Rental Yield in Dubai Marina – LTR vs STR FAQ

1BR rental: AED 65,000/year (~AED 5,416.667/month). 2BR rental: AED 95,000/year (~AED 7,916.667/month). Gross yield (1BR): 5.4%. Net yield (after service charge, DEWA, insurance): ~2.9%.

Profile: Expat professionals, families, corporate relocations. Lease term: 12 months (UAE standard). Tenant quality: Generally stable, employed expats. Vacancy rate: 1–3 months/year typical (between tenants). Demand: Strong; properties rent within 2–4 weeks if priced right.

Service charge: AED 12–25/sqft/year. DEWA: AED 400–500/month. Insurance: AED 1,000–2,000/year. Maintenance: AED 500–1,500/year. Total annual cost: ~AED 10K–15K on a AED 1.2M 1BR. Management fee (if using agent): 5% of rent. Net yield after all costs: 1.9%–3.4%.

1BR nightly rate: AED 450. 2BR nightly rate: AED 650. Occupancy rate: 78%. Annual revenue (1BR): AED 128,115. Gross yield: 9.1%. Net yield (after platform fees, DET, cleaning, management): ~6.1%.

STR is legal in Dubai Marina. Register with DET (Dubai eConciege & Tourism Board) for license. Unlicensed STR carries penalties. License cost: AED 500–1,500/year. Property should be furnished for STR; unfurnished typically for LTR only.

Airbnb platform fee: 12%. Management fee (if outsourced): 18%. DET tourism fee: AED 20/night. Cleaning per stay: AED 100. Service charge, DEWA, insurance: same as LTR. Total cost: 35–45% of gross STR revenue typical. Net margin after all costs: 6.1%–7.1%.

DET (tourism fee): AED 20/night per booking. DET license (annual): AED 500–1,500. Municipality fee: AED 200–500/year. Cleaning (STR): AED 100/stay. Service charge (LTR & STR): AED 12–25/sqft/year. Total overhead: AED 200–500/month baseline.

Management fee: 18% of gross revenue typical. Pros (outsourced): Hands-off, legal compliance, guest vetting, maintenance. Cons: Lower net yield. DIY: Higher yield but requires active management, guest communication, cleaning coordination, marketing. Most investors outsource STR; many self-manage single units.

LTR suits: Passive investors, stable cash flow preference, lower maintenance. Yield: ~2.4% net. STR suits: Active investors, risk tolerance for vacancy, market-responsive pricing. Yield: ~6.1% net if 6.1 > (ltrYield - 3).toFixed(1) ? "higher" : "lower"}. Break-even: STR wins; occupancy rate is strong here.

Factors: Capital (STR needs furnished setup +AED 50K–100K). Time (STR = active, LTR = passive). Risk tolerance (STR vacancy vs. LTR tenant issues). Property condition (new/luxury better for STR). Exit strategy (LTR easier resale; STR investors buy for yield). Recommendation: Start LTR if unsure; convert to STR later if desired. Market absorbs both; choose what fits your lifestyle and capital.