Dubai property rental advice needed
Discussion
It seems me and my wife will be moving to Dubai later this year. The company is paying for us to travel out to Dubai in April for a look around and while we're there we'd like to get a good idea of areas to live in and types of property we might be able to rent.
The main office will be in Dubai Internet City. No children so schools are not an issue. Ideally we'd like a 2 - 3 bedroom house/villa, driveway/garage, garden and a pool or use of a shared pool.
So...
• Which areas should we plan to check out in April? Given that we've never been to Dubai so really don't know the place (or any of the abbreviated place names I read on here
), are there any really good/recommended areas to live and any not so nice areas to avoid?
• Can anyone recommend a friendly, proactive property rental company that I can contact before we go to arrange a viewing of different types of properties within a low/high price brackets?
Many thanks for any help.
The main office will be in Dubai Internet City. No children so schools are not an issue. Ideally we'd like a 2 - 3 bedroom house/villa, driveway/garage, garden and a pool or use of a shared pool.
So...
• Which areas should we plan to check out in April? Given that we've never been to Dubai so really don't know the place (or any of the abbreviated place names I read on here
), are there any really good/recommended areas to live and any not so nice areas to avoid? • Can anyone recommend a friendly, proactive property rental company that I can contact before we go to arrange a viewing of different types of properties within a low/high price brackets?
Many thanks for any help.
Edited by RSGulp on Wednesday 26th March 19:42
The obvious 2 areas that tick all of those boxes are Springs/Meadows/Lakes and Arabian Ranches.
If work is in DIC then Springs/Meadows is very close, 10 min drive to work, Ranches will be about 20/25 away.
Both developments offer both independent villas and townhouses, all Springs are townhouses, Type 4 being the 2 beds, Types 3,2 & 1 being 3 beds, lower the number the larger, all have a 'study' that is feasibl to use as a guest bedroom/man cave as appropriate.
Meadows & Lakes are the independent villas
In Ranches it's divided by name, Al Reem are nearly identical to the Springs, also have the option of Alma and Palmera for conjoined villas, the larger independent ones are Saheel, Mirador etc.
Other options in and around the Springs Meadows are Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Park and Jumeirah Village Triangle. The latter is where I live, not as developed as S/M/L and no communal pools.
Both S/M/L and Ranches have a small retail bit with the usual Supermarket, Pharmacy, Cafes etc and both have a golf club in them with a bar, Montgomerie in S/M/L and Ranches at the Ranches!
We have PH'ers that live in both, Del is in the Meadows and Luke is inthe Ranches who'll chime in with the merits of both I am sure.
There are some other left field options like looking at somewhere in Umm Suqeim or Jumeirah but the above are the obvious choice.
As for proactive agents.... HAHAHAHA, good luck with that, I don't know any, someone else may know someone, but I would generall start by looking on www.dubizzle.com to get an idea of prices and go from there.
Edit - this map gives you an idea of where everything is, your office will be somewhere in 3, Ranches is 30 and S/M/L are 6,7,8
If work is in DIC then Springs/Meadows is very close, 10 min drive to work, Ranches will be about 20/25 away.
Both developments offer both independent villas and townhouses, all Springs are townhouses, Type 4 being the 2 beds, Types 3,2 & 1 being 3 beds, lower the number the larger, all have a 'study' that is feasibl to use as a guest bedroom/man cave as appropriate.
Meadows & Lakes are the independent villas
In Ranches it's divided by name, Al Reem are nearly identical to the Springs, also have the option of Alma and Palmera for conjoined villas, the larger independent ones are Saheel, Mirador etc.
Other options in and around the Springs Meadows are Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Park and Jumeirah Village Triangle. The latter is where I live, not as developed as S/M/L and no communal pools.
Both S/M/L and Ranches have a small retail bit with the usual Supermarket, Pharmacy, Cafes etc and both have a golf club in them with a bar, Montgomerie in S/M/L and Ranches at the Ranches!
We have PH'ers that live in both, Del is in the Meadows and Luke is inthe Ranches who'll chime in with the merits of both I am sure.
There are some other left field options like looking at somewhere in Umm Suqeim or Jumeirah but the above are the obvious choice.
As for proactive agents.... HAHAHAHA, good luck with that, I don't know any, someone else may know someone, but I would generall start by looking on www.dubizzle.com to get an idea of prices and go from there.
Edit - this map gives you an idea of where everything is, your office will be somewhere in 3, Ranches is 30 and S/M/L are 6,7,8
Edited by dxbtiger on Thursday 27th March 04:33
I'm Jumeirah 3.
