Warehouse Rents in the UAE
Rents by area, H1 2026
| Area | Rent a year | Change on a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| Al Quoz, Dubai (Grade A) | AED 90 per sq ft | +6% |
| Dubai South | AED 55 per sq ft | +22% |
| KEZAD Mussafah (ICAD), Abu Dhabi | AED 630 per sq m | +15% |
| Al Markaz, Abu Dhabi | AED 400 per sq m | +7% |
Source: Knight Frank: UAE Industrial and Logistics Market Review H1 20261
Dubai quotes rents per square foot and Abu Dhabi per square metre. One square metre is about 10.76 square feet, so AED 630 per sq m is roughly AED 59 per sq ft.
How fast rents rose in Dubai
| Area | Rent change, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Jebel Ali | +22.1% |
| Dubai Industrial City | +18.9% |
| Dubai Investments Park | +18.7% |
| Al Quoz | +14.8% |
| Al Qusais | +12.1% |
| Dubai average | +17.6% |
Source: Cavendish Maxwell: Dubai Retail and Warehouse Market Performance 20252
About 19,100 warehouse leases were signed or renewed in Dubai in 2025. Units of 2,001 to 5,000 sq ft made up 51.8% of them, and new leases fell 29.4% as tenants chose to renew.2
JLL reports industrial rents up 6.8% year on year in Dubai and 5.0% in Abu Dhabi in Q2 2026.3
A sample annual budget
| Item, 10,000 sq ft in Dubai South | AED a year |
|---|---|
| Rent at AED 55 per sq ft | 550,000 |
| VAT at 5% on commercial rent | 27,500 |
| Total before service charges and utilities | 577,500 |
Source: Knight Frank: UAE Industrial and Logistics Market Review H1 2026; Federal Tax Authority: VAT FAQ on real estate1,5
An illustration only, built from the averages above. Ask each landlord or free zone for its actual rent, service charge and lease terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a warehouse cost to rent in Dubai?
Knight Frank put Grade A rents in Al Quoz at AED 90 per sq ft a year and Dubai South at AED 55 in H1 2026. Dubai warehouse rents rose 17.6% on average in 2025, according to Cavendish Maxwell.
Sources
- Knight Frank: UAE Industrial and Logistics Market Review H1 2026
- Cavendish Maxwell: Dubai Retail and Warehouse Market Performance 2025
- JLL: UAE Industrial Market Dynamics Q2 2026
- ADREC: Temporary update to the annual rental cap increase in Abu Dhabi
- Federal Tax Authority: VAT FAQ on real estate
- Dubai Land Department: Register or renew a tenancy contract
Figures checked 21 October 2026. Prepared by Invest-Emirates.ae for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.