A typical professionally run 1-bed grossed between AED 82,000 (Al Barsha South) and AED 150,000 (Downtown Dubai) in the 12 months to September 2026, before platform commission, cleaning, utilities and management fees. Median figures for seven areas and five segments are below. Get a free estimate for your own unit.
How to read this page
Every figure here is gross annual revenue or an average from AirDNA listing data. "Gross" means before platform commission, cleaning, utilities, service charges and the management fee. Three measures appear:
- Median (p50): half of the units in the segment earned more and half earned less. This is the figure to use for "a typical unit".
- Upper quartile (p75): the top quarter of units earned at least this much.
- Average nightly rate and occupancy: averages across the segment. The mean annual revenue is pulled up by top performers, so we do not use it as the headline.
The professional segment means listings rated 4.5 or above and available 271-365 days a year. The "all listings" and "all" bedroom segments include part-time and weak listings, which is why their medians are much lower. The difference shows how much operation quality matters. It does not mean every owner can reach the professional figure.
City context
In the 12 months to August 2026 (AirDNA city overview), Dubai had about 18,900 active listings, average occupancy of about 69 %, an average daily rate of about AED 660 and average annual revenue of about AED 137,000 per listing. The number of listings fell sharply during 2026, and the higher occupancy came mainly from less supply, not more demand. Our period also includes the 2026 downturn, when summer rates fell sharply. We do not forecast.
All zones and segments
| Area | Segment | Listings in sample | Avg nightly rate | Avg occupancy | Median gross / year | Upper quartile gross / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Marina | All listings | 7,610 | AED 660 | 68% | AED 64,000 | AED 118,000 |
| Dubai Marina | 1-bed, all | 3,645 | AED 530 | 70% | AED 54,000 | AED 103,000 |
| Dubai Marina | 2-bed, all | 2,251 | AED 770 | 67% | AED 74,000 | AED 133,000 |
| Dubai Marina | 1-bed, professional | 597 | AED 530 | 76% | AED 131,000 | AED 159,000 |
| Dubai Marina | 2-bed, professional | 253 | AED 750 | 72% | AED 162,000 | AED 210,000 |
| Downtown Dubai | All listings | 6,809 | AED 870 | 67% | AED 88,000 | AED 154,000 |
| Downtown Dubai | 1-bed, all | 2,715 | AED 620 | 69% | AED 70,000 | AED 120,000 |
| Downtown Dubai | 2-bed, all | 2,617 | AED 1,010 | 66% | AED 104,000 | AED 173,000 |
| Downtown Dubai | 1-bed, professional | 393 | AED 610 | 76% | AED 150,000 | AED 182,000 |
| Downtown Dubai | 2-bed, professional | 349 | AED 940 | 74% | AED 220,000 | AED 259,000 |
| Business Bay | All listings | 3,816 | AED 540 | 72% | AED 59,000 | AED 102,000 |
| Business Bay | 1-bed, all | 2,244 | AED 460 | 72% | AED 51,000 | AED 91,000 |
| Business Bay | 2-bed, all | 926 | AED 740 | 69% | AED 74,000 | AED 138,000 |
| Business Bay | 1-bed, professional | 325 | AED 450 | 78% | AED 112,000 | AED 129,000 |
| Business Bay | 2-bed, professional | 123 | AED 770 | 76% | AED 181,000 | AED 230,000 |
| Palm Jumeirah | All listings | 3,223 | AED 970 | 69% | AED 85,000 | AED 144,000 |
| Palm Jumeirah | 1-bed, all | 1,555 | AED 620 | 72% | AED 78,000 | AED 127,000 |
| Palm Jumeirah | 2-bed, all | 848 | AED 990 | 67% | AED 98,000 | AED 162,000 |
| Palm Jumeirah | 1-bed, professional | 314 | AED 600 | 77% | AED 146,000 | AED 170,000 |
| Palm Jumeirah | 2-bed, professional | 109 | AED 970 | 70% | AED 209,000 | AED 247,000 |
| Dubai Hills Estate | All listings | 844 | AED 640 | 76% | AED 65,000 | AED 111,000 |
| Dubai Hills Estate | 1-bed, all | 482 | AED 480 | 78% | AED 65,000 | AED 103,000 |
| Dubai Hills Estate | 2-bed, all | 252 | AED 710 | 72% | AED 62,000 | AED 114,000 |
| Dubai Hills Estate | 1-bed, professional | 86 | AED 450 | 81% | AED 118,000 | AED 132,000 |
| Dubai Hills Estate | 2-bed, professional | 26 | small sample, not quoted | |||
| Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) | All listings | 1,045 | AED 490 | 74% | AED 54,000 | AED 93,000 |
| Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) | 1-bed, all | 604 | AED 440 | 74% | AED 48,000 | AED 89,000 |
| Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) | 2-bed, all | 191 | AED 720 | 67% | AED 59,000 | AED 109,000 |
| Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) | 1-bed, professional | 82 | AED 410 | 79% | AED 103,000 | AED 120,000 |
| Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) | 2-bed, professional | 13 | small sample, not quoted | |||
| Al Barsha South | All listings | 888 | AED 370 | 74% | AED 35,000 | AED 63,000 |
| Al Barsha South | 1-bed, all | 532 | AED 350 | 73% | AED 34,000 | AED 61,000 |
| Al Barsha South | 2-bed, all | 115 | AED 680 | 71% | AED 46,000 | AED 88,000 |
| Al Barsha South | 1-bed, professional | 64 | AED 330 | 78% | AED 82,000 | AED 99,000 |
| Al Barsha South | 2-bed, professional | 4 | small sample, not quoted | |||
Source: AirDNA market data, 12 months October 2025 to September 2026, converted from USD at the fixed rate of AED 3.6725. Nightly rates rounded to the nearest AED 10 and revenue to the nearest AED 1,000. Samples under 30 listings are not quoted. In Dubai Hills Estate the professional 2-bed sample has 26 listings, in JLT 13 and in Al Barsha South 4.
