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Apartments for rent in Downtown Dubai: what tenants really pay
A 1-bed in Downtown rents for AED 115,000 a year. This is the median of 2,444 new Ejari leases signed 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026. A studio is AED 70,000. A 2-bed is AED 180,000. Adverts ask AED 124,999; renewing tenants pay AED 115,000.
Updated 21 Oct 2026 · Source: Dubai Land Department Ejari leases and listing-site adverts · Method
Median 1-bed rent in Downtown Dubai: AED 115,000 a year (2,444 new leases, Ejari, 12 months to 15 Oct 2026).
Median studio rent in Downtown Dubai: AED 70,000 a year (417 new leases, Ejari, 12 months to 15 Oct 2026).
Median 2-bed rent in Downtown Dubai: AED 180,000 a year (2,000 new leases, Ejari, 12 months to 15 Oct 2026).
Signed rents, not adverts: medians of new Ejari leases (new tenant, a lease of six months to a year, one home). How we count.
“In Downtown, a new tenant pays 1% less than a renewing tenant for the same 1-bed. Renewing is not cheaper than moving. Moving in? Offer at the AED 130 a sq ft new tenants signed, not the AED 148 the adverts ask.”
Renting in Downtown? Read this first
What tenants here really pay, building by building, from Ejari leases. Then negotiate.
Rent in Downtown by bedrooms
AED a year, medians. Signed: Ejari leases starting 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026. Asking: adverts on 16 Oct 2026.
| Home | Signed, new lease | Renewal | Asking now | Typical size, sq ft | AED / sq ft (new) | Leases, 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 70,000 | 75,000 | 85,000 | 514 | 140 | 652 |
| 1 bed | 115,000 | 115,000 | 124,999 | 880 | 130 | 4,213 |
| 2 bed | 180,000 | 172,969 | 205,000 | 1,348 | 135 | 3,627 |
| 3 bed | 300,000 | 275,780 | 350,000 | 1,966 | 152 | 1,208 |
What the leases say about Downtown
9,702 Ejari leases 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026, and 5,804 adverts. Each finding has its chart below.
- New 1-bed rents fell 9.9% this year, like for like. Median new 1-bed: AED 120,000 in 2024, AED 120,000 in 2025, AED 110,000 in 2026 (1 Jan–15 Oct each year). Dubai, like for like: −5.4%. The table above (AED 115,000) covers the 12 months to 15 Oct 2026.
- Renewing a 1-bed is more expensive than moving. We compare a 1-bed in the same building with a size within 15%. A new tenant pays a median 1% less than a tenant who renews. That is about AED 1,571 a year on a typical renewal rent of AED 110,000.
- Adverts ask 14% over signed. A 1-bed advert asks AED 148 a sq ft; the 2,444 new 1-bed leases of 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026 were signed at AED 130. Offer at the signed figure.
- Cheapest 1-bed for its size: Bahwan Tower, AED 99 a sq ft, the median of its 24 1-bed leases (typical rent AED 105,000). The median 1-bed lease in Downtown is AED 129 a sq ft.
- Same size for less nearby: a new 1-bed in Al Murar, 10 km away, costs AED 40,000 for 753 sq ft. That is AED 75,000 a year less than in Downtown.
Finding
New 1-bed rents fell 9.9% this year, like for like in Downtown.
Median rent on new leases, 1 Jan–15 Oct of 2024, 2025 and 2026, by bedrooms
- Studio: −13.1% like for like; median AED 75,000 → 68,000 (1 Jan–15 Oct)
- 1 bed: −9.9% like for like; median AED 120,000 → 110,000 (1 Jan–15 Oct)
- 2 bed: −11.9% like for like; median AED 190,000 → 170,000 (1 Jan–15 Oct)
- 3 bed: −11.1% like for like; median AED 317,500 → 290,000 (1 Jan–15 Oct)
- All Dubai, 1-bed: −5.4% like for like
Same weeks each year so the season does not skew it. New leases only: renewals follow the market with a lag. The change compares the same building, bedrooms and size band in both years; the medians can move differently because the mix of homes changes.
Finding
In Downtown a new tenant pays 1% less than a renewing one for the same 1-bed.
New lease over renewal, same building, bedrooms and size band, 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026
- Studio: new tenants pay 8% less (AED 6,250 a year)
- 1 bed: new tenants pay 1% less (AED 1,571 a year)
- 2 bed: new tenants pay 2% less (AED 4,390 a year)
- 3 bed: new tenants pay 4% less (AED 11,837 a year)
Landlord asks more than new tenants pay? The new leases are your evidence. Renew or move, every community →
130 matched groups, 2,269 renewals. Each group is one named building with 5+ new and 5+ renewed leases. The bedroom table above mixes buildings, so it can point the other way.
