New to Dubai and looking to rent your first home? Or simply seeking to relocate or upgrade? This guide will take you through the best areas to rent in Dubai, as it offers you a plethora of choices that match all lifestyle preferences.
Location is unquestionably the most important factor to consider when renting a home in Dubai. Though equally as essential is understanding costs, as ultimately, your budget will determine where you choose to live.
This guide will break down the different communities and their average yearly rentals based on salary ranges in Dubai, so you can easily find the ideal location.
- Factors Influencing the Rental in Dubai
- Understand Your Budget
- Search by Your Budget
- Top Areas to Rent in Dubai by Your Salary Range
- FAQ
Factors Influencing the Rental in Dubai
When it comes to the cost of living in Dubai, house rentals come on the top of the list. There are different factors that affect the leasing price in Dubai; you can check them in the below list:
- Property type: studio, apartment, villa, or townhouse
- Size
- Layout: not all square footage is created equal and floor plans can often materially impact price
- Quality: the age of the property, as well as the finishings and appliances throughout, can affect the price.
- Location: prime locations, particularly waterfront communities, will come at a higher price point. Proximity to the city centre; in addition, transport links can also affect the price
- Views: properties with prime views can often command a higher rental
- Furnished or unfurnished: furnished properties are usually priced at a premium
- Market conditions
These factors are variable and change according to your preferences; that’s why prioritizing your needs is important to easily find a unit option that fits your budget without trading your essential demands.
Understand Your Budget
Understanding your budget is very important before entering into any rental agreement; this is to ensure that your commitment doesn’t leave you thinly spread at the end of each month.
Besides, in the case of renting, housing is typically the largest monthly expense for most people. Not just that, it affects your spending priorities and how much you can afford for other dues.
As a general rule of thumb, no more than 30% of your salary should be spent on housing.
For example, on a salary of AED 20,000/month, AED 6,000 or less per month should be allocated toward housing, which means AED 72,000/year.
However, everyone’s financial situation is different. If you don’t spend much on transportation or entertainment, you may have more room to move with your housing budget.
It also depends on whether you are living on your own or have a family, so you should bare in mind all these points before making your decision.
Search by Your Budget
When searching for the best areas for rentals in Dubai, the options are endless. Consequently, embarking on a quest to find a house can be daunting, and determining the initial step to take may seem confusing.
However, this was the case before finding this guide, as the ideal way to find your new home is to search according to your budget.
Such criteria make the process clear and quick from the beginning, so you avoid:
- Wasting time and effort searching in the wrong place
- Any surprises regarding prices after considering a property.
Top Areas to Rent in Dubai by Your Salary Ranage
Now that you have a guideline for determining your budget for housing expenses, you can easily decide whether this community is suitable or not.
Besides, when it comes to finding a place to rent in Dubai, there are a number of factors to consider, as mentioned above, including your salary.
If you Earn Below AED 10,000/month
According to Dubai salary ranges, this is the minimum income level; the below list includes the top areas for this range.
| Area | Average Rental (Annual) | Type of Unit |
| International City | AED 25,500 | Studio |
| Al Warsan | AED 27,500 | Studio |
| Dubai South (Dubai World Central) | AED 29,000 | Studio |
| Dubai Land | AED 30,000 | Studio |
| Dubai Residence Complex | AED 30,000 | Studio |
| Deira | AED 30,000 | Studio |
| Dubai Production City (IMPZ) | AED 31,000 | Studio |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | AED 32,500 | Studio |
| Bur Dubai | AED 34,000 | Studio |
| Townsquare | AED 34,000 | Studio |
| International City | AED 34,500 | One-bedroom apartment |
| Dubai Sports City | AED 35,500 | Studio |
If you Earn from AED 10,000 to AED 15,000/month
In addition to the above communities, you can expand your search to the following list of the best areas to rent in Dubai for a salary of AED 10,000 up to AED 15,000 monthly.
