02/08/2026
Why some of DubaiтАЩs smartest investors are quietly moving out of residential apartments and into commercial office space
Everyone talks about the тАЬ7% rental yieldтАЭ on Dubai apartments. Almost nobody talks about whatтАЩs left after you factor in tenant turnover every year, repainting between leases, vacancy periods, and steadily rising service charges.
Once you account for all of that, the real number is usually closer to 5.5%.
Now compare that to Grade-A commercial office space in DubaiтАЩs growing business districts:
тЖТ Corporate tenants typically sign 3тАУ5 year leases, so your income is far more predictable than annual residential turnover
тЖТ Tenants usually cover their own fit-out costs, meaning less capital out of your pocket
тЖТ Net rental yields commonly run between 8.5% and 11%
тЖТ Businesses are generally more reliable tenants, since maintaining their office space matters directly to running their operations
The bigger picture is supply and demand. Dubai has delivered thousands of new residential units in recent years, but premium office space hasnтАЩt kept pace with the number of new businesses setting up in the city. That imbalance is pushing occupancy and rental growth higher for well-located commercial assets.
IтАЩve put together a short briefing covering three commercial investment opportunities in Dubai currently targeting yields above 9%.
Comment тАЬOFFICEтАЭ below and IтАЩll send it over to you.
(This is general market commentary, not financial advice тАФ always do your own due diligence before investing.)
