Start with your work location and the cash you can pay before moving in. Shortlist suitable areas, view the actual apartment, then agree the full payment schedule before signing.
Go straight to: Search links · Contract and registration · Cash needed
Choose a temporary stay or an annual lease
If your workplace or residence arrangements are still unsettled, a hotel or serviced apartment can give you time to view homes. Compare the total stay price, cancellation terms and included utilities.
An annual lease is a longer commitment. Annual rent divided by 12 is a budgeting figure, not an offer to pay monthly. Agree the number, amounts and dates of cheques or other payments in writing.
For travel preparations, use our UAE arrival checklist.
Search with a clear shortlist
Filter for rent, apartment, bedrooms, furnishing and annual price. Keep temporary lets separate. Compare the commute at your working hours, parking, public transport and nearby shops.
| Search area | Public search routes |
|---|---|
| Dubai, International City | Bayut: one bedroom · Property Finder: one bedroom |
| Abu Dhabi, Al Reem Island | Bayut: one bedroom · Property Finder: one bedroom |
Two asking-price examples captured on 11 September 2026: both Bayut detail pages described unfurnished one-bedroom apartments.
| Specific listing | Advertised annual rent |
|---|---|
| Nargis 2 Building, International City Phase 2 (Warsan 4), Dubai, 794 sq ft | AED 62,000; cheque count unstated |
| Marina Bay, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, 791 sq ft | AED 82,000; two payments stated, payment method unstated |
These are two advertised prices, not area averages or recommendations. Use the links to compare the homes with your shortlist; confirm the current price and layout at the viewing.
View the property and verify the people
- Check the listing and agent. In Dubai, match the agent with DLD’s licensed broker service. Scan the advertisement’s Madmoun QR code and compare the official property and company details.
- Use Abu Dhabi’s checks. ADREC’s directory includes professions and licence numbers. Its document-verification page provides separate checks for Madhmoun permits and tenancy contracts.
- Match the home. Check the unit number, owner’s property document and the authority of anyone signing for the owner. The advertised apartment must be the one you view and contract for.
- Test daily essentials. Run taps and air conditioning. Look for leaks, damp, noise and damaged fittings. Check locks, lifts, parking, kitchen appliances and whether the kitchen is private or shared. Record agreed repairs before handover.
Agree the contract and registration
Prepare the named tenant’s ID and passport details, residence evidence where applicable, and income evidence if requested by the landlord. Confirm who will occupy the home and any building move-in requirements.
The contract should identify the unit, parties, dates, full rent, payment schedule, deposit and refund conditions. Record any agency charge, maintenance responsibilities, renewal terms and early-exit conditions. Keep signed copies and itemised receipts.
Dubai: the Ejari service card lists the unified tenancy contract for the app route. A trustee-centre application requires the original contract, applicant’s Emirates ID and a power of attorney when represented.
The app route requires individual landlord and tenant, with current owner data. Tenant registration needs landlord approval. Retain the issued registration certificate.
Abu Dhabi: start with the DARI lease-registration service, which links to TAMM. Complete the applicable document steps and obtain the registered contract; verify its number through ADREC.
For Abu Dhabi rent: compare the proposed rent with the amount in the property’s last registered Tawtheeq contract. ADREC’s 3 June 2026 notice makes that amount the reference for renewals and new agreements.
The notice temporarily sets renewal increases at 0% until further notice.
Work out what is due now
Illustrative Dubai agreement: AED 60,000 annually in four equal cheques. All four are handed over at signing: the first payable now, the others postdated for months 3, 6 and 9.
Assume a refundable AED 3,000 deposit and a final, tax-inclusive agency invoice of AED 2,500. These are chosen assumptions, not fixed legal percentages.
| Due at signing or registration | Amount |
|---|---|
| First rent cheque | AED 15,000 |
| Refundable deposit, subject to agreed deductions | AED 3,000 |
| Assumed final agency invoice | AED 2,500 |
| Online Ejari registration | AED 177.75 |
| Cash required now for these items | AED 20,677.75 |
DLD’s online fee is 100 + 10 knowledge + 10 innovation + 55 service partner + 2.75 VAT = AED 177.75.
VAT applies to the AED 55 partner fee. Other registration channels have different charges.
Still committed: three later rent cheques of AED 15,000, totalling AED 45,000. The deposit accounts for AED 3,000 of the initial cash and is separate from spending.
Add electricity/water activation and deposits, cooling, internet, municipality charges, moving and furniture to your budget. These costs are outside this example.
Collect the keys and move in
- Arrange services: establish who supplies electricity/water, cooling and internet, what rent includes, and when accounts become active.
- Arrange access: complete any building move-in approval and lift booking before scheduling movers.
- Record handover: photograph condition, note meter readings, count keys and access cards, and retain the repair list and deposit receipt.
Sources and asking-price records checked on 11 September 2026. The cash example is a calculation, not an all-inclusive quote. Cover image generated with AI for illustration.
