The ultimate step-by-step guide for renting in Dubai

• Guide To Renting
• FAQs

Dubai is a sought-after destination among the cosmopolitan population looking for lucrative career opportunities and comfortable lifestyles. Thousands of expats move to Dubai looking to turn their dreams into reality. Hence, the vibrant city has an excellent selection of residential properties to accommodate its growing population. If you are new to town and unsure where to start finding your first home, we’ve got you covered! Here is our comprehensive guide on how to rent a property in Dubai.

GUIDE TO RENTING IN DUBAI FOR BEGINNERS

• Search Online
• Visit the Property
• Make an Offer
• Reserve the Property
• Sign the Agreement
• Things to Consider
• Ejari Registration
• DEWA
• Move-in Form
• Moving in

Whether you are looking for an apartment or villa for rent in Dubai, here is a list of everything you need to do. This guide to renting in Dubai will ensure you find the right house for you and your family.

SEARCH AND SHORTLIST PROPERTY LISTINGS

Renting in Dubai for many starts with a quick online search. You can check out Bayut to identify properties for rent in Dubai that suit your preferences and budget. Types of residential properties in Dubai that you can find on the website include:

• Apartments
• Townhouses
• Residential Plots
• Villas
• Penthouses
• Hotel apartments

Once you identify a property, you can get more information on the various aspects of the property from the description. This includes and is not limited to details such as:

• Annual property rent
• Location of the apartment or villa for rent in Dubai
• Number of rooms and baths
• Furnished or unfurnished
• Comprehensive list of amenities
• Nearby schools, parks, hospitals and restaurants

Before starting the search, it’s good to have a general idea of what type of property you are looking for, what you can afford, how many rooms you need and the desired location. To ensure you see only relevant listings, you can refine the search results for villas and apartments for rent in Dubai based on variables such as budget, property type, location, and number of bedrooms and bathrooms.

Confused about how to rent an apartment in Dubai? You can take your pick from cosy studios to spacious 3-bed units, with some residential areas offering larger 4 and 5-bedroom flats. As for the villas for rent in Dubai, you can find a variety of units, starting from smaller 2-bedroom houses to palatial homes with over 11 bedrooms!

You can review active listings on the website and shortlist properties based on your specific criteria. Select the most appealing choices based on pictures, annual rent, amenities and location. Contact the contact person (usually an agent or the landlord) and set up a visit to see your potential new home. You can even save the searches and come back to them later. This is especially handy, as you might want to look at a few properties before contacting the agent.

It is also important to confirm the agency commission for renting a property. Typically, agencies charge between 2% to 5% of the annual rent. However, its always better to have clarity before you commit to an agreement.

VISIT THE PROPERTY

Once you set a date for an on-site visit with the agent, head out to the area and keep a list of questions to ask them. Try to reach a little early and spend some time scanning the neighbourhood. Examine the property as thoroughly as you want and arrange a second visit at a different time to better understand what it would be like to live there.

Before you sign the rental agreement, tick all the boxes of important things for you. These should also include hidden costs of renting in Dubai, like agency fees.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN LOOKING AT PROPERTY FOR RENT IN DUBAI

For the unit:

• Does the apartment or villa get enough natural light?
• Do you like the view?
• Are the rooms spacious enough?
• Are the fixtures and fittings in good condition?
• Does it need repainting?
• Is the plumbing working?
• Are the electrical outlets in the right spot?
• Do tenants get a designated parking spot?
• Is the building equipped with security measures such as cameras, a security guard and an intercom?
• Are there any facilities such as a gym and swimming pool?

* Tenants can request the landlord to resolve maintenance issues before signing the rental agreement or insert clauses.

For the neighbourhood:

• Is the neighbourhood noisy?
• Are there construction sites nearby?
• Is it in close or manageable proximity to your workplace?
• Is it well-connected by public transport? (See apartments for rent near Dubai metro stations)
• Are there any community areas, supermarkets, laundry services and pharmacies nearby?
• Is it family-friendly? (check out the best places to rent in Dubai for families)
• Pet owners should find out if pets are allowed and if the neighbourhood is pet-friendly and near these pet-friendly places in Dubai.
• What is the parking situation around the neighbourhood?

