Dubai
Dubai Rental Yields Explained: How to Hit 8% Net (2026 Numbers)
Real net rental yield math for Dubai property — service charges, DEWA, agent fees, void allowances, and the communities that actually clear 8%+ net.
March 6, 2026 · 7 min read
Dubai is one of the few global cities where genuine 7–8% net rental yield remains achievable — but only if you understand the cost stack and select the right asset.
The honest cost stack
Service charges, DEWA, chiller, internet, agent fees, maintenance, and a realistic 5–8% void allowance all eat into headline gross yield.
- Service charge: AED 12–25/sqft per year
- Annual maintenance reserve: 5% of rent
- Letting agent: 5% of annual rent
- Void allowance: 4 weeks per year
The communities that genuinely clear 8% net
Well-selected 1BR units in JVC, Business Bay tower stock with low service charges, and certain Discovery Gardens / Al Furjan layouts deliver real net yields above 8% with conservative assumptions.
Holiday-let uplift
A Dubai holiday-home licence and platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com can add 200–400 bps to net yield in Marina, JBR, Downtown, and Palm — particularly for 1–2BR units near beaches and Metro.
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Begin a ConversationFrequently Asked Questions
Are 10% rental yields in Dubai realistic?
Headline 10% gross is occasionally seen in low-spec studios, but realised net rarely exceeds 8.5% once service charges and voids are honestly modelled.
Is short-term rental allowed in Dubai?
Yes, with a DTCM holiday-home licence. Most freehold communities permit it; some buildings restrict via owners' association rules.