Updated September 2026
Gross rental yields in Dubai run roughly 6% to 11% depending on the area. That is two to three times what the same money buys you in London or New York, where 3% is a good day. The highest headline yields sit in newer waterfront projects and across Ras Al Khaimah. The established prime areas trade some of that yield away for liquidity and price stability. The number that matters is the one you keep after service charges, so read the gross figures below as a starting point, not a promise.
| Area | Avg price/sqft | Gross yield |
|---|---|---|
| Rashid Yachts & Marina | AED 2,750 | ~11% |
| RAK Central (Ras Al Khaimah) | AED 2,400 | ~9% |
| Dubai Hills Estate | AED 2,450 | ~8% |
| Al Marjan Island (RAK) | AED 2,750 | ~8% |
| Yas Island (Abu Dhabi) | AED 2,300 | ~8% |
| Mina Al Arab (RAK) | AED 1,800 | ~8% |
| Al Hamra Village (RAK) | AED 1,300 | ~8% |
| Business Bay | AED 2,700 | ~7.2% |
| DIFC | AED 3,500 | ~7% |
| Dubai Design District (d3) | AED 3,290 | ~7% |
| Saadiyat Island (Abu Dhabi) | AED 3,100 | ~6.5% |
| Dubai Marina | AED 2,060 | ~6% |
| Dubai Creek Harbour | AED 2,425 | ~6% |
Why are Dubai yields higher than London or New York?
Two reasons. There is no annual property tax and no tax on rental income, so more of the rent stays with you. And rents are high relative to purchase prices, partly because a large share of residents rent rather than buy, and leases are usually paid a year in advance. High demand, prices that have not run as far ahead of rents as they have in older global cities, and no tax drag. That is the whole story.
Is a higher yield always the better investment?
No, and this is where people get caught. A headline 11% often reflects early off-plan pricing measured against a projected rent that has not been tested by a real tenant yet. Newer and further-out areas pay you more yield precisely because they carry more risk: thinner resale demand, more supply coming, less rental history. A 6% yield in a fully built, liquid area like Dubai Marina can be the safer number because you can actually sell when you want to.
Match the yield to what you need. Income now, or a place you can exit cleanly later. They are rarely the same building.
Gross yield vs net yield: what you actually keep
Gross yield is annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield is what is left after service charges, and in Dubai those are charged per square foot and vary a lot by building, roughly AED 10 to AED 30+ per sqft a year. On a high-service tower with a pool, gym and concierge, service charges can take a full percentage point or more off the gross. Always ask for the current service charge on the specific building before you trust a yield number.
Want the current yield and service charge on a specific building or area? Ask us and we will send the real numbers, browse the area guides, or price them against the current off-plan properties in Dubai.