Dubai Property Fees and Charges (UAE Guide 2026), DLD Transfer Fee, Oqood, Mortgage Costs, Service Charges

Dubai also doesn’t work like places where you get a yearly property tax bill just for owning. Instead, owners usually deal with yearly service charges, and tenants often see a 5% housing fee applied to rent and collected via DEWA.

If you’ve ever felt like “fees” is a vague word that hides ten different line items, you’re not imagining it. I think this is the part where buyers feel calm, then suddenly not calm, because each step has its own small cost. Not always huge, but enough to throw off a budget if you didn’t plan for it.

If you want,  WhatsApp me  your budget and preferred areas, I’ll send you a simple buyer cost sheet and help you buy step by step. 

Quick answer, how much are Dubai property fees in the UAE?

The 30-second fee checklist (secondary vs off plan)

If you’re buying a Dubai property, your checklist usually looks like this:

• DLD fee: 4% of purchase price, plus admin, commonly cited as AED 580 for many ready apartments and offices
  
• Trustee and registration fees: commonly referenced as AED 2,000 (under AED 500k) or AED 4,000 (above AED 500k), plus 5% VAT
  
• Agent commission: often 2%, and VAT applies on the service in practice
  
• NOC fee: often AED 500 to AED 5,000, when the developer requires it
  
• If mortgage: 0.25% of the loan amount + AED 290 mortgage registration fee, plus bank fees and valuation
  
• If off plan: registration is handled through Oqood, the big “4%” still matters, but timing and admin can look different

Typical total cost range, what buyers usually pay all-in

If you want one planning number that keeps you safe, 7% to 10% is a reasonable range for many resale purchases, because it captures DLD, trustee, broker, and the usual small admin lines. Guides that break down Dubai buyer costs consistently show the 4% DLD plus multiple fixed fees as the core stack.

Off plan can come in feeling lighter in the moment because of payment plans, but you still need a clean view of government registration, admin, and handover setup costs.

The 3 fees that surprise people most

1. Trustee, registration, and admin fees, because they feel small until you see a few of them together.
2. Mortgage add-ons, because buyers focus on interest rate and forget arrangement fees and valuation.
3. Service charges, because they hit after you own, and they quietly change your net yield.

WhatsApp me  the listing link and price, I’ll tell you the real cash needed to close, and whether the fee stack looks normal. 

Dubai property fees glossary, what each fee actually means

DLD fee (Dubai Land Department fee)

This is the main government fee buyers talk about. The standard headline figure is 4% of the purchase price, and then you’ll see fixed admin charges, often cited as AED 580 for many ready apartments and offices.

DLD transfer fee, what it covers

People call it a “transfer fee” because it’s tied to the ownership transfer being recorded. Practically, it is the core cost of registering the transaction with DLD, and in real deals it’s usually paid by the buyer unless the contract explicitly splits it.

Title deed fee, what you receive and when

On ready property transfers, you typically receive a title deed issued under your name after the transfer is processed. Buyer guides commonly reference a title deed issuance fee, often shown as a fixed amount (commonly referenced as AED 580 for many ready units).

Trustee office fee, what a trustee does

A trustee office is a DLD-authorised service partner that processes transfers and related steps. Fees are commonly shown in value bands, often referenced as AED 2,000 for properties under AED 500,000 and AED 4,000 above AED 500,000, plus VAT.

Oqood fee explained (off plan registration)

Oqood is the off plan registration pathway. Off plan does not mean “no DLD cost”, it more often means the timing and paperwork differ. Many guides still anchor the government cost around the 4%, but off plan admin charges can differ, and some launches subsidise parts of it as a promotion.

NOC fee explained (developer approval)

Some developers require a No Objection Certificate to transfer ownership. The fee varies by developer and project, commonly shown as AED 500 to AED 5,000 in buyer fee breakdowns.

Mortgage registration fee (DLD mortgage fee)

If you finance the purchase, DLD charges a mortgage registration fee commonly referenced as 0.25% of the loan amount + AED 290.

