Do you need a place to stay in Dubai marina? If YES, here is a detailed guide to renting an apartment in Dubai marina directly from owner and how much it cost. The district of Dubai Marina in United Arab Emirates is a unique and wonderful canal city, properly conceptualized and artificially established along a two mile long stretch of the Persian Gulf shore.
This district is expected to house over 100,000 residents in residential villas and towers, the area is also home to the Dubai Media City, the American University in Dubai, and Dubai Internet City.
Why Rent an Apartment in Dubai Marina?
Dubai Marina is gradually growing into a prime property location where individuals from Western Europe prefer to live. This district is renowned as one amongst the high-end residential areas of Dubai, it is a region desired by many people moving to Dubai and looking for rental accommodation for long term and short term as well.
Note that this district is perfect for individuals who want to rent an apartment in a modern and fashionable area within Dubai. The area has some of the very prominent names in the real estate industry. Also, there is a huge variety of dining, shopping and entertainment options around the area, apart from all the basic amenities being in close proximity. Note that most of the apartments in Marina are luxuriously done in terms of interiors, flooring and furnishings. A lot of them benefit from gym facilities, recreation area, swimming pool and car parking spaces.
Dubai has a vast mix of people searching for accommodation: expats seeking long-term rentals, professionals taking short-term rentals, tourists staying at hotel apartments. Even in terms of rent payment mode, there are several options, single rent cheques, multiple rent cheques and so on.
Indeed, when the choice is this vast, there is bound to be some amount of confusion as to what is the best option for you. Below is a proper analysis of long and short-term rentals in Dubai marina and their benefits.
Renting an Apartment in Dubai Marina for Short Term
Short-term rentals in Dubai marina are simply properties leased for a short period of time, offering weekly and monthly options for rent payments. These are mainly for tourists and business professionals visiting the city, searching for a place to stay after their busy days of sightseeing or working.
These short term rentals in are wonderful for individuals who want to pay rent monthly in Dubai. Have it in mind that they usually include utility bills, cleaning charges and parking spaces. This makes it ideal for the aforementioned population, who are not in the city long enough to make a long-term commitment but want the comfort of a home.
But, it’s very important to state that these properties are far more expensive than long-term rentals, and rents are subject to constant changes. Renting short-term in Dubai are also favoured by those looking to save money as the initial costs for long-term rentals are significantly higher, especially if landlords demand a single rent cheque.
Advantages of Short Term Rentals
- Provides residents with the flexibility of moving from one place to the other
- Little or no overhead costs
- Ready to move in, furniture and fittings already taken care of
Disadvantages of Short Term Rentals
- Lack of Stability
- Higher costs
- Limited options
Renting an Apartment in Dubai Marina for Long Term
Long-term rentals are more or less unfurnished apartments, which gives the tenant the chance to personalize the space according to their tastes. Note that Long-term rentals in Dubai marina are simply properties leased for a longer space of time, usually on a yearly basis.
These properties come with an annual tenancy contract recognized by RERA, offering a comfortable home for you to live in with rents locked in for the year. Long time rental apartments are unfurnished and you are expected to pay for all utilities separately.
With long-term rentals in Dubai, there are some overhead costs to also consider, including security deposits, agency fees and furnishing costs. Have it in mind that rents are paid as post-dated cheques on a quarterly, bi-annual or yearly basis, and if you default on your contract you have to pay all outstanding amounts, limiting your flexibility to move homes frequently.
Advantages of Long Term Rental
- Rents locked in for a year
- Maximum stability in terms of your living arrangements and financial output for the year
- A personal space for you to customise
Disadvantages of Long Term Rentals
- No Flexibility
- Overhead costs are high
- Most long-term rentals in Dubai marina are not ready to move in and will need investment from you for furniture
How to Rent an Apartment in Dubai Marina for Long Term and Short Term
Dubai is a favourite location especially for looking for profitable career opportunities and the ‘good’ life. Note that with so many expats moving to Dubai and building new lives here, the vibrant city is positively booming with residential properties to accommodate the ever growing population. So, if you looking to find a new home in Dubai marina, here is a step-by-step guide for renting in Dubai marina.
- Searching and finding an apartment
No matter the type of apartment you’re looking to rent, be it short or long term, you’ll have to start by looking for it online through rent and apartment websites. Search apartment listings in rent an apartment websites such as dubizzle, propertyfinder.ae, JustProperty.com, bayut, and even some Facebook pages.
At this point, you must know whether you want to rent an apartment or villa in Dubai marina, what you can afford, how many rooms you need and the desired location. Remember to search based on variables such as property type, location and number of bedrooms to see only relevant listings. It’s also advisable that you review the information listed on the website and start shortlisting properties based on your specific criteria.
Try to select the ones that seem most appealing to you based on pictures, annual rent, amenities and location. Also, get in touch with the contact person (usually an agent or the landlord) and set up a visit to see your potential new home.
- Visit the Apartment
This is the obvious next step. Ensure you take note of the minute details when you visit (take photographs if required). Try to reach a little early and spend some time scanning the neighbourhood. Examine the property as thoroughly as you want and arrange a second visit at a different time to get a better idea of what it would be like to live there. Questions to consider includes ;
- Do tenants get a designated parking spot?
- Is the building equipped with security measures such as cameras, security guard and an intercom?