If you happen to pass by existing tenants when finding a house in Dubai, it might be a good idea to start a conversation and find out what living in the building or the neighbourhood is like.

Tip: Try to visit a couple of apartments or villas before you make the final decision. Tenancy contracts in Dubai are usually annual, so spend time weighing all your options and making an offer when you’ve researched the unit, the building and the area.

MAKE AN OFFER

Once you’ve looked around and decided on an apartment or villa, the second step to renting in Dubai is finalising the offer. While most contracts have quarterly or bi-annual payment terms, landlords usually agree to lower the annual rent if you can pay the amount in fewer cheques. However, before committing to a single-cheque arrangement, ensure you’re prepared to stay in the house for a while. Otherwise, you could incur losses.

If you’re unsure about the unit or the neighbourhood or need more flexibility, you can choose short-term rentals instead. Check out our short-term vs. long-term rental comparison to determine which option is best for you.

Tip: If you’re ready to rent an apartment or villa in Dubai, this is an excellent time to ensure that your real estate agent is RERA-registered. This is a common practice in Dubai, so ask for your agent’s broker number to be certain.

RESERVE THE PROPERTY

To reserve the property, you must pay your landlord a refundable security deposit (one month’s rent or 5% of the rent). If you’re working with a real estate agent, they will usually hold onto this amount until the deal is finalised. Ensure you get a receipt when you submit the deposit cheque (or cash). Should you wish to back out of the agreement for any reason, the agent will hand over the security deposit amount to your landlord as compensation. The documents required for this process include:

• Passport copy
• Residence visa copy (or an official document from your employer or sponsor stating that your visa is being processed)

Click plenty of pictures of the vacant property to claim the security deposit amount in full at the end of your tenancy contract. As mentioned earlier, don’t forget to take a receipt once you pay the security deposit. Retain this along with a copy of the landlord’s passport.

Tip: Rent cheques should address the landlord. Ask for a copy of your landlord’s passport and title deed (if possible) before handing them over.

REVIEW AND SIGN THE TENANCY AGREEMENT

Once you pay the security deposit, your agent shares the tenancy contract. The contract must follow tenancy laws in Dubai. You must also understand what tenants in Dubai are entitled to before formalising a contract. So, make sure you learn all about tenant rights in Dubai.

Both parties can add special clauses as long as there is a mutual agreement. Make sure you review the contract, suggest changes if required, and ensure you are comfortable with the stated terms and conditions. Your agent should be able to help you with any concerns or questions.

Once you are sure, sign and submit the tenancy contract, rent cheques, and the agency commission to the agent. Ask for receipts for each payment that you make. The agent will then get the tenancy contract signed by the landlord and hand over the rent cheques you gave. Ensure you keep a copy of the contract and an acknowledgement receipt. One contract copy is usually handed to the landlord, and the other is given to the tenant.

The agent subsequently hands you the keys and access cards after you sign an acknowledgement form clearly listing everything you’ve received. A handover contract is also often signed.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

There are a few things to consider before renting in Dubai before making a final decision.

1. Make sure the landlord has settled all service charges before you move in. Your agent should be able to check this and get it in writing.
2. If there are any maintenance issues, get them fixed before you move in.
3. Check access points in the building and make sure you receive the necessary swipe cards and keys.
4. The landlord should ideally hand over the property in a livable condition. If not, ask for your apartment or villa to be cleaned before you move in.
5. Check if the facilities in your apartment building are in working condition and ensure you can access everything mentioned in the contract or by the broker/landlord.

Another thing to remember is that you can always file for a rent dispute in Dubai in case of any inconvenience caused by the landlord.

REGISTER TENANCY CONTRACT WITH EJARI

Once you have signed the contract, you or your agent must register it with Ejari. This is the third most important step in your guide to renting in Dubai so that the contract can be legally acceptable in the emirate. Ejari online registration process is fairly straightforward.