Property valuation fee (bank valuation)

Banks typically require a valuation before issuing final mortgage approval. A common planning range shown in fee breakdowns is AED 2,500 to AED 3,500, plus VAT where applicable.

Agent commission in Dubai, what is normal in the UAE

For many resale transactions, a commonly referenced norm is 2% brokerage commission for residential sales, with VAT applied to the service.

Service charges in Dubai, the annual building fee

Service charges are the yearly ownership cost most investors underestimate. They vary by building and community, and they directly affect net yield. Even when two towers look similar, their service charge levels can be very different depending on amenities and maintenance.

Ejari fee, when it applies and when it does not

Ejari is tied to rental contract registration, so it’s usually relevant when a unit is rented long-term. Planning ranges often cited for Ejari registration sit roughly around AED 155 to AED 220, depending on channel. (This is small, but it comes up constantly in real life budgeting.)

DEWA deposit and connection fees, common move-in costs

DEWA deposits are a practical “handover and move-in” cost. A common planning reference is AED 2,000 for apartments and AED 4,000 for villas. This is not a purchase fee, but it hits around the same time you’re already paying for other things, so it belongs in your budget.

One-time costs snapshot table (save this)

Fee item	Typical amount	Notes
DLD fee	4% + admin (often cited AED 580 for many ready units)	Core government fee
Trustee and registration	AED 2,000 or AED 4,000 + VAT	Value banded
Mortgage registration	0.25% of loan + AED 290	Only if mortgage
Valuation	AED 2,500 to AED 3,500	Only if mortgage
NOC	AED 500 to AED 5,000	Developer dependent

Dubai property fees when buying secondary (ready property), full breakdown

Buying a ready property in Dubai is usually the cleanest version of the story. You agree the price, you get the NOC if required, you transfer at a trustee office, and you walk away as the owner. Simple. And yet, this is also the moment where “fees” becomes real, because several costs land close together, not spread out nicely.

If you want the calm version of buying, the goal is to know your cash needed to close before you fall in love with a unit.

WhatsApp me  the listing link and price, I’ll send you a buyer cost sheet with every fee, in AED, no surprises.

Step-by-step fees at transfer, DLD transfer fee, trustee fee, title deed

Here’s the typical resale path, in the order people experience it.

Step 1: Offer accepted, paperwork begins
At this stage, you’re not paying DLD yet, but you should already be calculating it. The DLD fee is the big lever, because it scales with price.

Practical tip, I always suggest setting up a simple “closing budget” sheet the moment you agree a price. Even a rough draft helps you avoid awkward surprises later.

WhatsApp me  “CLOSING BUDGET” plus the price, I’ll reply with a quick fee estimate you can plan around.

Step 2: NOC stage, if required by the developer
Some developers require a No Objection Certificate to transfer ownership. This can come with a fee, commonly quoted in ranges like AED 500 to AED 5,000, depending on the building and developer policy. The bigger issue is often timing, because some NOCs are quick, and some take longer than people expect.

Step 3: Transfer appointment at the trustee office
This is where most of the “purchase fees” hit at once:

• DLD fee: 4% of purchase price, plus admin
  
• Trustee office fee: commonly AED 2,000 or AED 4,000 plus VAT depending on property value band
  
• Title deed issuance and admin: fixed admin items, depending on the case
  
• Agent commission: typically 2% plus VAT on the brokerage service, often collected around transfer stage

If you’re buying cash, transfer day is usually the climax. If you’re buying with a mortgage, transfer day is still the climax, but you have more steps in the background.

If your transfer is coming up,  WhatsApp me  “TRANSFER DAY”, I’ll send a simple checklist of what to prepare, and what fees usually show up. 

