Community Needs, and Convenience and Luxury. These categories reveal how residents strike a balance between practicality, comfort, and aspiration when choosing a home.
Below, we break down each category and provide a brief explanation of why these features are important.
Universal Essentials
Certain amenities are now must-haves across the UAE housing market. These features consistently rank high with both buyers and renters:
| Feature | Total Searches |
| Balcony | 10.1M |
| Maids’ Rooms | 5.7M |
Balconies have become a near-standard expectation in apartments for rent in Dubai and other Emirati cities. They extend usable living space and offer residents fresh air and outdoor access.
Meanwhile, the increased interest in maids’ rooms reflects a UAE-specific household pattern. Many families plan their homes around live-in domestic help, so a dedicated room is a crucial practical consideration.
Climate and Community Needs
The UAE’s climate and changing community expectations significantly influence search behavior. This is clearly reflected in the Property Finder’s 2024 and 2025 search findings:
| Feature | Total Searches |
| Central AC | 4.4M |
| Shared Pool | 3.4M |
| Shared Gym | 3.0M |
| Pet-Friendliness | 2.8M |
Central air conditioning (AC) is one of the most searched-for features because it is a non-negotiable essential in the desert environment.
Meanwhile, shared pools and gyms reflect the appeal of community-based amenities, particularly among renters who want access to leisure and fitness without private upkeep.
Pet-friendly policies are also gaining traction, with an increasing number of residents seeking communities that welcome cats and dogs as part of the family.
Convenience and Luxury
Beyond everyday needs, many UAE residents are also seeking features that enhance the comfort and exclusivity of their homes. Our 2024 and 2025 data show this clearly:
| Feature | Total Searches |
| Private Pool | 2.7M |
| Covered Parking | 2.5M |
| Waterfront Views | 2.5M |
| Private Gardens | 0.9M |
Private pools remain one of the ultimate features of the villa lifestyle, combining leisure, privacy, and opulence. For many buyers, they are as much a symbol of prestige as they are a functional amenity.
Similarly, waterfront views continue to drive property value and serve as a premium differentiator, particularly in high-end communities across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Covered parking reflects a more practical but equally vital demand. In a region where high temperatures and sandstorms can damage vehicles, shaded or enclosed parking is a necessity for both buyers and renters.
Private gardens are searched less often than other amenities, but they still hold strong appeal for those looking into villas for sale in Dubai and the rest of the UAE. They offer personal outdoor space for landscaping, family gatherings, and privacy, all highly valued in a market that prioritizes both lifestyle and exclusivity.
The UAE’s Top 10 Most In-Demand Amenities
Property Finder’s analysis of over 30 million searches across 2024 and 2025 reveals what home seekers in the UAE value most. The results encompass both buying and renting, as well as apartments and villas, providing the most detailed insight into current preferences.
The findings show clear contrasts:
- Villa buyers often focus on private features, such as pools and gardens.
- Apartment hunters emphasize balconies and shared amenities.
Across the board, however, a shared desire emerges for comfort, convenience, and a lifestyle that aligns with one’s values. Here’s the complete list of most in-demand amenities in the UAE:
| Top 10 Most In-Demand Amenities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Amenity | Total Searches (2024 and 2025) |
| 1 | Balconies | 10,109,303 |
| 2 | Maids’ Rooms | 5,714,533 |
| 3 | Central Air-Conditioning | 4,399,155 |
| 4 | Shared Pools | 3,435,081 |
| 5 | Shared Gyms | 2,986,525 |
| 6 | Pet-Friendliness | 2,832,134 |
| 7 | Private Pools | 2,737,366 |
| 8 | Covered Parking | 2,490,579 |
| 9 | Waterfront Views | 2,482,462 |
| 10 | Private Gardens | 914,293 |
1- Balcony
Total Searches: 10,109,303
Buy: 2,548,337
Rent: 7,560,966
Balconies dominate the search charts, nearly doubling the demand of the next most-searched amenity. This demand reflects global urban housing trends that have developed since the pandemic.
This particular feature has universal appeal.
- For apartment residents, it extends limited floor space and provides a private outdoor retreat.
- For villa owners, it enhances views and ventilation.
The long UAE summer, which restricts outdoor activities during peak hours, also affects the way people see balconies: as climate-controlled extensions of living space.
2-Maids’ Rooms
Total Searches: 5,714,533
Buy: 1,973,399
Rent: 3,741,134
Ranking second overall, maids’ rooms reflect a unique cultural and lifestyle feature of the UAE housing market. Many expatriate households employ live-in domestic help, making dedicated accommodation not just a convenience but a necessity.
This is one of the most distinctive traits of the UAE property landscape compared with global markets. Demand is consistent across both buyers and renters, indicating that families across various income brackets consider this requirement when making housing decisions.
Developers and real estate buyers investing in off-plan projects in Dubai must integrate well-planned staff accommodation. This signifies their market awareness and ability to cater directly to prevailing household structures.
3-Central AC
Total Searches: 4,399,155
Buy: 985,652
Rent: 3,413,503
Central air conditioning is a non-negotiable in the country, ranking third overall, with strong renter dominance in the search numbers. This reflects the daily reality of living in a desert climate, where efficient cooling is critical to comfort and health.
What’s changing, however, is how residents expect this to be delivered. New trends are emerging in the UAE air conditioning market as both residents and developers look for energy-efficient, sustainable, and smart cooling solutions.
