Dubai rents fall in most areas as new leases overtake renewals

What the data shows

Asking rents for apartments have fallen in most of Dubai's major communities over the past year, according to Khaleej Times, which cited Property Finder listings data. Comparing the third quarter of 2025 with the third quarter of 2026, nine of ten tracked apartment communities recorded lower median asking rents, while Dubai Hills Estate was unchanged.

Gulf News reported that Downtown Dubai saw the biggest fall, 21.7%, with the median moving from Dh230,000 to Dh180,000. Dubai Marina dropped 16.1%, Meydan 13.3%, Business Bay 12.5% and Jumeirah Village Circle 10%. Palm Jumeirah was down 4.8%, to Dh240,000.

Villas and areas where rents rose

Property Finder data showed lower asking rents in eight of ten villa communities. Al Furjan was the clear exception, with a rise of 15.15%.

Gulf News also cited registered-contract data from fäm Properties showing increases for new apartment leases in some outlying areas, including Me'Aisem First (11.3%) and Al Yelayiss 2 (10.3%).

A shift in the market

According to Gulf News, fäm Properties data showed new leases outnumbered renewals by 633 contracts in July and 2,139 in August. The outlet described this as the first such shift since records began in January 2023, after renewals led for 36 straight months.

In September, daily apartment rental listings on Property Finder were 55.1% higher than a year earlier, and renter enquiries rose 15.4%. Enquiries per listing fell 23%, which points to more choice per tenant.

The combined median asking rent across the ten apartment communities peaked at Dh135,000 in December 2025, fell to Dh100,000 by June 2026 and stood at Dh105,000 in September. A Property Finder executive quoted by Khaleej Times said September showed early signs of stabilisation.

What it means for tenants and landlords

Asking rents and signed contracts are different measures, and Gulf News noted they are not directly comparable. The outlet reported that renewal rents still rose between 4% and 14% depending on unit type, while new-lease rents for the same building and unit type were 15.3% below January levels.

For residents, that gap suggests comparing current listings in their own building and area before renewing. A property consultant quoted by Gulf News expects stability over the next three to six months, with areas receiving heavy handovers possibly facing more pressure.