Based on Dubai Land Department open data for the 12 months to September 2026: JVC 6.2%, Dubai Hills 6.0%, Business Bay 5.7%, Dubai Marina 5.7%. Studios across the market average 7.1%, one-bedroom apartments 5.5%. Some smaller areas show higher yields — see the table below.
Gross yield by key district (12 months, DLD data)
| District | Gross yield | Median annual rent | Median price | Sales in 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) | 6.2% | — | AED 1.05m | 12,555 |
| Dubai Hills Estate | 6.0% | — | AED 2.16m | 2,411 |
| Business Bay | 5.7% | — | AED 2m | 7,134 |
| Dubai Marina | 5.7% | — | AED 2.02m | 2,398 |
| Dubai Creek Harbour | 5.7% | — | AED 2.62m | 4,005 |
| Downtown Dubai | 5.2% | — | AED 2.9m | 2,907 |
| Palm Jumeirah | 5.2% | — | AED 4.7m | 1,323 |
| Motor City | 7.8% | — | AED 1.15m | 4,086 |
| Arjan | 7.1% | — | AED 930k | 3,961 |
The district table mixes apartments, townhouses and villas. For comparing similar properties, use the bedroom-count table below.
Yield by bedroom type: all Dubai
| Type | Gross yield | Median price | Median annual rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 7.1% | AED 694k | AED 40k |
| 1 BR | 5.5% | AED 1.26m | AED 58k |
| 2 BR | 3.9% | AED 2.21m | AED 77k |
| 3 BR | 4.0% | AED 3.49m | AED 133k |
| 4 BR | 5.0% | AED 3.4m | AED 207k |
Gross yield: annual rent ÷ sale price × 100%. Does not include: management fee (8–12%), Service Charge, vacancy, 5% RERA tax on rent. Net yield is lower. Not an investment recommendation — real figures depend on the specific property.
Highest gross yield communities (12 months, DLD data)
| District | Gross yield | Median price | Tenancy contracts in 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Barari | 8.8% | AED 5.07m | 186 |
| Dubai Investment Park 2 | 8.6% | AED 600k | 2,257 |
| IMPZ | 8.6% | AED 940k | 6,161 |
| International City | 8.2% | AED 484k | 21,889 |
| Dubai Studio City | 8.1% | AED 718k | 1,923 |
| Dubai Land Residence Complex | 7.8% | AED 818k | 7,262 |
| Motor City | 7.8% | AED 1.15m | 1,828 |
| Living Legends | 7.7% | AED 1.17m | 327 |
12-month data, latest month: September 2026.
Questions and answers
What is the average rental yield in Dubai according to DLD data?
Based on Dubai Land Department open data for the 12 months to September 2026: gross yield depends on the district and bedroom count. Studios across the whole market average about 7.1%, one-bedroom apartments about 5.6%, two-bedroom about 3.9%. In key districts: JVC about 6.2%, Dubai Hills about 6.0%, Business Bay about 5.7%, Dubai Marina about 5.7%. In smaller areas (Motor City, Arjan) yields exceed 7%. These are gross yields; net yield is lower after costs.
Which Dubai district has the highest rental yield?
By DLD 12-month data, the highest gross yields are in Al Barari (8.8%), Dubai Investment Park 2 (8.6%), IMPZ (8.6%) and International City (8.2%). Among districts popular with international buyers: JVC (6.2%) and Dubai Hills Estate (6.0%). High yield often comes with lower resale liquidity.
Why is rental income in Dubai not taxed?
The UAE has no personal income tax, capital gains tax or property tax as such. Costs include: 5% RERA tax on rent (usually passed to the tenant), Service Charge for building maintenance, sometimes an agency fee. Tax obligations in the owner's home country still apply — consult an accountant.
What is the difference between gross and net yield?
Gross yield = annual rent ÷ purchase price × 100%. Net yield deducts: Service Charge (typically AED 15–25 per sq ft per year), management company (8–12% of rent), vacancy periods, minor repairs. On average, net yield is about 1.5–2.5 percentage points below gross.
How often is the yield data on this page updated?
Data comes from Dubai Land Department open aggregates and is updated monthly: after each new DLD month is published, the tables are recalculated automatically. Current period: 12 months, latest month September 2026.
Source and methodology
Source: Dubai Land Department open data aggregated by Dubai Data (datadubai.ae; dataset credit required by its CC BY 4.0 licence: Continental Club Property), licensed CC BY 4.0. Sales are all registered residential sales in the community for the month, off-plan included. Price per sq ft is the median for apartments, villas, hotel apartments and townhouses (land plots and whole buildings excluded), with outliers outside the 1st–99th percentiles removed; with fewer than 20 sales the median is not shown. Yields are gross (before costs, vacancy and fees). Year-on-year comparisons can be distorted by a changing mix of deals (for example the off-plan share in new towers) and by re-mapped communities in DLD data. Community boundaries follow DLD data and may differ from the everyday name of the area. Not an official DLD product; figures are frozen on the publication date. A district statistic, not the price of a specific property. CC BY 4.0 · DLD Open Data
Generated automatically from open data, with no forecasts. Not investment, tax or legal advice.
Related pages
Monthly DLD report · District comparison · Dubai Marina · JVC · Business Bay