Dubai rents increase by up to 20%; where to find affordable homes

Dubai rents increase by up to 20%; where to find affordable homes

Dubai resident N.A. has just been given an annual rent increase notification of Dh14,000. The expat, who has been staying at the same three-bedroom apartment in the Zaabeel area for the last 10 years, said her annual rent increased from Dh70,000 to Dh84,000. That’s more than Dh1,100 a month and marks a 20 per cent higher rent than last year.

N.A.’s notification is in line with the average increase across Dubai, as rents hit a historic high of nearly 27 per cent last year.

Real estate marketplace Property Finder told Khaleej Times that the average rental prices for apartment contracts witnessed around 21 per cent increase, compared to 2021, while those for villas increased by 37 per cent.

Where rents have increased

Sarah Hewerdine, head of marketing at agency-owned real estate website Houza, said for those living in communities such as Dubai Hills, “a 20 per cent increase is expected due to the price growth we have seen here”.

“At The Views and The Greens, where occupancy is one of the highest across Dubai, rent increases are averaging 10-15 per cent,” she added.

Property Finder’s recent data suggests that the average rental price for apartments in Dubai Marina increased by 31 per cent, while Jumeirah Lake