The cost of renting apartments appears to have dropped more in Abu Dhabi than it has in Dubai, at least according to the data compiled by one property analyst.

Leasing rates at residential buildings in the UAE capital have registered a 4 per cent decline on average since the beginning of the year until the end of February, according to real estate portal Bayut.com, which has about 1,000 property listings. In comparison, rents in Dubai went up by an average of 4 per cent during the same period, though overall rates remain cheaper compared to last year.