Who pays what, buyer vs seller responsibilities

This is one of those questions that sounds simple but needs a real answer. In Dubai, the typical pattern looks like this, but always confirm in writing:

Buyer often pays

• DLD fee and admin
• Trustee office fee
• Buyer-side agent commission (if applicable in the deal structure)
• Mortgage registration fee and valuation, if financing
• NOC fee if the process requires it and the agreement places it on buyer

Seller often pays

• Seller-side agent commission, if they have one
• Mortgage release and clearance costs, if they have an existing loan
• Some developer admin items tied to the seller, depending on the project

The important part is not the “usual”, it’s the agreement for your transaction. If your contract says “seller pays X”, then that’s the version that matters.

WhatsApp me  your scenario, cash or mortgage, and I’ll tell you what is usually buyer vs seller in that exact setup. 

NOC fee for resale, when it applies and why

The NOC exists so the developer can confirm there are no outstanding obligations that block the transfer. Sometimes it’s about unpaid service charges. Sometimes it’s just a formal process. Either way, it’s one of the reasons resale transfers can feel like they have an extra hoop compared to other markets.

If you’re shortlisting buildings, I think it’s smart to ask early, “Is NOC required, what’s the fee, and what’s the timeline in this building?” That one question can save you days.

WhatsApp me  the building or community name, I’ll tell you if an NOC is typically required and what people usually budget. 

Agent commission, when it is due, and how it is structured

A lot of buyers assume commission is just “a fee”, and that’s it. But commission is really a service cost, and the real question is what you get for it.

In many Dubai resale transactions, commission is commonly quoted around 2%, with VAT applied to the brokerage service. Timing varies, but it often lands around MoU signing, transfer, or a clearly agreed milestone.

If you want to keep the feeling warm and simple for the buyer, this is a good place to remind them they don’t have to do the process alone.

If you want a guided purchase,  WhatsApp me  your budget and preferred areas, I’ll shortlist options and handle the process with you step by step.

If you are buying with a mortgage, extra bank and DLD costs

Mortgage purchases add two things, extra costs, and extra coordination.

• Common mortgage-related fee planning items
• Mortgage registration fee: 0.25% of the loan amount + AED 290 to DLD
  
• Bank arrangement fee: up to 1% of the loan amount + VAT
  
• Valuation fee: commonly AED 2,500 to AED 3,500 + VAT

Even if the mortgage rate is good, these costs affect your up-front cash.

Here’s a quick comparison table buyers find useful:

Item	Cash buyer	Mortgage buyer
DLD fee and trustee	Yes	Yes
Bank valuation	No	Yes
Mortgage registration	No	Yes
Bank arrangement fee	No	Yes
Timeline risk	Lower	Slightly higher, due to bank steps

WhatsApp me  the price and the loan percentage, I’ll calculate your true down payment, plus every mortgage fee, so you know your cash-to-complete

If the unit is tenanted, Ejari and handover admin costs

Tenanted units are common in Dubai, especially in investor-heavy areas. Buying a tenanted unit is not automatically good or bad. It depends on rent level, contract terms, and your plan.

What matters for fees is that tenanted units can come with extra admin steps and questions:

• Is the tenancy contract registered properly (Ejari context)

• Are there any outstanding bills or service charge balances

• What is the handover plan for keys, access cards, parking remotes, and building management approvals

Ejari fees themselves are usually small, but the operational friction can be bigger than people expect if the paperwork is messy.

If the unit is tenanted,  WhatsApp m e the rent amount and expiry date, I’ll help you sanity-check the situation and the handover steps.

Mini checklist, resale buyer fee sheet items to confirm in writing

This is a simple list you can include as a callout box in the article:

• Purchase price and buyer name spelling exactly as passport
• DLD fee estimate and admin
• Trustee fee band and VAT
• Commission, percentage, VAT, and payment timing
• NOC requirement, fee, and timeline
• If mortgage: arrangement fee, valuation, mortgage registration fee
• Any conveyancing support, if you choose to use it

Want me to check your deal like a friend would, carefully but calmly?  WhatsApp me  the listing and your budget.