Pros:
Pros:
- Brilliant area
- Lots of nice metal
- Easy access to most areas
- Wide roads
- Trees
- Pricey
- Older villas
- Due to the nice metal - lots of locals who can't drive, can't park and just generally inconsiderate idiots (there are some exceptions who on being told they are inconsiderate idiots do apologise)
- Roads tend to flood when it rains
As noted, I'm in Meadows 2
Pros
Close to SZR (less than 2 minutes)
little traffic (the junctions here only get jammed if there's an accident)
nice quiet area
communal pools are well maintained and not overrun
houses are large (I have 5 bedrooms and around 4,000sqft)
houses are detached - can make a huge difference here, many nationalities think nothing of having their kids running around the house screaming at midnight whilst they socialise in the garden!
cons
because they're large the DEWA bills can be high
they were built a while ago now so a bad landlord can mean maintenance woes
rents are quite high as the area is considered desireable
many properties have a view of the JLT towers from their gardens, took me a while to find one that didn't
most of the properties are back-to-back, again took me a while to find one that wasn't
Previous to this house I was in springs 3 for 2 years in a semi (yes i did have noisy kids next door) most of the points above apply to springs as well though I would add the number of speed bumps as a serious negative (27 going to work and 31 coming home)
Not sure when you're coming over but I'm happy to show you around a little / provide a cuppa and a chat if you'd like.
Agent wise, I only have one that I would recommend and that's Allsopp and Allsopp - they're not perfect but they've always been great with me.
As noted, check out Dubizzle and propertyfinder.ae to see what's around. Your biggest deciding factor may be your budget, rents are only going one way here at the moment, rises of 35% per annum are well reported.
Pros
Close to SZR (less than 2 minutes)
little traffic (the junctions here only get jammed if there's an accident)
nice quiet area
communal pools are well maintained and not overrun
houses are large (I have 5 bedrooms and around 4,000sqft)
houses are detached - can make a huge difference here, many nationalities think nothing of having their kids running around the house screaming at midnight whilst they socialise in the garden!
cons
because they're large the DEWA bills can be high
they were built a while ago now so a bad landlord can mean maintenance woes
rents are quite high as the area is considered desireable
many properties have a view of the JLT towers from their gardens, took me a while to find one that didn't
most of the properties are back-to-back, again took me a while to find one that wasn't
Previous to this house I was in springs 3 for 2 years in a semi (yes i did have noisy kids next door) most of the points above apply to springs as well though I would add the number of speed bumps as a serious negative (27 going to work and 31 coming home)
Not sure when you're coming over but I'm happy to show you around a little / provide a cuppa and a chat if you'd like.
Agent wise, I only have one that I would recommend and that's Allsopp and Allsopp - they're not perfect but they've always been great with me.
As noted, check out Dubizzle and propertyfinder.ae to see what's around. Your biggest deciding factor may be your budget, rents are only going one way here at the moment, rises of 35% per annum are well reported.
I am currently in MotorCity 3 bedroom terraced apartment(next to Arabian Ranches). We picked the area because our son was going to school in Arabian Ranches (although the wife thinks it is because we are 2 minutes from the autodrome....). Great access to (old) Emirates & By-pass roads, MoE etc. Hessa Street is slow moving towards Media City in the morning and vice versa at night.
Nothing to add to the excellent advice above re areas, (I'm in an apartment in the Marina so not what you are looking for..), but I found agents to be worse than useless when I wanted to look at things even a few weeks before I arrived for good.
One tip I recently heard is to get a local SIM, (du or Etisalat PAYG) at the airport and use that to contact a few agents once you are here for the look around to look at things. That way, it looks like you may be actually here and in a position to take a place soon.
The approach I took was to narrow the search down by area then building, (I wanted an apartment) and when I was ready to take a place I started viewing with the 5% deposit and 5% agents fee in cash in my pocket. If you like a place, take it on the spot as the agent won't hold it. They may promise they will, but I have yet to find one that does. As an example, the agent I first rented through promised me I was the first to view a place that had only just come on the market in the last couple of hours and as I got there he was showing another couple out and told them he would hold the place while they had a coffee and thought about it. Needless to say, I had cash and he took it on the spot then acted like he'd never seen the other couple before. I don't particularly like doing that to another couple, but the exact same had happened to me 24 hours before. Just the way it goes here..
One tip I recently heard is to get a local SIM, (du or Etisalat PAYG) at the airport and use that to contact a few agents once you are here for the look around to look at things. That way, it looks like you may be actually here and in a position to take a place soon.
The approach I took was to narrow the search down by area then building, (I wanted an apartment) and when I was ready to take a place I started viewing with the 5% deposit and 5% agents fee in cash in my pocket. If you like a place, take it on the spot as the agent won't hold it. They may promise they will, but I have yet to find one that does. As an example, the agent I first rented through promised me I was the first to view a place that had only just come on the market in the last couple of hours and as I got there he was showing another couple out and told them he would hold the place while they had a coffee and thought about it. Needless to say, I had cash and he took it on the spot then acted like he'd never seen the other couple before. I don't particularly like doing that to another couple, but the exact same had happened to me 24 hours before. Just the way it goes here..
dxbtiger said:
Good shout on the deposit cheque, we held off handing the agency fees over thought until he agreed tpo connect DEWA (water and leccy) and register the Ejari.
