Fustany Team 
1/1/20, 12:00 AM 
Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi are exciting places to live, but would you be more at home in an apartment or a villa? If you’re looking to rent in one of these locations, it’s worth getting under the skin of each city to find out which you would feel most at home in and which type of accommodation would best suit your needs.
The case for apartment living
As the UAE’s two leading cities, both Dubai and Abu Dhabi are packed with apartment buildings, with more coming online all the time. Dubai alone is projected to see its supply of property units increase by 50,000 in 2020. That means a vast degree of choice for stylish renters looking to get the best out of fashionable city living.
So, why choose an apartment? Well, if you want to be at the heart of the action and immerse yourself in the shopping, dining and nightlife experiences that these two great cities offer, then an apartment is the obvious choice. The more centrally located you are, the more apartments there are available. Space is at a premium in central areas, so apartments abound.
Source: Pixabay
According to property portal Bayut, apartment prices range from AED 16,000 per year (for a small studio) to AED 800,000 per year in Dubai (for a four-bedroom/five-bathroom apartment in the Le Reve Tower at Dubai Marina, with private jacuzzi and shared pool and fitness center). In Abu Dhabi, rental prices start at AED 14,000 per year for a studio, rising to AED 400,000 per year for a four-bedroom/five-bathroom apartment with a huge terrace and views of the beach.
Living centrally provides you with the ultimate urban convenience, from whizzing around the city on public transport to being in the perfect spot to enjoy cultural events. However, the intensity of life at the heart of a city is not for everyone.
The appeal of the villa lifestyle
Do you envisage your Dubai or Abu Dhabi lifestyle in a more spacious home, with a private garden that’s perfect for outdoor dining in the sunshine year-round? If so, a villa could be the perfect choice. Villas tend to offer more space than apartments, meaning you can spread out and relax.
Source: Pixabay
Given their larger footprint, villas to be further away from central areas, offering a more peaceful lifestyle away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. They are a great choice for families with young children, as well as for those wanting to be near everything that the city offers, yet not have it all on their doorstep.
Bayut’s villa listings in Dubai range from a rent of AED 29,999 to AED 2,200,000 per year (you get your own golf course included for this amount – not something that’s available with a city-center apartment!). In Abu Dhabi, villa rental prices range from AED 45,000 to AED 1,500,000 per year.
The agony of choice
Are you seeking a fashionable existence as a stylish urbanite or a life of sophisticated charms in the suburbs? Each has its own delights, and each will impact which type of property – apartment or villa – is best suited to your life in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
