Dubai continues to lead the UAE’s rental market in 2025, with more people choosing to rent homes in the city than anywhere else in the country.
According to recent data from Property Finder, Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) has become the most searched rental area in Dubai, receiving over 214,000 views for apartment listings. Dubai Marina followed closely with nearly 192,000 views, showing strong interest in waterfront living.
Rental prices across the UAE have gone up by 23.6% between November 2023 and November 2024. Over the past five years, rents have increased by 33%, mostly due to more expats moving in and a rise in new rental contracts.
In Dubai, JVC offers the highest number of rental options with over 9,000 listings, followed by Business Bay with 5,631 units and Downtown Dubai with 5,541 units. Most rental homes are apartments, making up around 96% of the listings in popular areas.
The average rent across all UAE communities is around AED 86,222 per year. Palm Jumeirah has the highest average annual rent at AED 170,000, while Al Nahda in Sharjah is one of the most affordable options, with rents averaging AED 43,000 per year.
In Dubai, rental prices range from AED 28,000 to as high as AED 1.5 million per year, with an average of AED 90,000. In comparison, Abu Dhabi offers slightly more affordable rentals, with average annual rents around AED 82,999.
JVC is popular for its budget-friendly and family-oriented lifestyle. The area offers an average apartment rent of AED 78,000 per year and features parks, jogging tracks, schools, and easy access to highways. Property Finder describes JVC as a vibrant, family-friendly area with a wide range of apartments, villas, and townhouses, along with supermarkets, schools, and restaurants.
In Sharjah, Al Nahda leads the rental search charts with over 100,000 page views, attracting professionals who work in Dubai but prefer cheaper housing. The average annual rent in Al Nahda is AED 43,000.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi’s rental market is also growing. In Q1 2025, average apartment rents rose by 4% quarter-on-quarter and 10% year-on-year. Khalifa City is the most searched area in the capital, with nearly 86,000 views and average annual rents of around AED 49,999.
Experts say that luxury properties in Abu Dhabi have seen the biggest rent increases—between 8% and 12%, while mid-range homes went up by 5% to 8%. Villas in prime locations experienced rent hikes of up to 15% compared to last year.
Looking ahead, some forecasts suggest that Dubai’s rental market may cool down slightly, with expected rent corrections of 10% to 20% in 2025 due to more properties becoming available. This could help ease rental pressure for tenants.
According to Property Finder, the UAE’s rental activity reflects broader trends such as a growing expat population, new job opportunities, and changing housing preferences. Dubai remains on top in terms of rental volume and variety, while Sharjah and Abu Dhabi continue to offer more affordable and attractive alternatives.
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