In recent years, the Dubai rental market has been under the spotlight, characterized by rising rents and high occupancy rates. With continuous population growth and a slowdown in development projects, landlords are in a favorable position, enjoying the benefits of high demand.

In the past, various incentive measures such as rent-free months and grace periods were common in the Dubai rental market to attract tenants and improve occupancy rates. However, with changing market conditions, these incentive measures are gradually decreasing or disappearing. Now, landlords are more inclined to split the rent over multiple cheques, although this may result in tenants paying a higher total rental price.

Population growth is the main driving force behind the increasing demand in the Dubai rental market. According to data, the population of the Emirate of Dubai reached 3.65 million in 2023, an increase of 100,000 from the previous year. This is mainly due to the influx of foreign workers, professionals, and investors after the pandemic, further driving the prosperity of the housing rental market.

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The high occupancy rate in the Dubai market has relieved pressure on landlords, who no longer need to offer incentives such as a rent-free month or grace period to attract tenants. Instead, they are more willing to negotiate flexibly with tenants, such as splitting the rent over multiple cheques, to achieve higher total rental income. This trend is becoming increasingly common in the market.

Some real estate industry executives have stated that landlords are now more focused on maximizing overall investment returns rather than relying on traditional incentive measures. They are more inclined to improve the quality of properties and facilities to attract long-term stable tenants rather than simply offering discounts or free months.

With the ongoing situation of supply not meeting demand, tenants now have more opportunities to find better deals. Some landlords may offer incentive measures such as a 12-month rental payment plan, inclusive of utility bills, or a rent-free month to attract more tenants. However, whether to provide these incentive measures depends entirely on the landlord's decision.