Reasons for Renting Villas in Abu Dhabi vs Apartments in 2018

Have you always wished to live in the privacy of a villa, surrounded by lush green gardens, being able to experience the joy of seeing your kids running around in the backyard or riding their bikes in your street, but the budget constraint keeps you from actually making that happen? Then we have great news for you. Now is the best time to move forward with your wish. A recent report by The National based on Bayut’s data shows that rents for villas in Abu Dhabi have dropped in most locations, making it more affordable than ever for families to choose more spacious, private homes in the capital.

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular areas to rent villas in Abu Dhabi, and find out what makes living in a house so much more appealing when you have kids than renting an apartment.

Prices have dropped in most places for villa rentals in Abu Dhabi

Renting villas in Abu Dhabi — Most popular areas to rent villas in Abu Dhabi.

One of the most sought-after districts for rentals in Abu Dhabi, Khalifa City A, is an area where there was a significant drop in rents for houses. If we are to do a comparison based on current listings available on Bayut, the lowest price for a 3-bedroom 2,000 sq. ft. apartment in Al Rayyana, Khalifa City A is AED 140k, while a 3-bedroom 2,500 sq. ft villa in Villa Compound, Khalifa City A is AED 125k. The average price for renting 3-bedroom villas in Khalifa City A has actually fallen by a significant 13.3%, to AED 130k. Neighbouring Khalifa City B, also known as Shakhbout City, also reports similar prices with rents averaging at AED 130k, AED 140k and AED 150k for 3, 4 and 5-bedroom units respectively.

Villas for rent in Khalifa City A — The villas in Khalifa City A are perfect for families, with supermarkets, schools and parks in the vicinity.

Mohammed bin Zayed City, another popular area for affordable rentals in Abu Dhabi, has 3-bedroom houses with an average rental price of AED 120k, with some current listings starting at as low as AED 65k for a 1,500 sq.ft unit. Those wanting to upgrade from apartments to villas in Mohammed bin Zayed City will certainly find these prices appealing.

A consistent favourite for Abu Dhabi villa rentals, the 3-bedroom villas in Al Reef also average at AED 120k. Considering the quiet suburban vibe, the abundance of amenities, green spaces and proximity to both the Abu Dhabi International Airport and Dubai, it’s easy to see why somebody would want to upgrade from an apartment to a villa in this family-friendly neighbourhood in Abu Dhabi. Incidentally, the price for renting a 3-bedroom apartment in Al Reef Downtown starts at AED 90k as per our current listings, but they are much smaller than the villas and don’t always come with the same level of amenities.

Villas for rent in Al Reef — Those living in the villas in Al Reef have access to a variety of community amenities.

You also don’t have to worry about prices rising drastically in the next year, thanks to the Abu Dhabi tenancy laws protecting renters against steep increases. The report also suggests that we could see more stabilisation in the coming months, which is another reason to take advantage of current prices and rent a beautiful house in Abu Dhabi.

Even upscale locations such as Al Raha Gardens have become more affordable, making it a great time to upgrade to villa rentals in Abu Dhabi.

Municipality Fees for Apartments and Villas

The National had reported in the last week of June that municipality fees will be the same for those renting apartments and villas in Abu Dhabi. Earlier, those renting villas in Abu Dhabi had to pay a higher municipality fee than those opting for apartment rentals.

Now it has stabilised for both apartment and villa rentals at 5%, which is significantly lower than the earlier expected rate of 7.5%. This makes it far more affordable to rent houses in Abu Dhabi. Based on this rate, an expat renting a villa in Khalifa City A for AED 150k will pay AED 625 per month as opposed to the expected AED 937.5.

Perks of living in a villa

Family-friendly accommodation in Abu Dhabi — Villas are the ideal choice for families living in Abu Dhabi.

There are definitely many benefits to living in a villa:

There’s more privacy when you are living in a villa.
Villas are usually more spacious than apartments.
If you have children, it’s always nice to have some outdoor space to enable them to burn off their endless energy, so a villa with a garden and or even a private pool is ideal. While the temperatures are undeniably quite high during the day, it does get cooler in the evenings, giving families a chance to relax together after a long day.
If you have a family pet, there’s even more reason to choose living in one of the pet-friendly communities in Abu Dhabi.

Considering these factors, are you ready to upgrade to a villa in Abu Dhabi this year? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below and stay tuned to the best property blog in Abu Dhabi for more updates about the real estate market in the UAE.