Finding
Downtown adverts ask 14% more per sq ft than new 1-bed tenants signed in the last 12 months.
Asking rent per sq ft (adverts 16 Oct 2026) against new leases signed 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026
- Studio: asking AED 165, signed AED 140 a sq ft (+17.9%)
- 1 bed: asking AED 148, signed AED 130 a sq ft (+13.8%)
- 2 bed: asking AED 159, signed AED 135 a sq ft (+17.8%)
- 3 bed: asking AED 191, signed AED 152 a sq ft (+25.7%)
- For rent now: about 5,804 homes, against 2,008 new flat leases in 90 days
Per sq ft, so bigger adverts do not skew it. Adverts are one day's snapshot; duplicates removed by building, bedrooms, size and price, so the count is approximate.
Finding
The cheapest 1-beds for their size are in Bahwan Tower, Upper Crest and Rp Heights.
1 bed flats: median rent per sq ft by building, buildings with 10+ 1-bed leases, 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026
- Bahwan Tower: AED 105,000 for 1,057 sq ft
- Upper Crest: AED 90,585 for 901 sq ft
- Rp Heights: AED 112,697 for 1,081 sq ft
- Dearest per sq ft: The Address - The Blvd, AED 215 for a 1-bed
- Buildings compared: every building with 10+ 1-bed leases
Cheap per sq ft can mean an older building, fewer amenities or a worse view: none of these is in the lease record.
Every building in Downtown with 10+ leases
Median rent, AED a year, all signed leases 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026 (a bed figure needs 10+ leases). For rent now: adverts on 16 Oct 2026 matched to the building by name, duplicates removed, so it is approximate. 28% of leases here carry no building name and are not in this table.
| Building | Leases | Studio | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | AED / sq ft, all homes | For rent now | 1-bed asking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forte | 472 | 152 | 1 | – | ||||
| Grande | 447 | 170 | 295 | 130,000 | ||||
| Burj Views | 410 | 109 | 1 | – | ||||
| Act One | Act Two | 402 | 158 | 7 | – | ||||
| 29 Boulevard | 383 | 131 | – | – | ||||
| The Address Dubai Opera | 383 | 208 | 4 | – | ||||
| Burj Khalifa Towers | 344 | 167 | 164 | 190,000 | ||||
| Burj Royale | 333 | 177 | 212 | 110,000 | ||||
| Burj Vista | 331 | 141 | 1 | – | ||||
| Blvd Heights | 313 | 130 | – | – | ||||
| Dd Stand Point | 283 | 131 | – | – | ||||
| Burj Crown | 232 | 155 | 80 | 110,000 | ||||
| Dd Boulevard Central | 226 | 128 | – | – | ||||
| Elite Downtown Residence | 226 | 130 | 14 | – | ||||
| Bellevue Towers | 187 | 131 | 1 | – | ||||
| Boulevard Point | 184 | 155 | 104 | 142,500 | ||||
| Burj Al Nujoom | 179 | 115 | 50 | 85,500 | ||||
| Upper Crest | 174 | 110 | 87 | 98,000 | ||||
| Rp Heights | 174 | 101 | 27 | 120,000 | ||||
| Claren 1 | 168 | 128 | 20 | 100,000 | ||||
| Imperial Avenue | 161 | 145 | 134 | 145,000 | ||||
| Blvd Crescent | 145 | 127 | 1 | – | ||||
| The Signature | 120 | 108 | – | – | ||||
| Opera Grand | 103 | 156 | 71 | – | ||||
| The Dubai Mall | 97 | 194 | – | – | ||||
| Vida Dubai Mall | 90 | 177 | 4 | – | ||||
| Dt 1 | 64 | 139 | – | – | ||||
| Bahwan Tower | 63 | 100 | – | – | ||||
| The Distinction | 61 | 116 | – | – | ||||
| The Address - The Blvd | 60 | 216 | – | – | ||||
| Mada Residences Tower | 58 | 101 | – | – | ||||
| Mon Reve | 49 | 101 | 38 | – | ||||
| Vida Residence Downtown Dubai | 30 | 186 | – | – |
Cheaper areas near Downtown, same size of home
Communities within 10 km (centre to centre) where the median new lease is lower and the median size within 15% of Downtown's. New leases 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026, 30+ of the home type. Every community on the heat map →
| Community | Home | Median new lease | Median sq ft | Km away | AED a year less than Downtown | New leases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Raffa | Studio | 40,600 | 441 | 7 | 29,400 | 329 |
| Al Hudaiba | Studio | 55,000 | 495 | 5 | 15,000 | 68 |
| Trade Center Second (DIFC, One Central) | Studio | 65,000 | 548 | 3 | 5,000 | 37 |
| Business Bay | Studio | 65,000 | 453 | 1 | 5,000 | 3,036 |
| Al Murar | 1 bed | 40,000 | 753 | 10 | 75,000 | 1,176 |
| Al Qouz Third | 1 bed | 47,872 | 898 | 5 | 67,128 | 92 |
| Al Muteena | 1 bed | 54,849 | 754 | 10 | 60,151 | 683 |
| Al Karama | 1 bed | 62,999 | 795 | 6 | 52,001 | 708 |
