Blog by Boyd Howells

Using Property Finder and Bayut to rent in Dubai? How to spot stale listings and search smarter.

How many days in Dubai is enough? The honest answer by trip type — and why longer costs less.

Where to stay in Dubai without a car: the areas where walking and the Metro genuinely work.

Spending a month in Dubai: why monthly rates change the maths, and how to pick a long-stay base.

Where to stay in Dubai as a group: the per-head maths of a shared apartment vs separate rooms.

Where to stay in Dubai for the first time: match the area to the trip you're actually taking.

Is Airbnb legal in Dubai? Yes — and tightly regulated. The permit check to run before you book.

Is Dubai Marina a good place to live? Walkability, commutes, costs and who it really suits.

Upfront costs of renting in Dubai: every fee itemised, with a real move-in bill example.

Post-dated cheque system, new DLD Flexi Rent, and what to do before your chequebook exists.

How long the search really takes, and the setup that works

What each costs upfront, and the break-even point where one beats the other

What each really costs in your first year

The KHDA calendar windows, the paperwork chain, and the six-to-eight-week base.

Why 30 days of temporary accommodation fails relocating staff in Dubai

Where to stay in Dubai with kids — why apartment space beats a second hotel room, and which parts of

Apartment or hotel in Dubai? A holiday-apartment operator counts the real numbers — nightly rates, s

What you can actually do, where you can't drink, and the medication issue tourists often miss

November and February beat December for value. October is the most underrated month of the year

More relaxed than most guides suggest, and more specific about where it actually matters