Rent in Dubai by Area: September 2026 Prices
AKT's analysis of Property Monitor's area-by-area data puts the median apartment rent in Dubai at AED 125,890 a year in September 2026, about AED 10,491 a month. Rents vary widely by location: a budget that covers a flat in International City is a small fraction of the same size on Palm Jumeirah, and villas rent for several times more than apartments in the same part of the city. This report sets out rent in Dubai by area for both apartments and villas, what AED 60,000, 100,000 and 150,000 a year rents, and where rent runs high relative to purchase price.
What is the average rent in Dubai in September 2026?
Property Monitor's September 2026 dataset tracks average rent across 63 Dubai apartment areas and 45 villa areas. AKT's analysis of that data puts the simple average (mean) apartment rent at AED 170,545 a year, pulled up by a handful of island and branded addresses; the median, a steadier guide to a typical area, is AED 125,890 a year, or AED 10,491 a month. For villas, AKT's analysis puts the mean at AED 467,570 a year and the median at AED 301,769 a year, about AED 25,147 a month.
The table below lists the 12 most expensive and 12 most affordable apartment areas Property Monitor tracked in September 2026, with rent per year, per month and per square foot.
| Area | Annual rent (AED) | Monthly rent (AED) | Rent per sq ft (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jumeirah Bay Island | 1,235,214 | 102,934 | 489 |
| Al Barari | 823,148 | 68,596 | 136.17 |
| Dubai Islands | 601,244 | 50,104 | 109 |
| Bluewaters Island | 498,902 | 41,575 | 262.58 |
| Meydan | 324,573 | 27,048 | 89.33 |
| Al Furjan | 298,870 | 24,906 | 89.67 |
| Palm Jumeirah | 268,466 | 22,372 | 128.33 |
| City Walk | 261,314 | 21,776 | 149.75 |
| Dubai Water Canal | 242,205 | 20,184 | 152.33 |
| Dubai Festival City | 230,916 | 19,243 | 95.42 |
| Dubai Harbour | 215,865 | 17,989 | 168.25 |
| Jumeirah Heights | 206,460 | 17,205 | 83.25 |
| Dubai Studio City | 65,892 | 5,491 | 76 |
| Rukan | 61,116 | 5,093 | 94.17 |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | 61,056 | 5,088 | 71.83 |
| Liwan | 60,926 | 5,077 | 66.08 |
| Arjan | 59,343 | 4,945 | 89.5 |
| Dubai Production City | 58,694 | 4,891 | 84.33 |
| Dubai South Residential District | 58,578 | 4,882 | 78 |
| Al Khail Gate | 52,406 | 4,367 | 54.42 |
| Dubai Residence Complex | 52,124 | 4,344 | 64.75 |
| Discovery Gardens | 50,605 | 4,217 | 72.5 |
| Al Jaddaf | 47,440 | 3,953 | 80 |
| International City | 37,373 | 3,114 | 58.67 |
Property Monitor's September 2026 figures show the highest average apartment rent among tracked areas was in Jumeirah Bay Island, at AED 1,235,214 a year, about AED 102,934 a month. The lowest was International City, at AED 37,373 a year, about AED 3,114 a month. Rent increases on lease renewals in Dubai are capped under the RERA rental index rather than set through open negotiation.
Dubai Marina, JVC, Business Bay and Downtown Dubai rent
These four areas are among the most searched for rent in Dubai. Of the four, Property Monitor's September 2026 data shows average apartment rent was highest in Business Bay and lowest in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC).
| Area | Annual rent (AED) | Monthly rent (AED) | Rent per sq ft (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Marina | 138,030 | 11,502 | 107 |
| Jumeirah Village Circle | 86,177 | 7,181 | 91 |
| Business Bay | 145,696 | 12,141 | 114.83 |
| Downtown Dubai | 142,556 | 11,880 | 133.33 |
Per square foot, Downtown Dubai was the priciest of the four at AED 133.33, followed by Business Bay at AED 114.83, Dubai Marina at AED 107 and JVC at AED 91. JVC reads cheaper on an annual basis because both its rent per square foot and its typical unit size are lower than in the other three areas, based on AKT's analysis of the Property Monitor figures above. See the Dubai Marina community page for more on living in the area.
What is villa rent in Dubai?
