<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-20</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001013794</issuerCik><issuerName>ARDEN REALTY INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ari</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001191421</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>SOBEL ANDREW J</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>11601 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>90025-1740</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Exec VP-Strategic Plan. &amp; Ops</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>100</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>27</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>147632</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Andrew J. Sobel</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

