Self-storage is now a practical necessity throughout the UAE, for expat moves, SME inventory overflow, and event logistics. As demand has increased, there is a need for clarity and comparability of pricing across emirates. The UAE Self Storage Price Index (Q4 2025) fills that space by reporting AED per sq-ft averages based on live operator listings and market guides, including a clear methodology for conversion and verification. Recent industry coverage reflects a shift away from niche to mainstream in the self-storage market across the UAE, where operators are enhancing the quality and technology of their services to keep pace with rising expectations.
This expanded, report-style blog includes: (1) methodology; (2) emirate by emirate prices; (3) historical context; (4) consumer profiles; (5) market drivers and world benchmarks; (6) technology and investor outlook; (7) practical user tips.
Methodology (How We Built the Index)
Data sources: We compiled prices from UAE storage operators and marketplaces along with published size/price menus (i.e., 25 sq ft, 50 sq ft), such as ServiceMarket, Self Store Dubai, and provider guides, to summarize the current ranges. We also used analyst/industry context from Cushman & Wakefield and Inside Self-Storage to place the UAE trends.
Normalization: Most providers in the UAE quote monthly prices by unit size. We convert to AED per sq-ft per month with a simple formula:
AED per sq-ft = (Monthly AED for the unit) / (Unit size in sq-ft).
Worked Examples from published menus.
- 25 sq ft lockers in Dubai: AED 300-400/month = ~ AED 12-16/sq-ft.
- 50 sq ft rooms in Dubai: AED 900-1,400/month = ~AED 18-28/sq-ft.
- Self Store Dubai list prices: 50 sq ft at AED 850 = AED 17/sq-ft (illustrative operator tariff).
Cross-checks (Abu Dhabi): Several Abu Dhabi-focused pages display similar size/price relations (25 sq ft ~AED 300-400; 50 sq ft ~AED 900-1,400), allowing for a like-for-like per sq ft index across emirates rather than per unit quotes only.
Caveats: Prices differ depending on climate control, location, access hours, insurance, and offers (e.g., first-month discount), so we publish prices per emirate and call out drivers where meaningful.
UAE Self-Storage Price Index – Q4 2025 (AED per Sq-Ft/Month)
Snapshot Table (based on published menus & guides)
How We Compute the Ranges: We use the operator/marketplace menus for 25 sq ft lockers (e.g., AED 300-400) and 50 sq ft rooms (e.g., AED 900-1400) to calculate per-sq-ft figures, then interpolate with what we see across unit sizes (25-120 sq ft). Dubai examples: ServiceMarket 25 sq ft = AED 300 – 400; Delight guide 50 sq ft = AED 900 – 1,400; SelfStore Dubai 50 sq ft = AED 850.
Emirate-by-Emirate Detail
Dubai
Published menus consistently list 25 sq ft lockers at AED 300-400 = ~AED 12-16/sq-ft. Mid-sized 50 sq ft rooms run in the AED 900-1400 range or ~AED 18-28/sq-ft; some operators list AED 850 for 50 sq ft as a baseline rate (AED 17/sq-ft). Larger rooms (100-120 sq ft) usually come in the AED 1,400-2,800 range, which implies ~AED 12-23/sq-ft depending on amenities. Users pay premiums for climate control and central locations.
Why Dubai is more expensive: High demand from SMEs, exhibitions, and expat moves; limited land in the center; increasing take-up of climate-controlled units for electronics/documents.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi price ladders follow Dubai: 25 sq ft [?]. AED 300-400; 50 sq ft [?] AED 900-1,400, providing ~AED 12-28/sq-ft depending on size/amenities. There are aggregations of similar estimates on independent pages, and some local providers display more general “small/medium/large” monthly ranges (e.g., AED 250-650; AED 1,250-1,600; AED 2,250-2,950). Premium districts command more, suburban facilities less.
Sharjah
Sharjah frequently undercuts Dubai in maintaining reasonable access. Example ratecards show 25 sq ft [?] AED 460, 50 sq ft [?] AED 750, 100 sq ft [?] AED 1,250–the equivalent of about AED 9-22/sq-ft depending on the size and spec.
Ajman
Ajman’s market presents itself as a cost-effective option for long-term renters and startups. Operator sites and brand pages show lower monthly totals than Dubai; the implied ~AED 9-18/sq-ft range is for simpler specs and peripheral locations.
Fujairah & Umm Al Quwain
Data points are sparser, but Northern Emirates provider pages focus on value and independent units. Typical quotes are around AED 8-10/sq-ft, with availability of facilities and industrial projects influencing the demand going forward. Always confirm inclusions (AC & 24/7 access, insurance).
