Important things you should know before moving to Dubai - THE RENT

*This section is after you get your Emirates ID. I talked a little bit about it here*

One of the biggest struggles of a newbie #movingtoDubai is to rent a place for the first year. It is far from being an easy job and on top of it you usually realize you have to pay the full year upfront after you move in, generating chaos and a financial impact that is hard to recover from. As many other things about the UAE, it is what it is and we should learn how to live with it.?

If you are coming with a Labor Visa, the company offering you the job may include in the benefits expat package a loan for this first year. I’ve seen this happening with different firms, but it is not on a playbook, so it is important to check. When they do it, they usually give you a loan of 15% to 30% of your yearly compensation package and you pay them back on monthly installments. I talked to some colleagues from global companies who have this benefit every year and the loan covers the whole rent. When I came, I had the benefit of a % on the loan, that helped me a lot. Although I’ve seen different models, as an #expatinDubai it is always better to prepare yourself for the worst case scenario.?

The rent prices are facing a high spike since the end (alhamdulillah) of COVID-19, so you should not base your search on the rent prices of those who are here since before this time. If you do it, you’ll be frustrated as fast as the Burj Khalifa’s lifts (a.k.a the fastest in the world).?

There are different ways of looking for an apartment, but the first thing you should do is to find out which area you want to live (Business Bay, Downtown, JLT, Dubai Marina, Barsha Heights, Burj Dubai, DIFC, etc etc etc). In this first year I would strongly recommend choosing something close to work because this is the year you are going to explore the city and find out about what you like, dislike, hate and tolerate. Also, if you want to be close to your people - nationality wise - you should research first. As a Brazilian I know that lots of my kind are in Dubai Marina. Dubai is not a great city for walkers, so the better located, the easier your life is going to be and the cheaper too.?

You then can start looking around the proper property websites (Property Finder, Dubizzle, Bayut, etc). Unfortunately there are a lot of fake listings on those, but you will have to go through it, if the price is too different than average, question it. When you like a unit you can send a message directly through the app on WhatsApp and the response is usually quick.?Once you find your forever-home-for-the-first-year you can start negotiating the payment plan.?

They usually ask from 2 to 4 cheques (yes, I know, paper cheques are hard to swallow). A few of them offer 12 payments, but it is very hard to find. Usually they ask you to give the biggest amount in the first check and spread the rest throughout the year. I have friends who rent a place with all bills included, with no notice period and in monthly payments. It’s possible but way more pricey that average.?

Important note: If the payment plan is in 2 to x cheques, you don’t have to pay them on sequential installments, like I did because I did not know that (in Brazil it does not work like this and nobody told me that). You can pay spread over the year, like the first cheque in January and the second one in April (if it’s in 4 installments) and so on. If you don’t request it, they will not tell you that. Remember, here is every man for himself.?

You will find apartments/villas furnished, unfurnished, in very good shape, in bad shape, bright, dark…that is why it is important to visit as many as possible. I know it is stressful and exhausting but you’ll be in this place for at least one whole year so it is worth trying your best.?

Another note, not every apartment is the same related to bills. Some buildings are chiller free, meaning that you don’t have to pay for AC.?

In the first payment you have to consider other variables as well like the Agents fee, the deposit (that you’ll get it back when you leave), the AC and DEWA (Electric and water bills) activation (you’ll also get it back) and every small something you’ll have to pay, so plan your first payment with some additional expenses. #Dubaicostofliving is far from cheap, unfortunately.?

Once you have a glimpse of Dubai’s culture, Emirates ID and a roof over your head, you can start exploring the wonders of the UAE.?