Dubizzle is where most people start looking for a room in Dubai, and it has the most ads. The problem for renters is everything around the ad: rooms that were let last week, prices that change on the phone, and "bills extra" that only comes up at the viewing.
What renters want instead
- The full monthly cost before the first message: rent, deposit, upfront cost and whether DEWA, Wi-Fi and gas are included.
- Places that are still free. Owners mark beds as taken, and listings leave the site when they're full.
- Someone checking the listing. Every Stayshay listing is reviewed before it goes live.
- No broker fee for renters. Stayshay is free to search and free to book a viewing.
Today's best-value places
These are ranked live against the going rate in each area, so they change as places are taken.
Fully Furnished Studio (Family only)
Al Qasimia (Sharjah)
60% below the typical AED 4,500 · Bills included · No upfront fees
Unfurnished Studio (Male only)
Hor Al Anz · 8 min to Abu Hail
49% below the typical AED 4,500 · Bills included · 8 min to metro
Capsule Partition Room near Metro (Single only)
Al Mankhool · 12 min to ADCB (Al Karama)
43% below the typical AED 1,400 · Bills included · No upfront fees
Fully Furnished Room
Abu Shagara (Sharjah)
43% below the typical AED 3,500 · Bills included · No upfront fees
Loft Type Partition Room near Metro (Single or Couple only)
Al Barsha 1
35% below the typical AED 2,000 · Bills included · No deposit
Furnished Studio
Deira
40% below the typical AED 4,500 · Bills included · No upfront fees
Bed spaces and partitions by area
| Area | From / month | Typical | Live |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deira, Dubai | AED 400 | AED 650 | 4 |
| Bur Dubai, Dubai | AED 500 | AED 700 | 5 |
| Al Barsha 1, Dubai | AED 500 | AED 650 | 3 |
| Al Nahda (Sharjah), Sharjah | AED 500 | AED 500 | 1 |
| Al Satwa, Dubai | AED 550 | AED 550 | 3 |
| Al Karama, Dubai | AED 550 | AED 550 | 1 |
| Al Qasimia (Sharjah), Dubai | AED 550 | AED 550 | 1 |
| Naif, Dubai | AED 600 | AED 600 | 1 |
| Port Saeed, Dubai | AED 600 | AED 600 | 1 |
| Al Raffa, Dubai | AED 700 | AED 700 | 1 |
| Al Nahda (Dubai), Dubai | AED 800 | AED 850 | 2 |
| Al Quoz, Dubai | AED 800 | AED 800 | 1 |
Tip: Never send a deposit before you've seen the place. If anyone asks you to pay to "hold" a bed over WhatsApp, report it to us.
Still want to compare? Read our side-by-side of Dubizzle, Bayut, Property Finder and Stayshay, or let Shay find a place for you.
Tell us what you need
Budget, area and move-in date. We'll WhatsApp you matching places, free.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Dubizzle for rooms in Dubai?
Yes. Stayshay is free for renters and lists only monthly shared housing: bed spaces, partitions, rooms and studios, with the full cost shown on every listing.
Are Stayshay listings checked?
Every listing is reviewed by our team before it goes live, and listings with landlord consent (and a permit for partitions) carry the Verified badge.
Do I pay a broker fee on Stayshay?
No. Renters never pay Stayshay. A few listings may mention an owner's own fee, and the No commission filter hides them.
Keep reading
- Dubizzle vs Bayut vs Property Finder vs Stayshay: where to find a room or bed space in Dubai
- Monthly rent without a yearly contract: the Bayut and Property Finder alternative for rooms
- Looking at Homebook? A free way to contact bed space and room owners in Dubai
- Bed space, partition, room, studio or 1BHK: which is best?