The decision to lease in Dubai is one made by many each year. Leasing brings less of a commitment in terms of housing, as well as opening up opportunities to live in communities and locations that would be out of price range otherwise.
Whatever your motive for leasing, this guide is meant to help you through the entire process.
1. What is your budget?
Your housing budget should not exceed 30% of your monthly income to be considered affordable. That rule of thumb is recommended by financial advisors, although it is not always the case when it comes to residents of Dubai.
Other expenses that come with living include groceries, transportation, schooling, healthcare, house help, and entertainment. It will be a beneficial exercise to calculate these expenses to get a better picture of what you can comfortably put down on a home.
Finally, there are costs associated with the actual leasing of a property in Dubai, which include security deposit, and other fees towards DEWA, Ejari, chiller and the agency.
How you spend is ultimately a personal choice, and once you have a budget you are comfortable with, you can move on to the next step.
2. What are your Criteria?
Now it is time to make a list of your needs and wants. A need is anything that is necessary, and a want is anything that you would prefer to have.
NEEDS | WANTS |
BEDS & BATHROOMS | COMMUNITY |
LOCATION | PROPERTY TYPE & FEATURES |
PARKING | AMENITIES & FACILITIES |
The provided list in the table is not universal, but yours should be made with you (and your family) in mind. For example,
‘Pet-friendly’ would go under the NEEDS column for those with pets.
‘Near metro’ may be a NEED for households with no car, but go under WANTS for a home with active teenagers.
A need will be anything that will hinder your life in its absence. A want is anything that would make your home more comfortable, enjoyable, or convenient. You could live without a community pool, but if having one in a community or building you can afford will enhance your living experience, then by all means you should try to find a property that provides one.
3. Search for a Property
By the time most of our clients have reached out, they have done an initial search of their own using one of the many great tools at their disposal like property search portals that feature listings from RERA-Certified Agencies. These are some of the most widely used in Dubai.
Bayut / PropertyFinder / Dubizzle / Houza
Browsing online will give you an understanding of what you can get for your budget, and allow you to explore communities and property types.
4. Arrange to View
Working with a RERA-certified Community Expert, you can arrange viewings for available properties, explore similar communities that match your criteria, and make sure there are no surprises when it comes time to sign the lease.
Keep in mind that it can be time-consuming and exhausting to view multiple homes, which is why this step is listed after setting your budget, criteria, and initial portal browsing of communities and properties, so that your search is more targeted.
5. Secure the Property
Once you have zeroed in on a property, the following documents should be ready to finalize your application and offer:
- Passport Copy
- Resident Visa Copy
- Emirates ID (EID) Copy
- Refundable Security Deposit (Typically 5% of Annual Rental Amount)
- Agency Fee (Typically 5% of Annual Rental Amount)
The security deposit is needed to secure the property, then the copies of your passport, visa and EID will be used to prepare the tenancy contract. Make sure you read through every clause at this stage, to avoid any issues later on.
Upon signing the tenancy contract, you will provide the agency fee payment along with the post-dated cheques for rental payments. Make sure you have receipts of payments made, along with copies of the cheques.
6. Register with Ejari
Your contract should now be registered with Ejari, which is mandatory, through the platform of the Dubai Land Department. This step ensures that the contract is legally binding and authentic.
The documents needed are:
- Original, signed tenancy contract
- Confirmation of payment (security deposit & rent cheques)
- Copy of Title Deed
- Passport Copy (Tenant & Landlord)
- Visa Copy
- EID Copy
- DEWA Premises Number
- Ejari Registration Fee
7. Prepare to Move-In
Use this checklist in preparation for moving into your new property:
- Set up / transfer your DEWA services
- Set up / transfer your Internet & phone services
- Obtain a moving permit (if needed)
- Book a professional moving service
Some other things to consider:
- Arrange for a friend to watch the children
- Book pets in daycare
- Donate unwanted items ahead of moving day
- Measure and arrange for curtains/blinds
- Book deep cleaning & pest control before move-in day
Have any questions for us?
Please feel free to reach out for more information.