Dubai off plan fees, Oqood and developer charges you need to budget

Off plan buying in Dubai can feel oddly relaxing at the start, because you’re thinking in installments. Payment plan, launch price, handover date, done. Then you notice the extra line items, admin fees, registration timing, sometimes even resale transfer rules, and the deal becomes more real.

Nothing here is meant to scare you. Off plan can be fantastic, especially if you choose the right developer and the right phase. But you do want to budget properly, because “I didn’t expect that fee” is the exact sentence that makes buyers hesitate at the worst possible time.

WhatsApp me  the project name and your unit price, I’ll send you a clean off plan buyer fee sheet, and help you buy step by step. 

Oqood registration fee, timing, and common misconceptions

Oqood is the off plan registration pathway. If you’re used to resale, you might assume all the big government fees show up at transfer day. Off plan flips that feeling a little.

The common misconception is, “Off plan means I avoid the 4%.” In most practical budgeting, you still plan around the 4% DLD registration cost, but the payment timing can happen earlier, often at the registration stage rather than at handover.

The second misconception is, “Oqood is a random extra fee.” Oqood is more like the system and process for registration before the title deed exists. It’s not a vibe, it’s paperwork, and it has a cost and a timeline.

If you want the exact timing for your project,  WhatsApp me  the project name and I’ll tell you when the 4% typically hits.

Developer admin fees, what they usually include

This is where off plan deals vary a lot, and honestly it’s why you should never compare projects on price alone.

Developer admin fees can include things like:

• file opening or buyer onboarding
• SPA processing and document issuance
• registration handling, coordination with Oqood steps
• sometimes master community processing, depending on the project structure

Some developers bundle it into one clean line item. Others split it across a few. Either way, you want the total number written down, early.

A small human note, sometimes the admin fees are not “high”, but the way they are presented feels messy, and that alone makes buyers nervous. Clarity fixes that.

WhatsApp me  your shortlist, even just 2 or 3 projects, I’ll compare the real fee stack side by side. 

Off plan resale vs buying direct from developer, fee differences

Buying direct from developer is usually the cleanest, especially at launch or early phases. Off plan resale can be a great opportunity, but it can carry extra rules.

Here’s the practical difference:

• Direct from developer: predictable payment milestones, predictable registration steps, less friction
  
• Off plan resale: you may need developer approval, there may be transfer rules, and there may be additional fees attached to the transfer

If you’re buying with the idea that you might resell before handover, this matters. You want to know the resale policy now, not after your first installment.

If you’re looking at an off plan resale,  WhatsApp me  the unit details and I’ll tell you what transfer rules typically apply in that project. 

Dubai off plan transfer fee, when it shows up

Not every developer calls it the same thing, and not every situation triggers it. But the concept is simple, there can be a cost to transfer the off plan unit from one buyer to another before completion.

If you are buying for appreciation and you want flexibility, you should ask two questions early:

1. When can I resell, is it after a certain percentage is paid
2. What are the transfer charges and approval steps

Even if you never resell, knowing the rules makes you feel calmer. It’s weird how much that matters.

Handover fees and move-in setup costs

At handover, the “purchase fees” fade and the real-life costs show up. These are easy to forget because they’re not part of the SPA headline.

Common planning items:

• DEWA deposit: around AED 2,000 for apartments, AED 4,000 for villas
  
• moving and setup costs
• snagging, small fixes, and basic furnishing decisions if you plan to rent quickly

If you plan to rent the unit, especially short-term, you should also budget for initial setup and maybe a few weeks of “stuff we didn’t expect”, like adding curtains, lighting upgrades, or replacing something minor that just wasn’t perfect at handover.

