Budget for about 6% to 7% on top of the purchase price when you buy a ready property in Dubai, and a little more if you buy with a mortgage. Below is every fee, who charges it, and a worked example for an AED 2 million apartment. Figures are as of September 2026.
The fees on a ready (resale) property
| Fee | Paid to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer fee | Dubai Land Department (DLD) | 4% of the purchase price. In practice the buyer pays it. |
| Title deed issuance | DLD | About AED 580 |
| Registration trustee fee | Trustee office | About AED 4,200 including VAT for a property of AED 500,000 or more; about half that below AED 500,000 |
| Agency commission | Your broker | Typically 2% of the price, plus 5% VAT on the commission |
| No-objection certificate (NOC) | The developer | AED 500 to AED 5,000, normally paid by the seller |
Extra costs when you buy with a mortgage
| Fee | Paid to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage registration | DLD | 0.25% of the loan amount, plus about AED 290 |
| Bank arrangement fee | Your bank | Up to 1% of the loan, plus VAT |
| Property valuation | Your bank | About AED 2,500 to AED 3,500, plus VAT |
Non-residents can usually borrow 50% to 60% of the property value. UAE residents can usually borrow up to about 80% on a first home priced under AED 5 million. The rest, and all of the fees above, are paid from your own funds.
Worked example: an AED 2,000,000 apartment
| Item | Cash purchase | With a 50% mortgage |
|---|---|---|
| DLD transfer fee (4%) | AED 80,000 | AED 80,000 |
| Title deed | AED 580 | AED 580 |
| Trustee fee | AED 4,200 | AED 4,200 |
| Agency commission (2% + VAT) | AED 42,000 | AED 42,000 |
| Mortgage registration (0.25% of AED 1,000,000 + AED 290) | None | AED 2,790 |
| Bank arrangement fee (1% + VAT) | None | AED 10,500 |
| Valuation (AED 3,000 + VAT) | None | AED 3,150 |
| Total on top of the price | AED 126,780 (6.3%) | AED 143,220 (7.2%) |
Off-plan is different
When you buy off-plan, directly from a developer, you still pay the 4% Dubai Land Department fee, plus a small administration fee, when the purchase is registered. There is no trustee fee at that stage, and the agency commission is normally paid by the developer, not by you. Developers sometimes cover part or all of the 4% as a launch incentive; we tell you which launches do. See how off-plan payment plans work.
What you pay every year
- Service charges. The annual fee for the upkeep of the building and the community, set per square foot and approved by RERA. It differs from building to building, so we give you the exact figure for a home before you make an offer.
- Utilities and cooling. Electricity, water and, in many towers, district cooling.
- No annual property tax. The UAE does not charge personal income tax, so an individual owner pays no UAE tax on rental income or on the gain when selling. Your home country may tax that income, so check with your own adviser.
How the money moves on the day of transfer
Payment at the trustee office is made by manager’s cheques: one to the seller for the price, one to the Dubai Land Department for the fees. If you are buying from abroad, allow a few working days to have funds in a UAE account and the cheques issued. A cash purchase of a ready home usually completes in two to four weeks; a mortgage purchase takes six to eight.
Want the exact figure for a specific home? Send us the listing and we will return a one-page cost sheet the same day.
Опубликовано September 28, 2026 · обновлено September 28, 2026 · Savos Realty, офис RERA № 41486