Villas rent for substantially more than apartments in Dubai, and the gap between the most and least expensive tracked areas is wider too. Property Monitor's September 2026 data shows Emirates Hills had the highest average villa rent among tracked areas, at AED 2,582,793 a year. DAMAC Hills 2 had the lowest, at AED 101,400 a year, about AED 8,450 a month.
| Area | Annual rent (AED) | Monthly rent (AED) | Rent per sq ft (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates Hills | 2,582,793 | 215,233 | 153 |
| Jumeirah Bay Island | 2,206,865 | 183,905 | 335 |
| Al Barari | 1,511,847 | 125,987 | 126 |
| Palm Jumeirah Fronds - Garden Homes | 1,421,518 | 118,460 | 248 |
| Jumeirah Golf Estates | 735,611 | 61,301 | 133 |
| Jumeirah Islands | 734,771 | 61,231 | 140 |
| Jumeirah | 652,050 | 54,338 | 81 |
| Dubai Investments Park | 636,818 | 53,068 | 125 |
| Meydan | 615,771 | 51,314 | 88 |
| Sobha Hartland | 542,764 | 45,230 | 119 |
| Mohammed Bin Rashid City Townhouses | 503,200 | 41,933 | 170 |
| Tilal Al Ghaf | 485,073 | 40,423 | 97 |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | 224,125 | 18,677 | 55 |
| Nad Al Sheba | 218,754 | 18,230 | 50 |
| DAMAC Lagoons | 208,645 | 17,387 | 68 |
| Dubai South Residential District | 199,294 | 16,608 | 60 |
| The Springs | 197,182 | 16,432 | 92 |
| Jumeirah Village Triangle Villas | 196,799 | 16,400 | 71 |
| Reem Townhouses | 167,846 | 13,987 | 67 |
| Serena | 147,299 | 12,275 | 72 |
| Dubai South Townhouses | 142,177 | 11,848 | 56 |
| Town Square Townhouses | 140,378 | 11,698 | 68 |
| Rukan | 101,923 | 8,494 | 93 |
| DAMAC Hills 2 | 101,400 | 8,450 | 50 |
Within this table, only DAMAC Hills 2 and Rukan rent for less than AED 110,000 a year; every other villa area shown rents for AED 140,000 or more.
What's the cheapest place to rent in Dubai?
Among the apartment areas Property Monitor tracked in September 2026, International City had the lowest average rent, at AED 37,373 a year, about AED 3,114 a month. Al Jaddaf, Discovery Gardens, Dubai Residence Complex and Al Khail Gate also ranked among the most affordable, all under AED 55,000 a year.
These are Property Monitor's community averages across all apartment sizes it tracks, rather than the price of any single unit or bedroom type, so a particular flat can rent for more or less than its area's average.
What does AED 60,000, 100,000 or 150,000 a year rent in Dubai?
At AED 60,000 a year, about AED 5,000 a month, Property Monitor's September 2026 averages put Arjan (AED 59,343 a year), Dubai Production City (AED 58,694) and Dubai South Residential District (AED 58,578) within reach for an apartment.
At AED 100,000 a year, about AED 8,333 a month, the list opens up to Expo City (AED 97,633), Barsha Heights (AED 90,662), Jumeirah Village Circle (AED 86,177) and Jumeirah Village Triangle (AED 85,662).
At AED 150,000 a year, about AED 12,500 a month, apartment options include Town Square (AED 148,832), Business Bay (AED 145,696), Al Habtoor City (AED 145,282) and The Views (AED 142,619). For villas, the same budget reaches Serena (AED 147,299) and Dubai South Townhouses (AED 142,177); no villa area in the September 2026 data averaged under AED 100,000.
Rent vs buying: where the yield is highest
Gross rental yield, AKT's own calculation from Property Monitor's September 2026 rent and sale price per square foot, compares annual rent to sale price; a higher figure means rent is large relative to what a home in that area sells for. Using those September 2026 averages for the 59 apartment areas Property Monitor prices for both rent and sale, Dubai Investments Park had the highest gross yield at 9.82%, followed by International City at 8.92% and Dubai Production City at 8.55%. Expo City had the lowest yield among areas in this comparison, at 3.09%.
| Area | Sale price (AED/sq ft) | Annual rent (AED/sq ft) | Gross rental yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Investments Park | 701 | 68.83 | 9.82% |
| International City | 658 | 58.67 | 8.92% |
| Dubai Production City | 986 | 84.33 | 8.55% |
| DAMAC Hills 2 | 1,011 | 85.58 | 8.46% |
| Rukan | 1,117 | 94.17 | 8.43% |
| Dubai Sports City | 957 | 77.17 | 8.06% |
| Remraam | 937 | 74.75 | 7.98% |
| Al Khail Heights | 975 | 76.42 | 7.84% |
| Dubai Residence Complex | 832 | 64.75 | 7.78% |
| Discovery Gardens | 935 | 72.5 | 7.75% |
| Liwan | 867 | 66.08 | 7.62% |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | 959 | 71.83 | 7.49% |
| Dubai Science Park (DuBiotech) | 1,321 | 97.92 | 7.41% |
| Dubai Studio City | 1,030 | 76 | 7.38% |
| Living Legends | 1,078 | 79.17 | 7.34% |
These figures describe September 2026 averages only and are not a forecast or a recommendation. For a fuller comparison of renting against buying, see our rent vs buy guide. For how September sale prices moved across the same areas, see the September 2026 price report.