Growing awareness of energy costs and sustainability has boosted demand for the following:
- Inverter-based systems
- Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) units
- Smart, IoT-enabled air conditioners
These options align with government initiatives such as the UAE’s Green Building Regulations and Energy Strategy 2050, which promote energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions. Developers in Dubai must adopt these standards to not only meet resident expectations but also ensure their projects are future-proof.
4- Shared Pools
Total Searches: 3,435,081
Buy: 834,559
Rent: 2,600,522
Shared pools rank high among community amenities, driven primarily by renters. They provide a balance of leisure and affordability, offering access to resort-style living without the high costs associated with maintaining a private pool.
This demand also ties to the UAE’s culture of community living. In urban hubs like Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Village Circle, shared pools are a central feature of high-rise living and a key factor in rental decisions. Their popularity signals a preference for developments that prioritize accessible, well-maintained communal spaces that enhance daily lifestyle.
5- Shared Gyms
Total Searches: 2,986,525
Buy: 661,955
Rent: 2,324,570
Shared gyms follow a similar pattern to pools, ranking fifth overall and skewing heavily toward renters. They combine health, convenience, and cost-effectiveness, providing fitness facilities without requiring residents to travel or pay for external memberships.
Globally, the demand for on-site wellness amenities has risen since the pandemic, and the UAE is no exception. Developers who integrate modern, well-equipped gyms into their buildings and communities meet the needs of increasingly health-conscious residents who value time-saving and convenience as much as the amenities themselves.
6- Pet-Friendliness
Total Searches: 2,832,134
Buy: 448,830
Rent: 2,383,304
Pet-friendly homes have become a fast-growing priority, particularly among renters. Many residents now view cats and dogs as family members or “fur babies,” and this shift is reflected in the growth of the pet care market, which is now valued at USD 350 to 400 million in 2024. As a result, communities that welcome pets, have designated walking areas, or flexible tenancy policies stand out in the rental market.
7- Private Pools
Total Searches: 2,737,366
Buy: 1,292,713
Rent: 1,444,653
Private pools remain a key feature of villa living and are the seventh most searched amenity on Property Finder. For many buyers, these pools function as a leisure feature, a status symbol, and a centerpiece for entertainment that conveys prestige.
High-net-worth individuals, in particular, prioritize homes with private pools, a trend that has fuelled record-breaking villa transactions in communities like Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Hills. While renters also search for villas with pools, this feature is far more significant for long-term buyers seeking lifestyle permanence and property value appreciation.
8- Covered Parking
Total Searches: 2,490,579
Buy: 590,468
Rent: 1,900,111
Covered parking may not feel as glamorous as the other amenities on this list, but it is a necessity in the UAE climate. With summer temperatures that can exceed 45 degrees Celsius, shaded or enclosed parking protects vehicles from heat and sandstorms, preserving both comfort and value.
The search numbers underscore the importance of this aspect in the real estate market, particularly for renters, who often prioritize parking convenience when choosing an apartment for rent in Abu Dhabi and beyond.
9- Waterfront Views
Total Searches: 2,482,462
Buy: 1,162,162
Rent: 1,320,300
Waterfront views are one of the UAE’s most sought-after luxury features, with more than 2.4 million searches. This goes beyond aesthetic appeal. Limited supply makes them inherently exclusive, while prime waterfront areas, such as Jumeirah Bay, have recorded double-digit annual price growth.
Research also suggests that water views offer psychological benefits, ranging from stress reduction to improved well-being, making them a lifestyle feature with both emotional and financial value.
In the UAE, demand for sea, marina, and canal views continues to drive up property values in communities such as the Palm Jumeirah, Bluewaters, and Al Raha Beach.
10- Private Gardens
Total Searches: 914,293
Buy: 404,471
Rent: 509,822
Private gardens round out our top 10 in-demand property features, which are especially appealing to villa residents. Although the demand for them is lower compared to other amenities, gardens offer privacy, space for children and pets, and opportunities for landscaping or outdoor entertaining.
In a place where outdoor living is highly valued, private gardens set villas apart from apartments and support the trend toward lifestyle-focused purchases. Developers who include ample, flexible garden space enhance the appeal of family-friendly homes and attract buyers seeking exclusivity.
What’s Next for the UAE Property Market
Search behavior reveals distinct differences between buyers and renters, and these contrasts will likely shape the market going forward.
- Buyers are more likely to prioritize long-term lifestyle investments such as private pools, waterfront views, and gardens.
- Renters focus on practical and community-based amenities like central AC, parking, gyms, and pet-friendly policies.
This split highlights a key challenge for developers and landlords: catering to both audiences without diluting value.
The trend also signals where demand is heading:
- Balconies are well on their way to becoming standard in UAE real estate.
- Climate essentials like AC and covered parking will remain non-negotiables.
- Luxury features will continue to command premium pricing.
Ultimately, developers and investors who align projects with these lifestyle-driven preferences are best positioned to stay ahead in the country’s evolving property market.
Homes That Match How People Live
Lifestyle-driven demand is reshaping the UAE property market. From balconies to pools, pet-friendly spaces to waterfront views, residents want homes that reflect their lifestyles.
Property Finder helps you navigate these preferences with real-time insights and tailored search tools, making it easier than ever to find a home that fits your needs.
