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The current market situation means that for Dubai renters there has rarely been a more opportune time to move onward and upward. Appello Real Estate offers some useful hacks for bagging an enviable relocation.
Expand Your Search
The big real estate portals in the UAE are great for browsing property listings – and they do offer a solid starting point – but savvy renters should be reaching out to individual property firms and developing a relationship. "If tenants come to us directly with a requirement, we tend to have them more clearly on our radar if a hot deal suddenly lands on our desk," explains Naval Vohra, CEO of Appello Real Estate. "This is an unusual time with all sorts of unexpected transactions taking place and there's no-one with an ear closer to the ground than an experienced Dubai broker."
Think Bigger
Literally! If working from home during the Covid-19 situation has taught us anything it's the value of space. So, whether you want to trade up from a one-bedroom apartment to a two-bedroom – or finally make the leap from apartment to villa (and garden) – now could be the time. The Dubai rental market is still down and there is generally a more flexible attitude from landlords. "One top tip is to look for deals in your current building or community where you can easily scale-up without much moving hassle and with only a slight increase in price," said Vohra. "You may be surprised what's available for those who inquire."
Look Broader
If you're serious about grabbing a great deal, renters should also look beyond the most obvious areas. For example, family-friendly Silicon Oasis has seen a significant drop in rental prices with one-bedrooms available at a snip for Dh38,000 – right up to a four-bedroom villa for an appealing Dh137,000. Other lower profile areas worth checking out for steals include Al Furjan, Al Khail Heights, and Dubai South (Dubai World Central).
Dig Deeper
If you've got more time on your hands, why not do some armchair investigation? "If I was advising someone on finding an amazing new Dubai rental, I'd tell them to post questions on relevant Facebook groups and generally find out what the lowdown is on a certain community," said Vohra. "The more online research you can do and the more genuine information from people on the ground the better your chance of achieving a great relocation. You'd be amazed what suggestions (and cautions) you can pick up from blogs, news articles, and community groups – treat the exercise as you would a work project."
Use an Area Focused Broker
Working with a real estate broker who is well experienced in the area you fancy might seem obvious, yet many tenants don't take it into consideration. "These days, there is a huge trend shift to renters looking for an 'experience' from their community rather than just finding a nice new home," explained Vohra. "Millennials want great entertainment spaces, events, interesting retail and so on – that's why finding a broker who truly understands the areas they work in will steer you right. If someone tells you they are experts in every part of Dubai, spoiler alert: they're not."
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