By the offplans.com Research Desk · Dubai
The Dubai Land Department’s Smart Rental Index has been upgraded for 2026. It now uses artificial intelligence and real-time Ejari transaction data to benchmark fair market rent at the building level — factoring in unit size, floor, view, building age and amenities rather than broad area averages, according to Driven Properties and Benhams.
The 2026 update adds detailed sub-community tracking and separate furnished vs unfurnished rent bands, making increase calculations more precise and harder to dispute.
Why it matters
For investors, a transparent, data-driven index makes rental income more predictable and disputes less likely — a plus when underwriting an off-plan purchase for yield. For tenants, it clarifies exactly what a legal increase looks like.
Model your expected income with the rental-yield calculator, then browse communities by rental performance.
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