City Tower reshapes Dubai leasing

Betterhomes has launched City Tower for long-term leasing on Sheikh Zayed Road, positioning the 93-storey address as a high-specification rental option for tenants seeking central Dubai access without entering the ownership market.

The exclusive leasing mandate, delivered in collaboration with H&H Properties, places the tower in one of the city’s most visible urban corridors, between Dubai International Financial Centre, Downtown Dubai and Jumeirah. The building is designed to appeal to professionals, families and corporate tenants looking for larger layouts, managed amenities and proximity to business, leisure and transport links.

City Tower comprises 695 residences, ranging from studios to four-bedroom penthouses, with homes planned for long-stay occupancy rather than short-term letting. Studio apartments extend up to 667 square feet, one-bedroom units reach up to 1,777 square feet, two-bedroom homes go up to 2,336 square feet, three-bedroom residences span up to 3,476 square feet and four-bedroom homes extend up to 3,692 square feet. The scale of the layouts is central to the leasing pitch, particularly as tenants in prime districts increasingly compare space, quality and payment flexibility before committing.

The tower stands 362.8 metres tall and includes residential and office components, supported by a separate nine-storey parking structure linked to the main building. Amenities include a gym, indoor and outdoor children’s play areas, adult and children’s pools, a mini football field and padel courts. Additional lifestyle features include resident lounges, landscaped decks, on-site retail and café offerings, giving the project a serviced residential character without shifting it into hotel-apartment territory.

Its location is likely to be the strongest commercial draw. Sheikh Zayed Road remains Dubai’s main business artery, while Emirates Towers Metro station, DIFC, Dubai World Trade Centre and Downtown Dubai sit within a short commuting radius. For tenants working across finance, consulting, events, professional services and government-linked entities, the address offers a practical alternative to villa communities or outer residential districts where commuting times can be less predictable.

The launch comes as Dubai’s rental market enters a more selective phase after several years of sharp growth. Leasing demand remains active, but tenant behaviour has changed. Renters are spending more time comparing options, negotiating payment terms and assessing whether headline rents are justified by location, condition and building facilities. Average rents transacted by Betterhomes have been running below March 2025 levels, while supply has increased in several parts of the market. That shift has made presentation, pricing and property management more important for landlords seeking quick occupancy.

City Tower’s long-term leasing model responds to that changing mood. Rather than relying on scarcity alone, the project is being marketed on stability, centrality and building operations. Long-term rentals offer landlords more predictable income and lower vacancy risk than short-stay strategies, while tenants gain security in a market where moving costs, school locations, office proximity and renewal uncertainty have become major considerations.

H&H’s role as developer and manager is also significant. Dubai tenants have become more sensitive to maintenance standards, common-area management and responsiveness after rapid growth in the rental market brought a wider range of building quality into competition. A professionally managed tower in a prime corridor can command interest if service levels match the premium positioning. The project is owned by The Galleria Investments, with H&H handling development and management.

The launch also reflects a broader repositioning within Dubai’s residential sector. After a period dominated by off-plan sales, branded residences and investor-led buying, long-term leasing is gaining greater strategic attention. Population growth, new company formation, global mobility and continuing inflows of professionals have kept rental demand resilient, but affordability pressures are forcing both landlords and brokers to sharpen their offers.

For Betterhomes, the exclusive mandate strengthens its role in Dubai’s leasing market at a time when agencies are competing not only on listings but also on advisory capability. The company has been emphasising data-led pricing, tenant quality, renewal strategy and flexibility in payment structures as landlords adjust to a less one-sided market. City Tower gives the brokerage a flagship address through which to test that approach in one of Dubai’s most competitive corridors.