Apartments vs Villas in Dubai: Which Properties Earn the Best Short-Term Rental Returns with Luxury Lettings?

Investors often ask: Should I buy an apartment or villa for short-term rentals in Dubai?
Both options can generate strong returns — but each behaves differently in the market.
This blog compares apartments and villas and shows how Luxury Lettings boosts ROI for both.

 Apartments — Ideal for High Occupancy

Advantages

• Lower furnishing cost
  
• High booking demand from couples and business travellers
  
• Consistent occupancy (70%–95%)
  
• Lower maintenance cost
  
• Faster turnaround time between guests
  

Best Locations

• Dubai Marina
  
• JVC
  
• Business Bay
  
• Dubai Hills
  
• JLT
  

Expected ROI

8%–12% with Luxury Lettings’ pricing optimisation.

Villas — Ideal for Premium Nightly Rates

Advantages

• High-value bookings
  
• Perfect for families and groups
  
• Longer average stay
  
• Higher seasonal earnings
  

Best Locations

• Palm Jumeirah
  
• Arabian Ranches
  
• Dubai Hills
  
• Jumeirah

Expected ROI

10%–15% depending on furnishing & occupancy.

How Luxury Lettings Optimises Both

• Smart pricing algorithms
  
• OTA visibility boost
  
• Professional photos
  
• High-end housekeeping
  
• Guest screening
  
• Damage control
  
• 12% guaranteed ROI model
  

Conclusion

Apartments deliver higher occupancy, while villas deliver higher nightly revenue. With Luxury Lettings’ expert management, both can achieve strong short-term rental returns, making them ideal for Dubai’s thriving holiday home market.