It’s no secret that Dubai is one of the world’s most sought-after residential locations. After all, who wouldn’t want to call a place that’s teeming with promise and potential “home”? If you, just like many others, are planning to find your own place after falling in love with Dubai at first sight, keep reading. Below, we will tell you all you need to know if you want to rent a property in Dubai.
Step 1: Decide on a budget
Before you start searching for rental properties in Dubai, you first need to set a budget to keep your own expectations in check. Make a list of your monthly expenses if you haven’t yet so you know how much you have left for rent. Don’t forget to factor in other costs such as the monthly DEWA bills and upfront expenses like security deposit and upfront rent.
Step 2: Think about your property must-haves
Once you’ve nailed down how much you can spend on your dream home, it’s time for the best part – listing down your requirements! How do you envision your future home? Are you a family of 3 looking to rent a townhouse, or a villa, or a bachelor looking to rent an apartment? Do you have preferred areas? How many rooms do you require? While it’s true that you might need to compromise some items in the list along the way, having a criterion can still make your search a lot easier.
Step 3: Hire a trusted real estate agent
House hunting is undoubtedly a tiring and time-consuming process. To ensure that your house-hunting experience doesn’t transform into a nightmare is to work with a trusted broker. Some buyers and sellers may not want to use the services of a real estate agent. Their common cause is that they are attempting to save money. However, the skills and professionalism of a real estate agent –along with its extensive network of connection is unmatched and may even save you in the long run.
Step 4: Schedule a viewing
Once you’ve shortlisted your top picks, it’s time to schedule a viewing! Prepare your list of questions beforehand so you don’t forget or get overwhelmed once you get to the location. Ask about security measures and the building policies, available facilities, the noise level, nearby community areas, and even the parking situation. Don’t be afraid to be meticulous and examine every nook and cranny of the property. Keep in mind that you’re making a huge investment – make sure it’s one you won’t regret in the future.
Step 5: Make an Offer
If you’re happy with the property, the next step to secure your Dubai rental property is to finalize the offer. Whether it’s a short-term or long-term arrangement, having a broker can make the price negotiations with the landlord a whole lot easier. They can also walk you through administrative tasks such as reservations, rental agreement registration, utility connection, and more.
Step 6: Register your signed tenancy contract with the Ejari
Once the tenancy agreement has been signed by both parties you can now start the registration of your Ejari.
Ejari is a necessary online registration mechanism for all Dubai tenancy contracts. It guarantees that all private rental contracts are created lawfully and organized in accordance with a government-approved format and that the agreed rental fee is formally recorded to avoid any potential difficulties between landlord and tenant. Furthermore, enrolling Ejari is a necessary initial step in establishing DEWA accounts for water and electricity.
Here are the following documents that are necessary to submit to have your Ejari registration accepted by the office.
- Signed copy of original tenancy contract
- Security deposit receipt
- Tenant’s Passport, if a non-GCC resident
- Tenant’s UAE Visa, if a non-GCC resident
- Emirates ID
- Landlord’s passport
- Copy of the designation deed of the rented property
- DEWA Premises Number
- DEWA bill and prior Ejari in case of contract renewal
- Trade license, if the property is commercial
Final Step: Move in
Congratulations! You now have a slice of Dubai that you can proudly call “home”. Check the move-in policies of the community or the building management before you start hauling in your things!