Tell me your plan, end-user, long-term rent, or holiday home, and I’ll help you budget the first 90 days properly.  WhatsApp me

Off plan fee snapshot table, quick budgeting

Fee bucket	Typical range or rule	When it hits
DLD registration cost	4% of price, plus admin	Often early, during registration pathway
Oqood registration path	Process and admin differs by developer	During off plan registration steps
Developer admin fees	Varies by developer and project	Early, around onboarding and SPA
Off plan resale transfer charges	Project dependent	If you resell before handover
Handover setup	DEWA deposit, move-in, snagging	At handover or immediately after

DLD transfer fee explained 

You can’t really avoid it in most normal purchases, but you can avoid stress around it.

How the DLD transfer fee is calculated

For a typical ready property resale, a simple planning formula is:

DLD Fee = 4% x Purchase Price + admin (commonly cited as AED 580 for many ready units)

So, if the price is AED 2,000,000, the 4% component is AED 80,000, then admin is added.

WhatsApp me  your target price and I’ll calculate DLD, trustee, commission, and your true cash needed to close. 

DLD transfer fee for joint buyers, companies, and POA cases

This is where deals get a little more detailed. Not harder, just more paperwork.

Joint buyers
You usually need to ensure names match passports exactly, and the buyer split is documented correctly. The fee formula does not magically change, but the process can require extra verification steps.

Company buyers
Company purchases can involve additional documentation, trade licence, authorised signatory proof, and corporate resolutions. The fee basis is still anchored to the transaction value, but the practical timeline can be longer because paperwork must be clean.

Power of Attorney (POA) cases
POA transactions can be smooth if the POA is correctly prepared, properly attested where required, and accepted for the specific transaction purpose. If the POA is vague or mismatched, this is where delays happen.

I’ll be honest, this is the area where buyers feel most “I don’t want to mess this up”, and I get it.

If your purchase is joint names, company, or POA,  WhatsApp me  and I’ll tell you the exact docs to prepare so transfer day stays smooth. 

Who pays the DLD fee in real life, buyer, seller, or split

In most Dubai resale deals, the buyer pays the DLD fee. Sometimes sellers offer incentives, like “seller covers DLD”, but usually that’s reflected somewhere else in the deal economics. The only thing that matters is what is written in your agreement.

A simple buyer-safe habit, ask for a “buyer cost sheet” that explicitly states who pays what, before you commit.

How to reduce delays at transfer, documents and common mistakes

This is the checklist that prevents the painful last-minute scramble:

• passport names must match across all documents
• correct buyer details, phone, email, and address on forms
• if mortgage, confirm bank timeline and final letter readiness
• if NOC required, confirm timeline and fees early
• for POA, ensure it is accepted for property transfer, not generic

If you want an unglamorous truth, the main cause of delays is not the DLD fee. It’s paperwork mismatch. It’s always something small.

WhatsApp me  “CHECKLIST” and I’ll send a transfer-ready document list for your exact buyer type. 

DLD fee calculator, how people estimate costs correctly

If you’re building a quick calculator section in your article, keep it simple and practical:

For resale cash buyer

• 4% DLD fee + admin
• trustee fee + VAT
• agent commission + VAT
• NOC estimate if required
• optional conveyancing if you choose

For resale mortgage buyer
Everything above, plus:
6) mortgage registration fee, 0.25% of loan + AED 290
7) bank arrangement fee, up to 1% + VAT
8) valuation, typically AED 2,500 to AED 3,500 + VAT

Here’s a simple mini-table you can drop in:

Buyer type	The fees people forget
Cash buyer, resale	NOC, trustee VAT, small admin lines
Mortgage buyer, resale	arrangement fee, valuation, mortgage registration
Off plan buyer	timing of 4%, developer admin, handover setup

If you want, send me the price and whether it’s cash or mortgage, I’ll do the calculator for you and share the exact total in one  WhatsApp  message. 

Dubai mortgage fees, what changes when you finance the purchase

Buying with a mortgage in Dubai is very doable, and honestly it can still feel smooth, but you need to budget for two things at once, the fees, and the timeline choreography. Cash deals are like walking, mortgages are like walking while holding a coffee, still fine, just don’t sprint.

