Popular areas to rent in Abu Dhabi based on your salary
With a family-oriented lifestyle and diverse housing market, Abu Dhabi has always attracted residents from around the world. From small studios to expansive villas, there is something for everyone in the UAE’s capital. With additional incentives, like the UAE long-term visas, the number of people moving to the city could increase in the coming years.
But before relocating to the capital city, it’s better to understand the cost of living in Abu Dhabi, especially the price you will pay for rental housing. We have compiled a guide on the best areas for renting in Abu Dhabi based on your salary. This will help you find the best options to rent apartments or villas in the city, according to your budget.
Best rental areas in Abu Dhabi based on your salary
Seeking apartments for rent in Abu Dhabi? When we compare the Abu Dhabi cost of living vs Dubai, tenants can expect rental prices in the capital city to be slightly higher, although this is off-set by more affordable utility costs.
To come up with suitable options for affordable accommodation in Abu Dhabi, we deduced that most tenants spend around 30% to 40% of their earnings on housing. Additionally, you will most likely need a minimum monthly salary of AED 5k to AED 8k to afford a property for rent in Abu Dhabi.
Apart from recurring rental payments, the initial costs also come into play. This includes everything from security deposits to processing tenancy contracts and associated expenses for setting up utilities. For example, you will have to pay insurance fees for setting up an account as a residential customer with the Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC), which is the official authority for water and electricity in the emirate.
Once you have found and chosen a property, you will also have to pay a security deposit. This is usually 5% of the total rent amount. The deposit is refundable once the rental contract ends.
Once your tenancy is legally registered, the ADDC will set up your electricity and water accounts through Tawtheeq registration Abu Dhabi, which is the capital’s register for tenancy contracts and is similar to the Ejari system in Dubai.
Rent in Abu Dhabi is usually paid in the form of upfront cheques. While some landlords ask for the full annual rent upfront, others may agree to two to four post-dated cheques to be cashed in at set dates throughout your contract.
Top places to rent in Abu Dhabi for salaries between AED 5k to AED 8k
For those who earn between AED 5k to AED 8k, the best areas for renting in Abu Dhabi based on your salary are Al Muroor, Mussafah and Al Mushrif. You can find flats in these areas with annual rents between AED 24k to AED 38k.
People with entry-level jobs can easily find cheap accommodations in Abu Dhabi if they know where to look. For example, studios for rent in Al Muroor start at AED 22k per annum. If you are looking for something bigger, the 1-bed flats for rent in Mussafah may be a good option, with a starting rent at AED 28k.
Those looking for 1-bed units will find several options in all three areas. For a better perspective, the average rent for apartments in these areas ranges from AED 35k to AED 36k.
Top areas to rent in Abu Dhabi for salaries between AED 8k to AED 12k
Those who have a higher salary bracket will find more options in terms of affordable rental areas in Abu Dhabi. So, these would generally be apartments with yearly rents between AED 38k to AED 58k. The most popular areas to rent flats in Abu Dhabi within this range are Al Reem Island, Al Muroor and Mussafah.
The studio flats for rent in Al Reem Island have a starting price of AED 21k. If however, you are looking for more room to spare, you can always go for 1-BHK flats which are also available in the same rental bracket. For instance you can get a 1-bed flat for rent in Al Reem Island, which has a starting price of AED 40k. Al Muroor and Mussafah have 1-bedroom apartments with rents starting from AED 35k and AED 28k, respectively.
You can also find more spacious apartments in Abu Dhabi within the mentioned salary bracket. At present, the starting price of 2-bed apartments for rent in Mussafah is AED 35k.
Popular areas to rent in Abu Dhabi for salaries between AED 12k to AED 18k
Once you have advanced in your career, you can afford to be more indulgent in your living preferences and look at housing options in the rental range of AED 58k to AED 86k. Depending on your requirements and preferences, you can opt for a luxurious studio, a roomy 1-bed apartment or a spacious 2 or 3-bedroom villa.