Thats a good idea.. Otherwise they get 5% for doing absolutely squat all.. Very happy with the current place, but not happy with 5% fee given they didn't even advertise it, do an inspection, hand over keys etc etc..Great thread!
I fly out tomorrow evening to Dubai for a final interview/meeting.
Been there a few times but never long enough to go round the different areas so will try and look into (I fly back Tuesday night to Sydney). Not sure on what they have in store by way of meetings etc but will post up if I have spare time if anyone fancies a coffee.
Will be me, wife and two kids and have begun to look at schools - with that and rent, no longer a cheap place to from what I can see.
Cheers
I fly out tomorrow evening to Dubai for a final interview/meeting.
Been there a few times but never long enough to go round the different areas so will try and look into (I fly back Tuesday night to Sydney). Not sure on what they have in store by way of meetings etc but will post up if I have spare time if anyone fancies a coffee.
Will be me, wife and two kids and have begun to look at schools - with that and rent, no longer a cheap place to from what I can see.
Cheers
Wow, thanks for all the replies so far. I wasn't expecting such a great response so thanks to everyone who has taken time to post. Really useful information. Please keep it coming...
K50 DEL (Derek) I'll send an email via your profile at the weekend with our April dates and schedule. Would be great to meet for a chat if you have time when we're in Dubai.
K50 DEL (Derek) I'll send an email via your profile at the weekend with our April dates and schedule. Would be great to meet for a chat if you have time when we're in Dubai.
OP - Can I suggest you read this thread I started earlier this year? I am same boat as you me + wife (+ 2 cats). No kids.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Some good information in there, and a helpful bunch on the forum
.
I have done lots, and lots, and lots of analysis on cost of living (some in this thread, some outside). If you have any questions PM me and I will try and help.
I should know in next 2 weeks if the company can provide what I need. I rejected the initial offer - and am waiting on a counter offer. One thing I have noted is that (advertised) property rental prices have gone up by approx 10% since I started looking at Xmas to now.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Some good information in there, and a helpful bunch on the forum
. I have done lots, and lots, and lots of analysis on cost of living (some in this thread, some outside). If you have any questions PM me and I will try and help.
I should know in next 2 weeks if the company can provide what I need. I rejected the initial offer - and am waiting on a counter offer. One thing I have noted is that (advertised) property rental prices have gone up by approx 10% since I started looking at Xmas to now.
Fats25 said:
OP - Can I suggest you read this thread I started earlier this year? I am same boat as you me + wife (+ 2 cats). No kids.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Some good information in there, and a helpful bunch on the forum.
I have done lots, and lots, and lots of analysis on cost of living (some in this thread, some outside). If you have any questions PM me and I will try and help.
I should know in next 2 weeks if the company can provide what I need. I rejected the initial offer - and am waiting on a counter offer. One thing I have noted is that (advertised) property rental prices have gone up by approx 10% since I started looking at Xmas to now.
Thanks Fats25. I've sent you a PM.http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Some good information in there, and a helpful bunch on the forum
. I have done lots, and lots, and lots of analysis on cost of living (some in this thread, some outside). If you have any questions PM me and I will try and help.
I should know in next 2 weeks if the company can provide what I need. I rejected the initial offer - and am waiting on a counter offer. One thing I have noted is that (advertised) property rental prices have gone up by approx 10% since I started looking at Xmas to now.
I' in Al Barsha 2
Pros
Close to SZR (less than 2 minutes, Um Suqeim Rd (2 Minutes), Hessa St (2 Minutes), Mall of Emirates (2 Minutes)
little traffic
Walled in villa, kids can't get run over in the street
Own pool, can bathe nude
houses are very large (I have 4 bedrooms, and further rooms that could be full size double bedrooms that I use for a Gym {Treadmill, bike, huge machine}, Study with 3 desk workstations, kids playroom and a room for the dog - all full en-suite), there is a maids house with 2 double bedrooms, ensuite, lounge/diner and kitchen, plus a drivers house with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom - used for my man-sheds. Pool change rooms finish it off bringing the total bathrooms to 13. I can poop in a different toilet every day for almost 2 weeks
195k rent.
cons
DEWA. AED2k per month on average.
Some local neighbors have kids with quad bikes.
DEWA. Again.
