Residential accommodations in Dubai are basically divided into the following categories: apartments, hotel apartments, beach apartments, and villas. All of these represent affordable and viable alternatives to the more expensive hotel accommodations.

Hotel apartments are similar to hotel bookings in that there is an indeterminate-as opposed to fixed-length of stay. With such an arrangement, occupants can stay for as long as they like, and they can move out any time they wish as well. A combination of hotel and apartment-style accommodations, hotel apartments offer a relaxing place to stay for a varying amount of time, which could be as little as a day or two to extended stays running several months or even years. Such arrangements are generally less expensive than hotel room accommodations, and they have the further advantage of basic domestic services as well.

Hotel apartments are usually located in prime locations, and most offer panoramic views of the surrounding area. Many of these establishments offer a host of modern amenities that you would typically find in a hotel, such as broadband Internet, interactive TV, and housecleaning. Most units also feature built-in kitchens and baths, along with everything else that you would expect to find in a hotel setting.

In addition to hotel apartments, Dubai also offers a variety of studio apartments and serviced apartments. Studio apartments usually measure 800 square feet or smaller, and most contain a living room, bedroom, and kitchen in the same space. Serviced apartments on the other hand are generally fully-furnished, and are basically self-contained apartment. Intended for shorter stays, these facilities are often priced much lower than the typical hotel room. Owing to the increase in visitors to the city, Dubai had seen a corresponding boom in the number of serviced apartments as well. Much of the increase in tourist influx to the area can be traced to the discovery of oil. Other factors that have contributed to the increase in visitors are the real estate boom and the introduction of tax-free shopping. Today, Dubai has an occupancy rate of more than 83%, a staggering figure that has no doubt fueled the demand for residential property around the city. In order to meet this demand, various accommodation options such as hotel, hotel apartments, villas and apartments have been constructed over the past few years.

For groups of people who wish to stay in town for extended periods or for those who are looking for more privacy, villas offer suitable living options. The Dubai Marina is particularly well regarded for its range of villas, and the cosmopolitan feel and vibrant lifestyle makes the perfect setting for a rewarding stay. Also worth checking out is the Dubai Beach Apartment, which is more suitable for shorter stays.