- Does the apartment or villa get enough natural light?
- Do you like the view?
- Are the rooms spacious enough?
- Are the fixtures and fittings in good condition?
- Are there any facilities such as gym and swimming pool?
- Is the neighbourhood noisy?
- Are there any construction sites around?
- Is it in close or manageable proximity to your workplace?
- Is it well-connected by public transport?
- Are there any community areas, supermarkets, laundry services, and pharmacies nearby?
- Is it family-friendly?
- For pet-owners, find out if pets are allowed and if the neighbourhood is pet-friendly and/or in close proximity to these pet-friendly places in Dubai
- Negotiate the Rent
Once you decide to rent the apartment, you may want to negotiate rent amount. Although the landlord or agent may not go down on the rent amount, a common way to bargain is on the number of cheques. Landlords usually agree on lowering the annual rent if you can pay the amount in fewer cheques.
But, before committing to a single-cheque arrangement, make sure you’re prepared to stay in the house for a while, otherwise, you could incur losses. Also, if you’re unsure about the unit or the neighbourhood, or simply need a bit more flexibility, you can choose short-term rentals instead of long term rentals.
- Pay security deposit and reserve your property
If due to your interest you want to reserve the apartment, you will be asked to pay a refundable security deposit. It’s usually 5% of the rental amount or one month’s rent. If you’re going through a real estate agent, he/she will usually hold onto this amount till the deal is finalised.
Should you wish to back out of the deal for any reason, the agent will hand over this amount to your landlord. Make sure that you receive a receipt for the security deposit refund. If you later choose to back out from the deal, the agent will hand over the cheque to the landlord. At this junction, you need to provide the following to the agent:
- Your Passport
- Residence visa copy (or an original letter from your sponsor/company stating that your visa is under process) without done visa you will not be able to setup DEWA (water & electricity), gas or internet
- Review & Sign The Contract
Take your time to carefully review all the terms and conditions listed in your tenancy contract before you sign. Go over the contract, suggest changes if needed and ensure you are comfortable with the stated terms and conditions. Your agent should be able to help you out if have any concerns or questions.
Note that immediately you are sure, sign and submit the tenancy contract along with rent cheques and the agency commission to the agent. Be sure to ask for receipts for every payment that you make.
The agent will then get the tenancy contract signed by the landlord and hand over rent cheques, procuring a copy of the contract and an acknowledgement receipt for you. At this point, the agent then hands over the keys and access cards to you after you sign an acknowledgement form clearly listing everything you’ve received. Factors to consider before signing the tenancy contract:
- Ensure that all service charges have been settled by the landlord before you move in. Your agent should be able to check this and get it in writing.
- If you notice any maintenance issues, make sure they are fixed before you move in.
- Always check access points in the building and make sure you receive the necessary swipe cards and keys.
- The landlord should hand over the property in a liveable condition. If that is not the case, ask for your apartment or villa to be cleaned before you move in.
- Check if the facilities in your apartment building are in working condition and make sure you can avail everything mentioned in the contract or by the broker/landlord.
- Connect to DEWA and complete Ejari Registration
Note that after you must be officially rented, or decided to rent an apartment, you’d need to connect DEWA by setting up a DEWA account. You will also need to submit some documents to Dubai Electricity & Waster Authority (DEWA) and pay a refundable deposit with setup charges fees. After connecting DEWA you’ll need to register with Ejari and submit your DEWA connection receipt. You’ll need to submit the following documents:
- Original tenancy contract
- Original receipt of DEWA connection in the tenant’s name
- Title deed (in case of freehold property or SPA if it has been bought from a reputable developer) or affection plan
- Copies of the tenant’s passport and landlord’s passport
- A copy of Emirates ID
- Move-in form
Tenants are expected to procure a move-in permit before they occupy any apartment or villa in Dubai Marina. These are generally available on the developer’s website and take up to 5 days to process. Make sure you ask your real estate agent or landlord if this is required and apply for the permit on time to avoid delays. Depending on the developer, you may be required to provide the following documents:
- Passport Copy/Emirates ID
- Certificate of Completion of Payment
- Copy of the Tenancy Contract
- Copy of the unit’s most recent Service Charge Receipt (by landlord)
Conclusion
Although it may seem like a very hard task, the process of renting in Dubai Marina is fairly simple when you follow this guide. Understand what you’re looking for and work with a competent real estate agent who knows the market and can help you out at every step. Make sure that your real estate agent is Rera registered.
They should be able to provide you with their broker’s number. Remember to write your cheques to the landlord directly. Before handing over the cheques, ask your landlord for their passport’s copy and the title deed too if possible. Always make sure that all service charges have been paid by the landlord, and if possible get it in writing too.
Also, ensure that there are no outstanding bills for DEWA or air conditioning service. If there is any, they will need to be paid before you can set up an account. In case of maintenance issues that need to be resolved, ensure they take care of them before you move in.
Ask to know how many car parking spaces you have. It happens to be only one to share between a husband and wife. Also find out if there is visitors parking, and how to access it. Don’t forget to check how to access all parts of the building.
Most times, you may need swipe cards and door keys to enter your property. The property should be handed over in a habitable condition. If you find any issues with the apartment, take photos and let your agent and landlord know. This way you can avoid issues when you try to prove they were there before.