Also check out the post about housing in Dubai for information on residential areas.

So, you have moved in the city, live somewhere in a temporary accommodation or with your friends and now you need to secure a place to live.

Jumeirah Beach Residence

If I were you I wouldn't try to find an apartment sitting in your home country unless you've got somebody in Dubai who could have a look at the apartment, arrange the deal, etc. Trying to find an apartment remotely you actually risk being either fooled or ignored. And I am not sure if you can do that without having a valid visa.

Before you go, check currently available apartments and villas for rent on a local website, say dubizzle. That will give you an idea on what price you should expect, how many apartments there are for rent now, etc.

• Do not trust anyone but documents. It may sound a bit offensive but at least I and a colleague of mine had troubles with dodgy landlords when we were renting our apartments. Don't think that you have secured the place until you have got a tenancy contract signed by the landlord. If the landlord is always 'busy', try to secure other options, because most likely he is trying to find another tenant who will pay more. Read about my experience below.

• Apartments are leased via dodgy agents. Vast majority of the apartments are leased via Dubai real estate agents. Many landlords are pretty rich and own quite a few apartments in the city. They hire a property management company that rents the apartments out via agents. A few agents can list the same apartment simultaneously; most of them have never seen the apartment they are trying to rent out! Beware classifieds without pictures with duplicating text, or the same location in line with the same square footage. That may be the same apartment featured by different ads. In many cases when you go to see an apartment with an agent, he or she won't have the keys. You will go through the open back-door, see the apartment and your agent will call another agent who will also call another agent who directly deals with the management firm or the landlord. They will share their commission if you make a deal.

• Hire a good agent. Probably the best option would be if you hired a relocation agent that would deal with real estate agents. If you don't, you may also contact a real estate agency with good reputation; their agent will work on your case free of charge. He or she will get the commission only if he or she manages to find you a place. And of course it will be easier to deal only with one agent. A colleague of mine was satisfied with Better Homes. which is one of the largest agencies in Dubai. Working with a good company will make sure the landlord's documents are not fake, so it gives you a bit of security over the deal.

• Agents normally don't work on weekends and there is nothing you can do about it. You will have to seek for a place during working time on week days.

• Apartment hand over. Make sure that all appliances and furniture you agreed to keep in the apartment are in the contract. Otherwise, when you start screaming 'I saw an oven over there', you will hear 'hold on, read your contract'. Make sure everything is documented. Before the apartment is handed over to you, the landlord should white-paint it. So will you have to do before you hand it back. Just make sure everything is the same as you agreed. If something in your apartment is agreed to be removed (e.g. a landlord's table that you don't need) make sure the due date and the fine for missing it is in the contract. You may be interested to read my experience below.

• Notifications. Read your contract carefully. It can be either renewable or non-renewable. If it is renewable you will have to inform your landlord whether you are going to stay next year in two or three months (per the contract) before the contract term ends. If you fail to do so, your contract will be renewed automatically and you will have to pay for the next year. If you would like to cancel your contract before its end date, you will also have to inform the landlord a couple of months in advance. So does he. Watch out the dates and conditions not to find yourself in an awkward position.