When deciding between furnished and unfurnished properties, you have to take into account your budget and how soon you want to start using the unit. Furnished residences are more expensive, however they can be rented out immediately and you won’t need to spend extra time on arrangements and hiring specialists. Unfurnished units provide more flexibility with interior design to appeal to potential tenants. However, buying such property involves resolving an array of issues, keeping you from renting it out immediately.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Buying Furnished Property

Furnished properties in Dubai are sold either with a standard renovation and interior or in line with the future owner’s preferences. Besides key pieces of furniture, such units include white goods and some accessories, such as lamps, mirrors, and cushions. The seller may also provide basic crockery, cutlery, glassware, and cooking equipment. Below we have compiled a short list of advantages and disadvantages of furnished property to help you understand what’s awaiting you: NBD! If you buy a furnished serviced property from a developer, the service charge is rather high, ranging from AED 30 (USD 8) up to AED 47 (USD 13) per sq. ft. In the event you acquire a property directly from the seller who furnished it on their own, the service charge will be the same as unfurnished units. In Dubai, it averages about AED 10–15 (USD 3–4) per sq. ft.

Possible Pitfalls

Such units may come with low-quality or damaged furniture, which will create many troubles for you in the future. Thus, it is recommended to take extra caution if you buy a resale unit which has already been furnished. If the furnishings are already 4-5 years old, then it would be better to hire a snagging specialist before concluding the transaction. The expert in this area will identify any defects that are already present or are likely to occur. This way, you will know if the investment is worth the risk and will be prepared for any possible issues.

Pros and Cons of Unfurnished Property

We have compiled a list of advantages and disadvantages of unfurnished real estate, which can be found below.

Important Aspects to Consider

If you don’t want to handle the furnishing process on your own or you are not physically present in the emirate, it would be a good idea to hire a specialist who will do that for you. The expert will take into consideration the layouts and the location of the property to help you increase its value. After taking the measurements of your apartment, the specialist will source suitable furniture directly from trusted manufacturers. They will then supervise the delivery and assembly of the chosen pieces. If needed, furnishing specialists can also assist with acquisition of cookware, linens, cleaning products and so on. In Metropolitan Premium Properties, this type of service costs 15% of the value of the furniture, curtains, decor, cleaning, and unpacking.

Expected Costs

To help you get acquainted with the costs to furnish a 1-bedroom apartment, we have calculated the expenses in the table below. Please note that the prices are taken from the Dragon Mart catalogue, which is one of the most popular shopping centres for furniture in the emirate. It has free delivery on orders worth AED 49 (USD 13) and above and assembly is free. Let’s see an example of the cost of furnishing a 1-bedroom apartment of 800 sq. ft in JBR, as of May 2023: A similar fully-furnished apartment of 830 sq. ft in JBR costs about AED 1,200,000 (USD 327,000). The price difference is AED 75,000 (USD 20,000).

Popular Developments

As Dubai’s real estate market is booming, there are plenty of lucrative options of both ready furnished and unfurnished residences available. Below you can check out the most popular releases suitable for short-term rentals, including Residence 110 and UPSIDE, to name a few.

Furnished Residences

<ol><li><strong>UPSIDE </strong>by SRG Holding offers studios and 1-bedroom apartments of 399 sq. ft–652 sq. ft. The residences are equipped with premium SMEG appliances and Carlo Frattini &amp; Geberit sanitary ware. The 31-storey complex boasts a convenient location in Business Bay. Among amenities onsite it is worth noting the outdoor patios, private meeting rooms, gym and more. As of Q1 2023, the initial cost for a 1-bedroom unit here is AED 1.6M (USD 436K).</li></ol>

<ol start="2"><li><strong>Mansio at Th8</strong> on Palm Jumeirah has just 57 serviced 1–3 bedroom apartments of 845 sq. ft to 2,626 sq. ft. The development by IFA Hotels &amp; Resorts is managed by Accor, which is the largest hospitality company in Europe. Among the key features of the properties are marble floor finishes, fully-fitted closets and cabinetry, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows. Amenities include swimming pools, a basketball court and a meeting room, to name a few. To find out property prices, please write us a message.</li></ol>

<ol start="3"><li><strong>Elite DownTown Residence</strong> is a premium 30-storey development by Triplanet Range Developments Company LLC in Downtown Dubai. Here you can purchase studios and 1–3 bedroom apartments of 419 sq. ft to 1,614 sq. ft. The residences boast stunning views of the Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Fountain and the Dubai Canal. Occupants will be granted access to an outdoor jacuzzi, a children’s pool, a wellness club and more. As of 2022, 1-bedroom apartments in Elite DownTown Residence are priced at a minimum of AED 1,736,000 (USD 473,000).</li></ol>

Unfurnished Residences

<ol><li><strong>Residence 110 </strong>by Select Group is a 20-storey complex by Select Group in Business Bay. There are studios and 1–3 bedroom apartments, in addition to a penthouse studio available for acquisition. The area of the units ranges from 1,018 sq. ft to 2,990 sq. ft. Amenities of Residence 110 encompass a 24/7 gym, an outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers and changing rooms. The starting price for a 1-bedroom property in Residence 110 is AED 1,818,000 (USD 495,000), as of Q1 2023.</li></ol>

<ol start="2"><li><strong>Marina Arcade</strong> by Mada’in Properties is a 47-storey beachfront complex in <a href="https://metropolitan.realestate/dubai-marina/">Dubai Marina</a>. In total, it houses 285 residences, such as 1–4 bedroom apartments, 1-bedroom lofts, signature units and 3-bedroom duplexes of 1,075 sq. ft to 5,467 sq. ft. As of 2022, the starting price for a 1-bedroom apartment in Marina Arcade amounts to AED 1,592,000 (USD 433,000). The tower houses a 6,000-sq.-ft gym, sky gardens and shaded areas, among other amenities.</li></ol>

<ol start="3"><li><strong>Meera Tower</strong> in Al Habtoor City is a high-end 52-storey project by Al Habtoor Group. Here you can buy 1-bedroom lofts, 1-4 bedroom apartments, and 5-7 bedroom penthouses. Almost all units will boast balconies, which will overlook the Dubai Water Canal. The size of the properties stands at 858 sq. ft–19,543 sq. ft. Residents have a leisure deck, a gym, a clubhouse, a yoga studio and much more at their full disposal. As of 2022, the minimum price tag of a 1-bedroom unit in Meera Tower is AED 1.76M (USD 476K).</li></ol>

Conclusion

The main difference between furnished and unfurnished apartments is the financial aspect. When choosing a furnished property from a developer, you will have furniture of premium quality, which is not easy to source on your own at the same price. Unfurnished residences provide you with the opportunity to make the design stand out and attract more tenants. In general, it all depends on whether you have time to resolve arrangement issues or want to rent out your property immediately.