Originally Posted by
sealear
This has been done to death, but there still seems to be a lot of confusion about it. If you are a new joiner, you can take the allowance regardless whether you rent or buy. If you are already here, you will only receive the allowance once you have purchased a property in the UAE. There is no option to rent and probably never will be again I imagine.
If you want it that badly just buy a cheap studio somewhere, live in it for a while then move out. The rental returns on it are good.
All correct.
Just to add, When you are evicted from company accommodation you are also given the opportunity to opt out - to rent or buy as you wish.