What's the cheapest area for a studio in Dubai in 2026?

Deira and Bur Dubai have the lowest entry-level studio rents (AED 35,000–55,000). JVC, Discovery Gardens, and Dubai Sports City are mid-range options (AED 45,000–65,000).

What's the security deposit on a furnished studio?

10% of annual rent. For an AED 65,000/year furnished studio, that's AED 6,500. For unfurnished, it would be AED 3,250 (5%).

Can I get a 1-cheque deal on a Dubai studio?

Often yes, especially below AED 70,000 annual rent. Many landlords offer a 5–10% rent reduction for full-year-upfront payment.

Is the DLD tenancy contract format different for studios?

No. The same DLD Unified Tenancy Contract is used for studios, 1BR, 2BR, villas, and commercial. Property Type field is set to 'Apartment' for studios.

What should be in the inventory list for a furnished studio?

Every furniture item, every appliance, soft goods (bedsheets, towels) if included, kitchenware. Verify each item at handover and have both parties sign.

Are utilities included in studio rent?

Almost never for unfurnished. Sometimes internet is included on furnished studios. DEWA, chiller, and gas are typically tenant-paid. Clarify in writing.

Studio Apartment Tenancy Contract Dubai: Template + Rent Guide

Studios are the most rented property type in Dubai — fast turnover, lower commitments, and the city's biggest stock of short-distance-to-amenity units. Here's everything specific to a studio tenancy contract: what's different, what to negotiate, and what current rents look like by area.

Approximate 2026 Studio Rents by Area

Deira / Bur Dubai: AED 35,000 – 55,000
JVC / Dubai Sports City / Discovery Gardens: AED 45,000 – 65,000
Business Bay: AED 65,000 – 95,000
Dubai Marina: AED 65,000 – 95,000
Downtown Dubai: AED 90,000 – 130,000

What's Specific to a Studio Tenancy Contract

The DLD Unified Tenancy Contract is the same format. But a few studio-specific things to attend to:

Furnished vs unfurnished is more impactful — many studios are sold as furnished or semi-furnished
Deposit cap: 5% (unfurnished) or 10% (furnished). On a AED 55k studio that's AED 2,750 vs 5,500.
Many studios are studio-with-balcony — if balcony has separate AC, clarify chiller responsibility
Smaller utility bills, but proportionally similar service-charge/parking arrangements
Common for landlords to accept 1 or 2 cheques on lower-rent studios

Furnished Studio: What's in the Inventory

If you're renting a furnished studio, the contract's Additional Terms section should list every furniture and appliance item. Standard inventory typically includes:

Bed (single, queen, or king) + mattress
Sofa or daybed
Dining table and chairs
Wardrobe / built-in storage
Refrigerator, microwave, oven, washing machine
TV and TV stand
Bedsheets, pillows, towels (sometimes excluded)
Cookware and utensils (sometimes excluded)

Verify each item physically at handover and have the landlord sign the inventory list. Missing items or damages discovered later become deductions from your deposit.

Studio-Specific Negotiation Levers

Chiller / cooling fees — push for landlord to cover (small dollar amounts but matter on a studio)
Internet — sometimes included in rent for furnished studios; clarify
DEWA security deposit refund logistics — easier to overlook on smaller studios
Visitor parking access — many studio buildings have limited resident parking
Single-cheque rent reduction — common on studios under AED 70k

Generating Your Studio Contract

Generation flow is identical to any other apartment:

Title deed + Emirates IDs + DEWA bill

Same documents as any apartment.

Upload to generator

AI auto-fills the Property Type as 'Apartment' (DLD doesn't have 'Studio' as a separate type) — make sure the property number / unit number matches your studio.

Mark furnished / unfurnished correctly

Affects deposit calculation. Generator handles it automatically once you indicate which.

Add inventory list to Additional Terms

If furnished, list every item. Use one of the 8 Additional Terms slots for the inventory.

If you're new to Dubai renting, see our expat renting guide for the full first-time process.

Generate Your Studio Tenancy Contract Free →