Pros
Close to SZR (less than 2 minutes, Um Suqeim Rd (2 Minutes), Hessa St (2 Minutes), Mall of Emirates (2 Minutes)
little traffic
Walled in villa, kids can't get run over in the street
Own pool, can bathe nude
houses are very large (I have 4 bedrooms, and further rooms that could be full size double bedrooms that I use for a Gym {Treadmill, bike, huge machine}, Study with 3 desk workstations, kids playroom and a room for the dog - all full en-suite), there is a maids house with 2 double bedrooms, ensuite, lounge/diner and kitchen, plus a drivers house with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom - used for my man-sheds. Pool change rooms finish it off bringing the total bathrooms to 13. I can poop in a different toilet every day for almost 2 weeks
195k rent.
cons
DEWA. AED2k per month on average.
Some local neighbors have kids with quad bikes.
DEWA. Again.
oilydan said:
I' in Al Barsha 2
Pros
Close to SZR (less than 2 minutes, Um Suqeim Rd (2 Minutes), Hessa St (2 Minutes), Mall of Emirates (2 Minutes)
little traffic
Walled in villa, kids can't get run over in the street
Own pool, can bathe nude
houses are very large (I have 4 bedrooms, and further rooms that could be full size double bedrooms that I use for a Gym {Treadmill, bike, huge machine}, Study with 3 desk workstations, kids playroom and a room for the dog - all full en-suite), there is a maids house with 2 double bedrooms, ensuite, lounge/diner and kitchen, plus a drivers house with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom - used for my man-sheds. Pool change rooms finish it off bringing the total bathrooms to 13. I can poop in a different toilet every day for almost 2 weeks
195k rent.
cons
DEWA. AED2k per month on average.
Some local neighbors have kids with quad bikes.
DEWA. Again.
How the hell is your DEWA only 2k a month for all that.... mine's never lower than 2k in the winter and in the summer it will be double that and a bit more!Pros
Close to SZR (less than 2 minutes, Um Suqeim Rd (2 Minutes), Hessa St (2 Minutes), Mall of Emirates (2 Minutes)
little traffic
Walled in villa, kids can't get run over in the street
Own pool, can bathe nude
houses are very large (I have 4 bedrooms, and further rooms that could be full size double bedrooms that I use for a Gym {Treadmill, bike, huge machine}, Study with 3 desk workstations, kids playroom and a room for the dog - all full en-suite), there is a maids house with 2 double bedrooms, ensuite, lounge/diner and kitchen, plus a drivers house with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom - used for my man-sheds. Pool change rooms finish it off bringing the total bathrooms to 13. I can poop in a different toilet every day for almost 2 weeks
195k rent.
cons
DEWA. AED2k per month on average.
Some local neighbors have kids with quad bikes.
DEWA. Again.
Are you paying housing allowance fee or is that 2k entirely water & electric?
K50 DEL said:
oilydan said:
I' in Al Barsha 2
Pros
Close to SZR (less than 2 minutes, Um Suqeim Rd (2 Minutes), Hessa St (2 Minutes), Mall of Emirates (2 Minutes)
little traffic
Walled in villa, kids can't get run over in the street
Own pool, can bathe nude
houses are very large (I have 4 bedrooms, and further rooms that could be full size double bedrooms that I use for a Gym {Treadmill, bike, huge machine}, Study with 3 desk workstations, kids playroom and a room for the dog - all full en-suite), there is a maids house with 2 double bedrooms, ensuite, lounge/diner and kitchen, plus a drivers house with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom - used for my man-sheds. Pool change rooms finish it off bringing the total bathrooms to 13. I can poop in a different toilet every day for almost 2 weeks
195k rent.
cons
DEWA. AED2k per month on average.
Some local neighbors have kids with quad bikes.
DEWA. Again.
How the hell is your DEWA only 2k a month for all that.... mine's never lower than 2k in the winter and in the summer it will be double that and a bit more!Pros
Close to SZR (less than 2 minutes, Um Suqeim Rd (2 Minutes), Hessa St (2 Minutes), Mall of Emirates (2 Minutes)
little traffic
Walled in villa, kids can't get run over in the street
Own pool, can bathe nude
houses are very large (I have 4 bedrooms, and further rooms that could be full size double bedrooms that I use for a Gym {Treadmill, bike, huge machine}, Study with 3 desk workstations, kids playroom and a room for the dog - all full en-suite), there is a maids house with 2 double bedrooms, ensuite, lounge/diner and kitchen, plus a drivers house with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom - used for my man-sheds. Pool change rooms finish it off bringing the total bathrooms to 13. I can poop in a different toilet every day for almost 2 weeks
195k rent.
cons
DEWA. AED2k per month on average.
Some local neighbors have kids with quad bikes.
DEWA. Again.
Are you paying housing allowance fee or is that 2k entirely water & electric?
Seen bills of 6-8k in the summer but then mostly less than 1k in the winter with all A/C off.
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