Historical Context (2019-Q4 2025)
- 2019-2021: Early expansion in Dubai/Abu Dhabi; demand spiked as relocations spiked post-pandemic (Industry retrospectives)
- 2022-2024: E-Commerce and SME adoption transformed units to “micro-warehousing”; operators diversified sizes/amenities. (Market features & provider guides,
- 2025: The UAE market continued to formalize. Coverage notes the sector’s transition from niche to mainstream, with better standards of service and technology, consistent with a mild firmness in price in premium locations.
Consumer Profiles (What Do People Use Self Storage For)
- Expats & families: Short-term storage while you move/renovate; lockers to 100-120 sq ft rooms. (Dubai menus)
- SMEs & e-commerce sellers: Overflow inventory and seasonal stock; favour 50 – 120 sq. ft and climate control for product protection. (Provider guides)
- Event companies: Temporary storage near the exhibition hubs; convenience outweighs unit price for peak seasons. (Industry features)
(We avoid unsourced percentages; the focus is qualitative patterns supported by operator/industry material.)
Market Drivers (2025)
E-commerce momentum. The UAE’s infrastructure for digital retail and region-wide platforms continues to expand; even the mainstream business press is reporting on aggressive growth and capital activity in the Middle East online retail, an upstream factor in the flexible storage requirements of merchants.
Climate control premium. Hot/humid summers make AC units attractive for electronics, documents, and furniture — reflected in higher monthly quotes for climate-controlled rooms.
Location & real estate costs. Central Dubai/Abu Dhabi locations have higher land and running costs, driving up per-sq-ft rates. (Operator menus list higher bands; suburban providers list lower totals.)
Seasonality (events/moves). Exhibition calendars and moving seasons increase short-term demand around major events. (Industry features)
Global Benchmarks (for Context)
Global reports follow “street rates per square foot” in mature markets. Cushman & Wakefield notes U.S. advertised self-storage rates averaged $16.40 psf in July 2024 and $16.28 psf by December 2024, stabilizing after YoY declines — useful as a directional yardstick when comparing per-sq-ft pricing norms.
Technology & Operations (What’s Changing Inside Facilities)
Operators are increasingly marketing mobile access, smart locks, and IoT monitoring (temperature/humidity/security) to differentiate units, especially in Dubai, where climate control is a big issue. Industry coverage of the UAE focuses on the rise in service quality, tech adoption, and sustainability themes (e.g., efficient HVAC, greener buildings).
Investor & Outlook Notes (Q4 2025 – 2026)
Global surveys by investors reflect a steady professional interest in the self-storage asset class, with performance reports and quarterly dashboards widely published. In the UAE, the story is operational upgrade and steady demand rather than speculative oversupply. (Investor materials & sector outlooks)
What to expect in 2026:
- Supply additions in peripheral areas / northern emirates, instead of CBD cores
- Feature creep (more climate-control stock, digital access, better insurance bundles).
- Pricing: Premium, centrally-located and climate-controlled rooms likely to remain at the top of local ranges; peripheral emirates remain more affordable, barring sharp land cost changes. (Synthesis of operator menus and industry comments)
Practical Tips (How To Use the Index To Save Money)
- Size precisely. A 50 sq ft room is often the right size for a studio’s contents; don’t jump to 75-100 sq ft unless you’ve measured. Use published “what fits” guides before booking.
- Check the inclusions. AC/ climate control, 24/7 access, insurance, padlocks–these shift final costs; some menu items size them clearly.
- Mind promotions. First-month deals or annual prepay deals change the effective rate (some sites openly market these)
- Compare Emirates. If access time isn’t critical, Sharjah/Ajman frequently delivers double-digit percentage savings vs Dubai for the same size. (Sharjah menu examples vs menus in Dubai)
- Convert to per-sq-ft. Always convert the monthly quote to AED/sq-ft to compare apples-to-apples between different sizes and providers (see formula above).
Conclusion
The UAE Self-Storage Price Index (Q4 2025) converts disparate unit quotes to a uniform AED per sq-ft per month view. In Q4, Dubai and Abu Dhabi cluster towards the higher end (~12-28 AED/sq-ft), propelled by the uptake of climate control and central locations, while Sharjah/Ajman offer compelling value (~9-22 / ~9-18 AED/sq-ft) and Fujairah/UAQ remains the most affordable (~8-10 AED/sq-ft). These bands are taken straight from live price menus and reputable market guides, cross-checked, and normalized to clarity.
Use this index to benchmark quotes, select the right size, and determine which emirate best suits your budget and access needs, but return to it quarterly as providers update their tariffs and promotions.
