Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital, is the largest emirate in the country, with a land area of over 67,000 square kilometers.
People worldwide flock into the majestic emirate, which gives a luxurious lifestyle, tax-free earnings, and ample enjoyment.
If you plan to move to the city, then the first thing you need to do is look for the best place to rent in Abu Dhabi.
Things You Should Keep Ready
Before you start looking for an Abu Dhabi home for rent, there are a few things you need to keep ready. Keep in mind that you cannot rent a property in the city without these documents. While signing a lease, you will need–emirates ID, passport, and work/residency visa.
How Should You Look for a Rental Property in Abu Dhabi?
The good thing about looking for a property for rent in Abu Dhabi is that there will be no hassles involved. And there are many ways to look for your dream apartments for rent in Abu Dhabi.
You can drive around the city to look for homes for rent that suit your needs or contact a real estate agent to find a home for you. Also, newspaper advertisements and supermarket bulletin boards can serve the purpose for you. The best thing you can do is visit a website, like TopLatest, which lists all the available properties for rent. Moreover, it restricts you from visiting multiple property websites by curating all the latest property listings from the leading property portals.
The Average Rent in Abu Dhabi
By and large, rents in Abu Dhabi are affordable and range from low to high. The rent depends on the type of property, location, space, and amenities.
A studio apartment can cost you around AED 45,000 per month. A one-bedroom apartment’s monthly rent can range from AED 60,000 to AED 70,000 per month. For a two-bedroom apartment, the monthly rent can vary from AED 80,000 to AED 145,000.
The rent also depends on the floor level. For example, a ground floor apartment will cost less in rent than an apartment on the tenth floor.
Apart from the monthly rent, there are expenditures as well. Your real estate agent will charge three to five percent of the annual rent as fees. Tenants have to pay a security deposit that can be typically five percent of the yearly rent. There is also a fee for processing the contract with the landlord.
Besides, tenants need to pay deposits for setting up accounts for water, electricity, and chilled water for the air conditioning.
You will always be in an advantageous position while looking for Abu Dhabi apartments for rent as there will be room for negotiation to bring down the rent. As rents in Abu Dhabi have fallen during the last few years, you will be able to negotiate with the landlord to lower your rental costs.
Getting Water and Electricity Connection
Once you sign the rental agreement with your landlord and get your tenancy legally registered, you will get your water and electricity accounts. The Abu Dhabi Distribution Company will set up the accounts through Tawtheeq, the official register for tenancy contracts in the city. If you do not register your tenancy, you have to present your Emirates ID, passport, and a copy of the signed rental contract to the municipality to get the connections.
Housing Trends to Look Out For in Abu Dhabi
When you look for a home to rent in the city, it will be a good idea to look for the latest housing trends so that you can land the best home. You will get everything from a studio apartment to furnished apartments for rent in Abu Dhabi in the UAE with ample properties.
The trend of new houses with modern and light interiors are gaining popularity. Also, check out for floor plans with more space, amenities, and parking spaces before choosing a property. Do not forget to check whether the property you select for rent is near schools and the necessary facilities.
Best Places for Renting
In Abu Dhabi, there cannot be a single place for renting as the city has many best places to rent. However, your affordability will decide where in the city you have to rent a property. If you are looking for affordable places to rent, choose areas such as Al Ghadeer, Al Reef, and Al Khalidiya. In contrast, if you can spend a bit more and are looking for expensive places, go to areas like Al Raha Beach, Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, and Al Reem Island.
There are also more things to consider. Say you want to stay close to the city, then choose Reem Island. It is with a variety of quality apartments and affordable price points. You can have many options while looking for a new home to rent. And what is more, landlords on the island offer flexible payment options to make your rent payment convenient and stress-free. On Raha Beach, landlords offer many incentives, such as rent-free periods and multiple cheque payments, amongst others.
Tips for Tenants
It will help if you, as a prospective tenant, exercise a bit of carefulness in your property search for renting. It will help you to land upon the best property.
You need to look for well-managed and maintained properties with professional management.
Spend some time researching rents and the areas so that you can strike a competitive deal. It will help if you can contact the landlord to have a word with him. Do not ignore to look for the maintenance responsibilities on your part as these are essential considerations.
Ensure that you write rent cheques in your landlord’s name, and before handing over cheques, ask your landlord to give you a copy of his passport and title deeds. Do not hesitate as it is not uncommon in Abu Dhabi.
Ask your real estate broker to check whether the landlord has paid all service charges, and it is a good idea to get it in writing to avert any issues further down the line. Also, ask your broker to ensure no outstanding electricity and water bills. If there are, ensure that the landlord clears the bills or will not get electricity and water accounts.