Which areas saw the largest rental declines in Dubai?

According to Property Finder, Downtown Dubai experienced the largest drop in asking rents, falling by 21.7%, followed by Dubai Marina with a 16.1% decrease between Q3 2025 and Q3 2026.

Why are Dubai rents falling?

Dubai rents are falling primarily due to an increase in housing supply. Property Finder reported a 55.1% rise in average daily apartment listings in September 2026 compared to September 2025, giving tenants more choice and negotiation power.

Did all communities experience rental declines?

No, Dubai Hills Estate saw no change in rental prices, remaining flat. Also, Al Furjan recorded a 15.15% increase in villa rents, partly attributed to more five-bedroom villas entering the market.

What was the peak median apartment asking rent in Dubai?

The combined median apartment asking rent in Dubai peaked at AED 135,000 in December 2025, before gradually decreasing to AED 100,000 by June 2026.

What do the latest trends suggest for the Dubai rental market?

While rents generally fell over the past year, September 2026 showed early signs of stabilisation, with the combined median apartment asking rent rising slightly to AED 105,000 from AED 100,000 in August, and improved enquiry rates per listing for both apartments and villas.

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Market·19 October 2026

Property Finder Reports Dubai Rental Declines Across Most Communities

Property Finder's latest report indicates that rental prices in most Dubai residential communities saw declines between Q3 2025 and Q3 2026, driven by increased supply and tenant bargaining power.

A new report from Property Finder reveals a general decline in residential rents across most Dubai communities during the period from the third quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2026. This trend is attributed to a significant increase in available rental properties, providing tenants with more options and enhanced bargaining power.

Key Rental Declines

Among the ten key apartment communities tracked, nine experienced a year-on-year decrease in median asking rents. Notable drops include:

Downtown Dubai: 21.7% fall
Dubai Marina: 16.1% fall

Other areas seeing rent reductions were Jumeirah Village Circle, Business Bay, Arjan, Dubai Creek Harbour, Mohammed Bin Rashid City, Meydan, and Palm Jumeirah. Only Dubai Hills Estate maintained flat rental prices during this period.

Increased Supply and Tenant Choice

Data for September 2026 shows a 55.1% increase in the average number of apartments listed for rent daily on Property Finder compared to September 2025. While renter enquiries grew by 15.4%, each apartment listing received an average of 23% fewer enquiries than a year prior, according to Cherif Sleiman, Chief Revenue Officer of Property Finder.

"For tenants, this is a good time to compare options and negotiate. For landlords, lowering the price alone may not be enough. With this much choice in the market, the quality of a listing, how visible it is and how quickly the landlord responds now matter more than ever."

Villa Market and Stabilisation Signs

The villa segment mirrored the apartment market's trend, with eight out of ten communities recording lower asking rents, though the declines were generally less pronounced. Al Furjan was an exception, showing a 15.15% increase, partly due to a higher influx of five-bedroom villas.

Combined median apartment asking rents peaked at AED 135,000 in December 2025, then steadily eased to AED 100,000 by June 2026. However, September 2026 showed early signs of stabilisation, with the median asking rent for apartments edging up slightly to AED 105,000 from AED 100,000 in August, and enquiries per listing improving for both apartments and villas.

Frequently asked

Questions, answered

Which areas saw the largest rental declines in Dubai?: According to Property Finder, Downtown Dubai experienced the largest drop in asking rents, falling by 21.7%, followed by Dubai Marina with a 16.1% decrease between Q3 2025 and Q3 2026.
Why are Dubai rents falling?: Dubai rents are falling primarily due to an increase in housing supply. Property Finder reported a 55.1% rise in average daily apartment listings in September 2026 compared to September 2025, giving tenants more choice and negotiation power.
Did all communities experience rental declines?: No, Dubai Hills Estate saw no change in rental prices, remaining flat. Also, Al Furjan recorded a 15.15% increase in villa rents, partly attributed to more five-bedroom villas entering the market.
What was the peak median apartment asking rent in Dubai?: The combined median apartment asking rent in Dubai peaked at AED 135,000 in December 2025, before gradually decreasing to AED 100,000 by June 2026.
What do the latest trends suggest for the Dubai rental market?: While rents generally fell over the past year, September 2026 showed early signs of stabilisation, with the combined median apartment asking rent rising slightly to AED 105,000 from AED 100,000 in August, and improved enquiry rates per listing for both apartments and villas.

Reported by

Google News — UAE Mortgage & Rent · Google News — UAE Rent & Mortgage (7d)

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This brief was summarised and rewritten by Gaia Living from public reporting. Figures and details reflect the original sources.

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