Mortgage registration fee Dubai, what it is and when paid

This is the DLD mortgage fee that catches people off guard because it is tied to the loan amount, not the property price.

A simple planning rule you can copy into your calculator section:

• Mortgage registration fee: 0.25% of the loan amount + AED 290

So, if your loan is AED 1,500,000, then 0.25% is AED 3,750, plus AED 290 admin.

Small practical note, this is one of the reasons two buyers can buy the same unit and have different closing totals. Their loan sizes differ.

Bank processing fees, valuation fees, and insurance costs

Here’s the common mortgage fee stack you should plan for in Dubai, based on the budgeting ranges you shared:

• Bank mortgage arrangement fee: up to 1% of the loan amount + 5% VAT

• Property valuation fee: AED 2,500 to AED 3,500 + 5% VAT

Some banks may also require certain insurance items. I’m not going to pretend every case is identical, it isn’t. But if you budget for arrangement plus valuation plus DLD mortgage registration, you’re usually in a safe place.

A quick mini table that readers tend to love:

Mortgage cost item	Typical rule of thumb
DLD mortgage registration	0.25% of loan + AED 290
Bank arrangement fee	Up to 1% of loan + VAT
Valuation	AED 2,500 to AED 3,500 + VAT

WhatsApp me  “MORTGAGE FEES” and your target price, I’ll run the exact stack and tell you the cash you need before transfer day.

Pre-approval vs final offer letter, what affects your timeline

This is where buyers feel confident, then suddenly slightly less confident.

Pre-approval is a great start. It tells you the bank likes you. But the final approval still depends on the property, valuation, and the final credit checks. That means your purchase timeline has a few extra steps that a cash buyer doesn’t face.

What I usually tell buyers is, treat pre-approval like a green light, but not the finish line. You still need:

• valuation scheduled and completed
• final offer letter issued
• coordination of transfer appointment timing so nothing sits idle

If you’re buying with finance,  WhatsApp me  your timeline, I’ll help you line up the bank steps with the transfer process so it stays smooth. 

Early settlement and mortgage release fees, if you refinance later

This is not a purchase day cost, but it matters for planning.

If you sell later, or refinance later, you may face bank clearance and mortgage release steps. It’s not usually a deal breaker, it’s just part of the lifecycle. The key is awareness, because sellers sometimes forget they need time for mortgage clearance before transfer.

Dubai service charges and recurring annual costs (ownership reality)

This is the section that quietly separates “nice investment on paper” from “actually good investment in real life”.

Service charges are not dramatic. They’re just consistent. And because they repeat every year, they deserve attention.

What service charges cover, security, maintenance, chilled water

Service charges usually cover the shared running costs of the building or community. Things like:

• security and building staff
• cleaning and common area upkeep
• maintenance of lifts, lobbies, pools, gyms, landscaping
• sometimes chilled water or district cooling related components, depending on the setup

Even if two buildings look similar in photos, their service charges can differ because their operating model differs.

Service charges per sq ft, why two towers in the same area differ

This is a bit counterintuitive, but sometimes the “newer and shinier” building has higher service charges because it has more amenities, higher staffing levels, more complex systems, and higher expectations.

At the same time, older buildings can sometimes get expensive too if they require more maintenance. So it’s not as simple as new equals high, old equals low. It’s more like, what does this building actually cost to run, and how well is it managed.

A quick decision table you can include:

Building feature	Service charge impact
Large pool, gym, concierge	Often higher
Premium waterfront facilities	Often higher
Minimal amenities, simple layout	Often lower
Poorly maintained older building	Can rise over time

If you’re comparing two towers,  WhatsApp me  both names and sizes, I’ll help you compare the real ongoing costs. 

How to check service charges in Dubai (Service Charge Index)

Dubai has tools and references people use to check service charges by project. In practice, what matters most is getting a reliable figure for the specific building and confirming if there are any special assessments or unusual increases.

