Dubai is set to introduce a dedicated rental index for shared housing units for its newly enacted shared housing law. The move marks a significant shift in the emirate's property market by creating a pricing benchmark specifically for licensed co-living and shared accommodation. Authorities expect the measure to improve transparency, reduce arbitrary rent-setting, and bring greater consistency to the fast-growing shared housing segment.
The Dubai Land Department (DLD) will develop and revise the rental index from time to time. The rental index will only cover shared housing units. The Dubai Land Department is looking into the technical features, services offered in each licensed unit, and rent prices.
There has been no information about the method used to calculate the rents. It is also unknown what kind of benchmark will be developed: room, bed, or the whole unit. The rental index forms part of Dubai Law No. 4 of 2026, introducing a comprehensive framework for regulating shared housing across the emirate. The law covers property owners, licensed operators, and tenants while excluding labour accommodation.
The legislation requires permits for shared housing operations, prescribes occupancy limits, and establishes health and safety standards. It also mandates an electronic register for shared housing properties and standardised tenancy and management contracts to improve regulatory oversight.
Experts suggest that the rental index can lower informal pricing procedures, which have been common in Dubai’s shared accommodations. Standardized indices should help tenants know what their rentals should be worth and provide landlords with clear guidelines on pricing their licenses.
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