| Al Qouz Industrial Second | 2 bed | 66,000 | 1,201 | 7 | 114,000 | 600 |
| Al Muteena | 2 bed | 70,000 | 1,109 | 10 | 110,000 | 306 |
| Al Souq Al Kabeer | 2 bed | 70,000 | 1,125 | 8 | 110,000 | 276 |
| Al Karama | 2 bed | 76,072 | 1,150 | 6 | 103,928 | 1,165 |
Rent in this area by home and by building
Studios1-bed2-bed3-bedWhere to negotiate
29 Boulevard
Act One | Act Two
Bahwan Tower
Bellevue Towers
Blvd Crescent
Blvd Heights
Boulevard Point
Burj Al Nujoom
Burj Crown
Burj Khalifa Towers
Burj Royale
Burj Views
Burj Vista
Claren 1
Dd Boulevard Central
Dd Stand Point
Dt 1
Elite Downtown Residence
Forte
Grande
Imperial Avenue
Mada Residences Tower
Mon Reve
Opera Grand
Rp Heights
The Address - The Blvd
The Address Dubai Opera
The Distinction
The Dubai Mall
The Signature
Upper Crest
Vida Dubai Mall
Buying in Downtown Dubai? Sale prices, every tower, resale and off-plan: Downtown Dubai on BUY DUBAI →
Commercial rent in Downtown
Questions
What is the average rent in Downtown?
Median rent a year for a new lease in Downtown: studio AED 70,000, 1-bed AED 115,000, 2-bed AED 180,000, 3-bed AED 300,000. This is from 5,525 new Ejari leases, 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026.
How much is a studio in Downtown?
A new studio lease costs AED 70,000 a year (AED 5,833 a month). This is the median of 417 new leases, 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026. Renewing tenants pay AED 75,000.
How much is a 1-bed in Downtown?
A new 1-bed lease costs AED 115,000 a year (AED 9,583 a month). This is the median of 2,444 new leases, 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026. Renewing tenants pay AED 115,000.
How much is a 2-bed in Downtown?
A new 2-bed lease costs AED 180,000 a year (AED 15,000 a month). This is the median of 2,000 new leases, 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026. Renewing tenants pay AED 172,969.
Which is the cheapest building in Downtown?
For a 1-bed, it is Bahwan Tower: AED 99 a sq ft. This is the median of 24 leases, 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026. The typical rent is AED 105,000. Next is Upper Crest at AED 103.
Is rent going up in Downtown?
New 1-bed leases, like for like (same building, bedrooms and size band), 1 Jan–15 Oct: −9.9% on 2025. Dubai: −5.4%. The median new 1-bed was AED 120,000 in 2025 and AED 110,000 in 2026.
Do landlords in Downtown accept less than the advert?
Yes. Signed rents are below adverts. A 1-bed advert asks AED 148 a sq ft. New leases signed 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026 paid AED 130 a sq ft. Adverts ask 14% more.
How we worked it out, and the limits
Updated 21 Oct 2026. Leases to 15 Oct 2026; adverts of 16 Oct 2026.
Leases. Source: Dubai Land Department Ejari rent contracts. We use homes only, one unit for each contract, starting 16 Oct 2025–15 Oct 2026. There are 9,702 in Downtown Dubai, and 5,525 of them are new. Bedrooms come from the Ejari unit type. "3 bed" means 3 or more. Every rent is a median: half the leases are above it.
New and renewal. "New" is a new tenant or a new contract. "Renewal" is the same contract, renewed. Renewals are often registered weeks late. Thus the latest month shows too few renewals. Like for like means the same building, the same bedrooms and a size band 15% wide. Leases with no building name are left out of this test. A group needs 5 or more of each: new leases and renewals.
Adverts. We use active yearly rent adverts from listing sites on 16 Oct 2026. We put each advert in Downtown Dubai by the building or community name in the advert. There are 5,804 adverts after we remove repeats. A repeat has the same building, bedrooms, size and price. One home can still show more than once. Thus "for rent now" is approximate. Adverts are matched to a building by name.
Not used. The Ejari nearest-metro field names a station but no distance, so we do not compare metro and non-metro homes here. Floor, view, parking and furnishing are not in the lease record.
The full method, and twenty Dubai-wide comparisons: What the leases say →. Checking a rent rise? Rent increase calculator →
Sale prices, resale and off-plan, tower facts and developer photos: BUY DUBAI, our sister site for buyers. Rents: Dubai Land Department Ejari leases.