For apartments, you can find plenty of options within this range in Al Reem Island, Al Khalidiyah and Hamdan Street. Studios for rent in Al Khalidiyah are available for an affordable starting price of AED 24k per annum. Moreover, potential tenants can also opt for the studio flats for rent in Hamdan Street, which also has several options that will fall within your budget.
Those looking for larger units may consider 1-bed rental units starting at AED 40k in Al Reem Island, AED 38k in Al Khalidiyah and AED 32k in Hamdan Street.
If you prefer an additional room, you can even look at 2-bed apartments for rent in Al Reem Island, which have a starting price of AED 65k. For those making more than AED 12k in monthly earnings, the 2-bed flats in Hamdan Street and Al Khalidiyah are also affordable.
For families looking for larger homes, the rental villas in Mohammad Bin Zayed City (MBZ), Al Reef and Al Samha are also great options. The 2-bedroom villas for rent in Mohammad Bin Zayed City start at AED 40k per year. You can also find affordable homes in Al Reef and Al Samha, where villas for rent start from AED 77k and AED 70k respectively, but this can increase depending on the location and features of the property.
Best places to rent in Abu Dhabi for salaries between AED 18k to AED 25k
If you have a monthly salary between AED 18k to AED 25k, you can choose from a wide pool of upscale neighbourhoods. You will be able to find some fantastic rental properties in Abu Dhabi, which have yearly rents between AED 86k to AED 120k.
If you are looking for a cosy studio in a posh area, you can look in Al Reem Island, Al Khalidiyah and the Corniche Area. For instance, you can consider the studios for rent in Corniche Area, which is one of the city’s central and happening districts. The studio apartments here start at AED 40k and are close to many popular attractions.
The larger 1-bedroom apartments in these areas are also ideal for couples. For instance, you can get a 1-bed flat for rent in Al Khalidiyah for as little as AED 38k.
Prospective tenants looking for more spacious accommodations can opt for the 2-bed flats for rent in Al Khalidiyah, which have a yearly price tag starting from AED 45k. Prospective tenants can also find appropriately-priced 2-BHK units in Al Khalidiyah, Corniche Area, Al Raha Beach and Corniche Road.
Abu Dhabi’s villas for rent are also an excellent option for people in this income bracket. The top three areas where you can find houses within your salary bracket are Mohammad Bin Zayed City, Khalifa City A and Al Reef. For example, 3-bedroom villas for rent in Khalifa City A start at AED 90k. Apart from these, other areas like Shakhbout City (Khalifa City B) and Al Muroor are also popular for rental housing for this income range.
Top places to rent in Abu Dhabi for salaries between AED 25k and above
With an income bracket like this, you can have your pick of areas across the capital city. Now, living in the city’s most luxurious apartment or villa communities becomes a reality. And by this, we are talking about accommodations with yearly rents that may be above AED 120k.
The popular areas for those who earn more than AED 25k per month are the apartments in Al Reem Island, Corniche Area and Al Raha Beach. Single professionals can choose to live in a upscale studios and 1-bedroom apartments with luxury finishing and stunning views. For instance, the waterfront studios for rent in Al Raha Beach has a starting price at AED 45k, which is a bargain considering the many benefits, such as a health club and swimming pool facilities.
Meanwhile, couples and families can even opt for larger 2 and 3-bedroom apartments in these vibrant communities, with a variety of options available.
Families can also consider our recommendations for popular villa communities in Abu Dhabi such as Khalifa City A, Mohammed Bin Zayed City and Al Mushrif.
This concludes our review of renting in Abu Dhabi based on your salary. However, before you commit to any property, consider the cost of living in Abu Dhabi to make sure your expenses are within your budget.
Looking for more housing options? Singletons looking for more budget-friendly accommodations can also find suitable options in the best areas to rent studios in Abu Dhabi. While the more spacious units are slightly pricier, but the additional space and high quality finishing is worth the upgrade. You can also find great deals in the best affordable areas to rent 1-BHK flats in Abu Dhabi.
On the other hand, families may prefer bigger flats with multiple rooms. In this case, these areas with reasonably priced 2-bed apartments in Abu Dhabi may be your best options.
