Accommodation for singles in Dubai

Today's global standards are devaluating Dubai's expat packages, which in turn affect many young single professionals coming to live here.

Singles in Dubai have smaller budgets and accommodation allowances than that of families, and so a more limited choice of housing options are available.

The price of accommodation is frequently out of reach, forcing them to consider other alternatives such as sharing.

Along with the responsibility of a new job and a new routine, the general consensus is that singles have greater difficulty in finding affordable housing.

It is not unusual for developers to build luxury units without considering the demographics and available budgets. Perhaps addressing actual demand would be beneficial for both landlord and tenant.

This may affect return in the short term, but looking at a project's viability 10 years from completion should be a consideration, especially in this ever-changing market.

On a basic level we all want somewhere to live that is safe, clean and well maintained.

Expensive door handles do not bring additional rent in this market, as most budgets will not support these frills. Apartment buildings and villas in the more up-market areas tend to be pricey, while less costly rents are often in older areas with sub-standard conditions.

Most company budgets are not large enough to cover the complete cost of accommodation and many people find themselves paying 50 per cent of their income on housing.

Another factor that may compound this problem is the reluctance of many investors to build small units, as the return on their investment is often not viable.

Furthermore, they may feel the additional cost of management and maintenance with these higher tenant density properties is a deterrent.

Unfortunately this does not reduce the supply problem. The option for singles to share accommodation in order to cut living costs is not always an ideal solution for young people who are trying to establish a self-reliant future.

UN global statistics report that married couples presently form the most common type of household in the world's major cities, but within 15 years, units made up by singles will be widespread.

Finding creative approaches to this problem might be through the development or renovation of existing living complexes in older sectors of Dubai, similar to the artisan districts in other major cities.

While offering simple, clean, safe and affordable accommodation, this would cater to a lower-medium budget range, attracting a broader range of single income professionals with different housing aspirations.

We are seeing several projects under construction that will help to increase the supply for this market and only upon completion will we be able to correctly evaluate the extent of the improvement.

Dubai is not the only global municipality walking this fine line of celebrating positive economic growth while trying to satisfy all sectors of housing demands.

Finding the balance between economic growth and population demographics can be a daunting task.