You’ll need to head to any typing centre with your documents or do it online via the official website. Make sure the deposits, contract duration and rent amounts are clearly stated in your Ejari.

The documents required for registration are:

• Original tenancy contract
• Title deed (from landlord)
• Tenant and landlord’s passport copies
• Copy of tenant’s Emirates ID

DEWA

Once you sign your tenancy contract in Dubai, the next step is getting the water and electricity connection. For this, Dubai tenants must apply for a Dubai Water & Electricity Authority connection.

Here is what you would need for a new connection:

• DEWA premise number (usually on the side of the property building)
• Ejari number
• Landlord’s passport copy
• Your passport copy & Emirates ID
• Completed DEWA form (collected at DEWA)
• Security deposit payment

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The online DEWA application is much quicker and involves filling out the form stating the Ejari number, Emirates ID number and passport number. Pay the deposit amount through DEWA’s online payment gateway, and the service will be activated within 24 hours of registration and payment.

Here are the charges for getting a DEWA connection.

• Security Deposit:
  • AED 2,000 for an apartment
  • AED 4,000 for a villa
• Activation Charges:
  • AED 100 for small meters
  • AED 300 for large meters

Furthermore, AED 30 has to be paid for registration, knowledge and innovation fee.

Tip: Check for outstanding DEWA or air-conditioning bills for the apartment or villa. Your agent can find this out and ensure it is paid before you set up your DEWA account.

MOVE-IN FORM

Some popular communities in Dubai require tenants to procure a move-in permit before occupying their dream apartment or villa. These are generally available on the developer’s website and take up to 5 days to process. Ask your real estate agent or landlord if this is required and apply for the permit on time to avoid delays.

Some communities that require a move-in permit include Downtown Dubai, Arabian Ranches, The Springs, The Meadows, Dubai Marina, Emirates Hills and The Greens. Those moving to projects developed by Emaar can read our post on how to get Emaar move-in permits.

You will require the following documents for this process:

1. Passport Copy / Emirates ID
2. Certificate of Completion of Payment
3. Copy of the Tenancy Contract
4. Copy of the unit’s most recent Service Charge Receipt (by the landlord)

MOVING IN

After getting your move-in permit, you’re all set to move into your home and start a new chapter in Dubai!

While it may seem like a daunting task, the process of renting in Dubai is fairly simple if you follow the steps mentioned above. Know what you’re looking for and work with a competent real estate agent who knows the market and can help you at every step.

FAQS ON HOW TO RENT A PROPERTY IN DUBAI

HOW MUCH IS THE RENT COST IN DUBAI?

The cost of renting an apartment in Dubai can vary significantly depending on several factors, including location, type and amenities offered. Check out Bayut’s 2023 Dubai Rental Market Report to clearly understand rental trends in the emirates.

HOW TO RENT A FLAT IN DUBAI?

The process of renting an apartment in Dubai is pretty straightforward. Here are the documents required to rent an apartment in Dubai

• Copies of Passport and Emirates ID (both landlord and tenant)
• Residence visa copy
• Proof of refundable security deposit payment (one month’s rent or 5% of the rent) 

WHERE CAN I COMPLAIN ABOUT MY LANDLORD IN DUBAI?

You can file a complaint at the Dubai Land Department’s Rent Disputes Settlement Centre. Their head office is located in Deira.

WHERE CAN I FIND APARTMENTS WITH SEA VIEWS FOR RENT?

If the sea is constantly calling your name, there are several areas in Dubai for renting an apartment with a sea view. Dubai Marina, JBR and Palm Jumeirah are some names that come to mind.

And that’s a wrap to our blog on requirements for renting a property in Dubai. There are hundreds of listings for apartments and villas for rent in Dubai on Bayut, so rest assured that you’ll have plenty of beautiful homes to choose from once you get here.

Lastly, our guide on landlord’s checklist for choosing tenants in Dubai can be useful when renting out your property in the city.

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