Apartments,
rented with the lights on.
Every apartment for rent in Dubai looks beautiful in the listing photographs. Lived tells you what living there is actually like — maintenance response times, chiller bills, noise after 11pm, and the tone of the management when something breaks. Browse verified, anonymous reports from real tenants across every major Dubai community.
Apartments for rent in Dubai in 2026 range from AED 40,000/year for studios in older buildings to AED 260,000+/year for 2-bedrooms in prime Downtown towers. Most 1-bedrooms sit between AED 60,000–160,000. Use Lived to read verified tenant reviews for every major building before you sign.
| Area | Annual rent (AED) |
|---|---|
| Dubai Marina | 65,000 – 220,000 |
| Downtown Dubai | 80,000 – 260,000 |
| Business Bay | 60,000 – 200,000 |
| JVC | 40,000 – 140,000 |
| Al Furjan | 45,000 – 130,000 |
| Dubai Hills Estate | 70,000 – 210,000 |
| Palm Jumeirah | 120,000 – 400,000 |
| Dubai South | 35,000 – 95,000 |
How to find the right apartment in Dubai
Start with the neighbourhood, then the building, then the unit. In Dubai the building is the decisive variable — two identical 1-beds in the same community can have very different quality-of-life depending on how the tower is managed. Lived indexes every building with at least one verified report, so you can compare management quality, maintenance response, noise, and amenity reliability before you pay a deposit.
- 01.Filter by area and amenities in the Lived index.
- 02.Read at least three reports per building — the honest ones trade off pros and cons.
- 03.Check the chiller provider and who pays the capacity charge before signing.
- 04.Look up the RERA rental index to sanity-check the asking rent.
What you actually pay — beyond rent
On top of the sticker rent, Dubai tenants pay a 5% security deposit, 5% agency commission (usually capped at AED 5,000), AED 220 for Ejari registration, AED 2,000 refundable DEWA connection, and chiller deposits where applicable. The municipal housing fee (5% of annual rent) arrives automatically on your DEWA bill.
- What is the average apartment rent in Dubai?
- The 2026 median apartment rent in Dubai is approximately AED 95,000/year for a 1-bedroom and AED 135,000/year for a 2-bedroom. Studios start around AED 35,000, and 3-bedrooms typically exceed AED 180,000.
- Where are the most affordable apartments in Dubai?
- The most affordable apartments are in Dubai South, International City, Deira, and parts of Bur Dubai — studios from AED 30,000 and 1-bedrooms from AED 40,000. JVC and Al Furjan offer modern mid-market options from AED 55,000.
- How do I verify an apartment landlord in Dubai?
- Ask for the title deed, cross-check the owner name on the Dubai REST app, and check the RERA broker registry for the agent's licence. Lived publishes verified tenant reviews for most major buildings so you can see how the landlord has behaved historically.
1-Bedroom Apartments for Rent in Dubai
1-bedroom apartments for rent in Dubai in 2026 — verified tenant reviews, real prices from Marina to JVC, and honest neighbourhood comparisons.
2-Bedroom Apartments for Rent in Dubai
2-bedroom apartments for rent in Dubai: verified tenant reviews, 2026 rental prices across Marina, Downtown, JVC, Dubai Hills, Mirdif and more.
Studio Apartments for Rent in Dubai
Studio apartments for rent in Dubai in 2026 — verified tenant reviews, prices from Deira to Marina, and the best buildings for value living.