DUBAI APARTMENTS
category:
UX Design
services:
Design
My Role:
UX Designer
(End-to-End design from research to high-fidelity prototyping)
Tools Used:
Figma, Google Slides, Google Sheets (for research), Paper & Pencil
Simplifying the search for the perfect home in the UAE
A UX Case Study by Sarin VK
Dubai Apartments is a responsive website designed to help expatriates, students, and working professionals find verified rental accommodations in Dubai. The platform simplifies the often-fragmented housing market by aggregating listings, providing transparent pricing, and facilitating direct communication with agents.
The Problem & Goal
Problem
Dubai has a highly competitive and fast-paced real estate market. Newcomers often struggle to find trustworthy listings, as many online ads are outdated, duplicated, or lack crucial details like “chiller free” status or exact location. Users feel overwhelmed by the need to navigate multiple disjointed platforms to secure a viewing.
Goal
Design a responsive website that builds trust through verified listings and streamlines the rental process, allowing users to filter properties effectively and book viewings directly.
User Research
To understand the users, I conducted interviews with 5 participants who had recently moved to Dubai or were planning to move. I also created empathy maps to synthesize their needs and frustrations.
Key Pain Points
User Personas
- Trust Issues: Users are wary of fake or "bait-and-switch" listings.
- Hidden Costs: Frustration with undisclosed fees (agency fees, chiller fees, deposits).
- Communication: Difficulty getting timely responses from agents via email or phone.
- Visual Confirmation: Lack of clear floor plans or recent photos makes it hard to judge a property remotely.
Alex (The Expat Professional): A 32-year-old software engineer moving from London. He needs a high-end, furnished apartment near the Metro. He values efficiency and verified video tours because he is booking from abroad.
Sara (The Budget-Conscious Student): A 22-year-old student needing a shared or affordable studio. She is price-sensitive and worried about hidden monthly utility costs.
Ideation & Design
Information Architecture: I started by mapping out the user flow. The primary path focused on:
Homepage -> Search (with Filters) -> Property Details -> Book Viewing / Contact Agent.
Wireframing: * Paper Wireframes: I sketched five iterations of the homepage, focusing on a prominent search bar and "Trusted" badges to address the trust pain point.
Digital Low-Fi Prototypes: Transferred sketches to Figma to create a clickable prototype for initial testing. Key features included a "Map View" and an "All-inclusive Cost" calculator.
Usability Studies
I conducted two rounds of usability studies to validate the design.
Round 1 Findings (Low-Fidelity)
Round 2 Findings (High-Fidelity)
- Insight: Users struggled to find specific genres.
- Fix: Added a "Categories" filter (Playhouse, 4DX, IMAX) to the home screen.
- Insight: Users wanted more details before booking.
- Fix: Expanded the movie details page to include Cast, Synopsis, and Trailer.
- Insight: The date picker was confusing using only numbers.
- Fix: Updated the date selector to show Day + Date (e.g., "Tue Feb 22") to prevent booking errors.
- Insight: Accessibility was lacking for seating.
- Fix: Clearly marked wheelchair-accessible seating in the visual layout.
High-Fidelity Mockups & Accessibility
Moving to high-fidelity, I applied a color palette inspired by Dubai’s modern aesthetic—clean whites, sandy beiges, and trustworthy deep blues.
Accessibility Considerations:
Contrast: Ensured all text met WCAG AA standards for readability.
Screen Readers: Added Alt text to all property images.
Touch Targets: Increased button sizes to >44px for easier mobile navigation.
Takeaways & Next Steps
Impact
What I Learned
Next Steps
The final prototype demonstrated a clear, linear path for users to find and book apartments. Peer feedback indicated that the "Verified" feature significantly reduced anxiety about the rental process.
Designing for a specific locale (Dubai) requires understanding local nuances—such as the importance of "Chiller Free" status or proximity to the Metro—which might not be relevant in other markets.
- Conduct a second round of usability testing with the high-fidelity prototype.
- Design a "Landlord Portal" to allow property owners to upload and verify their own listings.