Exceptions to know
The RERA rental index cap applies only to renewing an existing tenancy; it does not apply to a brand new lease. A landlord can list a vacant unit at whatever the market will pay, and a first-time tenant signing that lease has no RERA cap to lean on; the cap only limits how far an existing tenant's rent can rise at renewal. See the RERA rental index guide linked above for how the renewal cap itself works.
Property Monitor's area averages blend every unit size and type in that area. In a large, mixed community such as Dubai Marina, a studio-sized tower and a full-floor penthouse both feed into the same area figure, so two advertised units a few floors apart can rent for very different amounts even though both count toward one average.
Property Monitor also tracks "Dubai South" and "Dubai South Residential District" as two separate areas with different rents in the September 2026 data, so check which one matches a specific listing rather than assuming the name "Dubai South" covers both.
Gross rental yield in this report is based on area-average rent per square foot against area-average sale price per square foot; it does not reflect the price actually paid for any one unit. A unit bought above or below its area's average price per square foot will have a different yield from the area figure shown here.
FAQ
What is the average rent in Dubai in 2026?
AKT's analysis of Property Monitor's September 2026 data puts the median apartment rent at AED 125,890 a year, about AED 10,491 a month, across 63 tracked areas, and the median villa rent at AED 301,769 a year. Rent varies widely by area, so these figures are a starting point rather than a price for any specific unit.
How much is rent per month in Dubai?
Monthly rent here is the Property Monitor annual average divided by twelve. For apartments that is about AED 10,491 a month at the median, ranging from roughly AED 3,114 a month in International City to over AED 100,000 a month on Jumeirah Bay Island. Villas run from about AED 8,450 a month in DAMAC Hills 2 to far higher in areas such as Emirates Hills.
Does Dubai limit rent increases?
Yes. Rent increases on lease renewals in Dubai are capped by the RERA rental index rather than left to negotiation; the cap applies to renewals only, as set out under Exceptions to know above.
Are apartments or villas cheaper to rent in Dubai?
Apartments are cheaper on average. AKT's analysis of Property Monitor's September 2026 data puts the median apartment rent at AED 125,890 a year, against AED 301,769 a year for villas. Villas are generally larger and sit in lower-density areas, which accounts for most of the gap.
Which Dubai area has the best rental yield?
Among areas Property Monitor prices for both rent and sale, AKT's analysis puts Dubai Investments Park at the highest gross rental yield in September 2026, at 9.82%. Yield reflects one month in one dataset and should not be read as investment advice or a return promise.
How we checked this
Written by the AKT Real Estate research team (RERA ORN 15673, Business Bay, Dubai). Facts checked against the official sources below on 12 October 2026.
Every rent, sale-price and yield figure in this report comes from AKT's analysis of Property Monitor's community-level data for Dubai, September 2026, read on 5 October 2026. We cross-checked each area name against Property Monitor's own classification and removed any area where rent, rent per square foot or sale price per square foot was missing or showed as zero, rather than estimate a figure. Gross rental yield, and the mean and median figures quoted throughout, are AKT's own calculations from Property Monitor's area-level data; Property Monitor does not publish those summary figures itself. Property Monitor's September 2026 release does not include a month-on-month rent change figure, so this report makes no claim about whether rent is rising or falling.
Sources
Rent, sale price and yield figures are from Property Monitor, September 2026 Dubai residential rent and price data, read 5 October 2026. Community names and boundaries follow Property Monitor's own classification.
AKT Real Estate is a Dubai brokerage licensed by RERA under ORN 15673, at Office 604, Building 12, Bay Square, Business Bay. If you are weighing a budget against these figures, our team can match it to specific buildings currently available; see buying property in Dubai or call +971 50 518 4986. First-time renters can also see our renting guide for the deposit, documents and registration steps.
This article is general information, current on its publication date. Rules and fees change; check with the relevant authority or a licensed adviser before acting.
Monthly rent by apartment size, with new leases and renewals compared, is in how much rent in Dubai costs per month.