Reading across the table
Three patterns stand out. First, the professional medians are well above the all-listings medians in every zone. In Dubai Marina the 1-bed median is AED 54,000 across all listings and AED 131,000 for professional units. Second, Downtown Dubai has the highest medians of the zones measured (AED 150,000 for a professional 1-bed and AED 220,000 for a 2-bed), with Palm Jumeirah next on the 1-bed (AED 146,000). Third, occupancy of professional 1-beds is in a narrow band, from 76 % in Dubai Marina and Downtown to 81 % in Dubai Hills Estate, so most of the difference between areas comes from nightly rates.
Business Bay has the highest professional 1-bed occupancy of the four central zones (78 %) at a lower average nightly rate (AED 450). Palm Jumeirah has the highest average nightly rate for a professional 2-bed (AED 970).
Seasonality
December is the high season and the summer heat months are the trough, in the professional 1-bed segment. Dubai Hills Estate is the exception in the all-listings segment, where the highest month is March, which is a reminder that small zones can behave differently. The table gives the lowest and highest average nightly rate months and the lowest and highest occupancy months for the professional 1-bed segment.
| Area | Lowest nightly rate month | Highest nightly rate month | Lowest occupancy month | Highest occupancy month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Marina | July (AED 300) | December (AED 820) | March (42%) | November (89%) |
| Downtown Dubai | June (AED 370) | December (AED 970) | March (45%) | November (87%) |
| Business Bay | July (AED 270) | December (AED 700) | March (49%) | November (89%) |
| Palm Jumeirah | July (AED 340) | December (AED 960) | March (44%) | November (90%) |
| Dubai Hills Estate | June (AED 290) | December (AED 700) | March (63%) | November (94%) |
| Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) | July (AED 250) | December (AED 600) | March (48%) | November (91%) |
| Al Barsha South | July (AED 230) | December (AED 460) | March (61%) | October (93%) |
The spread is large. In Downtown Dubai the professional 1-bed average rate runs from June (AED 370) to December (AED 970). A single annual figure hides that range, which is why pricing across the year matters as much as the average.
Methodology and caveats
- Period and source. AirDNA market data, 12 months October 2025 to September 2026, converted from USD at the fixed rate of AED 3.6725. Pulled 26-10-2026.
- Annual revenue is AirDNA's estimate of rental revenue over the 12 months. It is gross.
- Coverage. AirDNA estimates revenue from Airbnb and Vrbo listings. Nights sold through Booking.com or direct bookings are not always captured, so multi-channel operators can earn more than these figures.
- Small samples. Segments under 30 listings are not quoted.
- Downturn. The 12 months include the 2026 downturn. We do not quote year-on-year changes and do not forecast.
- Gross is not net. After platform commission, management fee, utilities and consumables, a typical professionally run unit leaves the owner less than the average long-term asking rent in every zone with a rent figure. The worked table is in Is a holiday home in Dubai worth it?.
For area detail, see Dubai Marina, Downtown, Palm Jumeirah and Business Bay, and the Dubai overview. If you want to quote this data, please link to this page and name AirDNA as the source.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Airbnb in Dubai earn a year?
Citywide, AirDNA reports average annual revenue of about AED 137,000 per listing in the 12 months to August 2026. A typical professionally run 1-bed grossed AED 82,000 to AED 150,000 depending on the area, before costs.
Why is the median so much lower than the average?
The average is pulled up by a small number of top performers, and the all-listings group includes part-time and weak listings. The median shows what a typical unit in the segment earned, which is the fairer guide for planning.
Is this net income?
No. All figures are gross, before platform commission, cleaning, utilities, service charges and the management fee. For a net worked example, see our article on whether a holiday home in Dubai is worth it.
Does the data include Booking.com bookings?
Not always. AirDNA estimates revenue from Airbnb and Vrbo listings. Nights sold through Booking.com or direct bookings are not always captured, so multi-channel operators can earn more than these figures.
Which month is the busiest?
December has the highest average nightly rate in most zones, and November or October the highest occupancy. The summer months, from May to August, have the lowest rates.
Sources
- AirDNA market data, 12 months October 2025 to September 2026, converted from USD at the fixed rate of AED 3.6725.
- AirDNA city overview for Dubai, 12 months to August 2026.
- dubizzle Market Report H1 2026, average asking rents (used in linked articles).
Get a free income estimate for your Dubai home
Tell us about your property and we will send you a written estimate based on market data for your building and area. No obligation.