Salary Range: AED 10,000 to AED 12,500
| Area | Average Rental (Annual) | |
| Discovery Gardens | AED 36,500 | Studio |
| DAMAC Hills | AED 37,500 | Studio |
| Al Qusais | AED 37,500 | 1-bedroom apartment |
| Al Warsan | AED 39,000 | 1-bedroom apartment |
| Arjan | AED 39,500 | Studio |
| Jumeirah Village Circle | AED 40,500 | Studio |
| Al Furjan | AED 41,000 | Studio |
| Al Nahda | AED 41,500 | 1-bedroom apartment |
| Meydan | AED 44,500 | Studio |
Salary Range: AED 12,500 to AED 15,000
| Area | Average Rental (Annual) | Type of Unit |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | AED 46,000 | 1-bedroom apartment |
| Al Qusais | AED 48,000 | 2-bedroom apartment |
| Dubai Sports City | AED 50,500 | 1-bedroom apartment |
| Discovery Gardens | AED 51,000 | 1-bedroom apartment |
| Al Nahda | AED 53,500 | 2-bedroom apartment |
| Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) | AED 54,000 | Studio |
If you Earn from AED 15,000 to AED 20,000/month
Salary Range: AED 15,000 to AED 17,500
| Area | Average Rental (Annual) | Type of Unit |
| Al Barsha | AED 59,000 | 1-bedroom apartment |
| DAMAC Hills | AED 61,000 | 1-bedroom apartment |
| Ras Al Khor | AED 60,000 | 2-bedroom apartment |
| Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) | AED 60,500 | 1-bedroom apartment |
| Al Jaddaf | AED 63,000 | 1-bedroom apartment |
Salary Range: AED 17,500 to AED 20,000
| Area | Average Rental (Annual) | Type of Unit |
| Business Bay | AED 65,000 | Studio |
| Barsha Heights (Tecom) | AED 66,500 | 1-bedroom apartment |
| Karama | AED 69,000 | 2-bedroom apartment |
| Meydan | AED 71,500 | 1-bedroom apartment |
| Dubai Marina | AED 72,000 | Studio |
If you Earn from AED 20,000 to AED 25,000/month
In addition to the above communities, you can expand your search to the following.
Salary Range: AED 20,000 to AED 22,500
| Area | Average Rental (Annual) | Type of Unit |
| Discovery Gardens | AED 72,500 | 2-bedroom apartment |
| Bur Dubai | AED 77,500 | 2-bedroom apartment |
| Al Jaddaf | AED 78,000 | 2-bedroom apartment |
| Arjan | AED 78,500 | 2-bedroom apartment |
| Greens | AED 79,500 | 1-bedroom apartment |
Salary Range: AED 22,500 to AED 25,000
| Area | Average Rental (Annual) | Type of Unit |
| Al Barsha | AED 81,500 | 2-bedroom apartment |
| Ras Al Khor | AED 81,500 | 3-bedroom apartment |
| Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) | AED 82,000 | 1-bedroom apartment |
| Al Fujran | AED 82,000 | 2-bedroom apartment |
| Damac Hills 2 | AED 83,000 | 3-bedroom townhouse/villa |
| Downtown Dubai | AED 84,500 | Studio |
| Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) | AED 87,000 | 2-bedroom apartment |
| Sheikh Zayed Road | AED 88,000 | 1-bedroom apartment |
If you Earn Above AED 25,000/month
In case your income is above AED 25,000, you have the ability to rent in most, if not all, areas within Dubai. Many luxury properties in the following communities are well within your reach.
- Palm Jumeirah
- Mohammed Bin Rashid City
- Dubai Creek Harbour (The Lagoons)
- Jumeirah Beach Residence
- Dubai Hills Estate
- Tilal Al Ghaf
- Al Kifaf
- Dubai Harbour
- Jumeirah Park
- The Springs
- Jumeirah
- DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre)
- Bluewaters
- Arabian Ranches.
Moreover, you should also know that there are extra costs while renting in Dubai in addition to the leasing amount. These expenses are like Ejari, DEWA, agency fees, and more.
It’s important to consider those dues when making your decision, as they will surely have an effect on your budget.
When renting in Dubai, there is no shortage of housing options from the community, to property type, to configuration; there is something to appeal to every taste and budget.
Besides, a thorough understanding of costs will leave you well-placed to commence your property search to find the perfect unit aligned with your lifestyle preferences.
FAQ
How Much of Your Salary Should Be Spent on Rent in Dubai?
You should spend 30% of your salary on renting in Dubai. Allocating this amount for housing will help you not to overload your budget with an unsuitable rental range and plan your expenses ahead.