What else repeats yearly, community fees, parking, district cooling

Besides service charges, recurring costs can include:

• district cooling or chilled water bills, if applicable
• parking related fees in some setups
• unit level maintenance, AC servicing, appliances, small repairs
• for landlords, leasing and renewal admin costs in certain cases

And if the unit is rented, tenants often have their own recurring items like DEWA, plus the housing fee applied through DEWA for expats. This doesn’t hit the owner directly in the same way, but it affects tenant affordability and demand, which matters to investors.

Short-term rental owners, extra operating costs to plan for

If you’re planning holiday home income, you’re running a small hospitality business, even if it’s just one unit.

Extra cost categories often include:

• frequent cleaning and linen cycles
• more maintenance due to turnover
• guest support and property management fees
• setup costs at handover, furnishing, stocking, photography

This can still be very profitable, but you want to run it with clear eyes. I think short-term rental is great when you treat it like a plan, not like a hope.

If you’re buying for holiday home income,  WhatsApp me  the building and budget, I’ll help you forecast realistic net returns after operating costs.

Dubai property selling costs, fees sellers forget to budget for

This section is useful even for buyers, because someday you might sell, and resale friction affects your exit.

NOC and admin costs for sellers

Sellers often need to handle developer approval steps and possible NOC requirements depending on the project. Sometimes the seller assumes the buyer handles everything. Sometimes the reverse. Clarify it early.

Agent commission for sellers, when it is paid

If the seller has an agent, there is usually a commission agreement. This is not automatically your cost as a buyer, but it does affect negotiation psychology. A seller with high selling costs sometimes becomes less flexible on price. It’s human.

Mortgage release, partial release, and bank clearance fees

If the seller has a mortgage, they typically need clearance steps before transfer can happen. This can impact timing. Buyers often ignore this until it becomes the reason a transfer date moves.

If you’re buying from a seller with a mortgage,  WhatsApp me  the unit and timeline, I’ll help you plan the cleanest transfer path. 

Dubai property selling costs, fees sellers forget to budget for

Even if you’re buying today, it’s worth understanding selling costs now. Not because you’re planning to exit immediately, but because it changes how you think about your “future flexibility”. And when you negotiate, it helps to know what the seller is dealing with too.

NOC and admin costs for sellers

In many communities, sellers still deal with developer steps, including NOC requirements and clearance checks. Sometimes the buyer pays the NOC fee, sometimes the seller does, sometimes it’s negotiable, but the bigger point is the timeline. If NOC takes longer than expected, your transfer date can slide.

If you’re making an offer,  WhatsApp me  the building name and whether the seller has a mortgage, I’ll tell you the likely friction points before you commit. 

Agent commission for sellers, when it is paid

Seller commissions vary by agreement. As a buyer, you may never pay it directly, but it affects the seller’s net proceeds and sometimes their willingness to accept a lower price. It’s human, sellers often anchor on what they “walk away with” after costs.

Mortgage release, partial release, and bank clearance fees

If the seller has an existing mortgage, they usually need bank clearance steps before the title can transfer cleanly. This is a common reason transfers get delayed, not because anyone is being difficult, but because banks have processes and timing.

If you’re buying with a mortgage and the seller also has a mortgage, you basically have two timelines to coordinate. It can still be smooth, it just needs proper sequencing.

Capital gains tax, does the UAE have it, what investors should know

This is one of the reasons Dubai attracts investors. For most individual residential investors, Dubai is often described as having no annual property tax, and many guides state there is no capital gains tax on residential property sales in the typical individual investor sense.

I’m careful with how I phrase this, because tax treatment can depend on your circumstances, especially if you’re operating through a company or structured business activity. But for the average “I bought a unit, I sold a unit” investor, the market is commonly presented as tax-friendly on capital gains.

If you’re investing and thinking about exits,  WhatsApp me  your plan, hold 2 years, hold 5 years, or flip, I’ll help you choose the right deal structure and avoid surprises. 

Real examples, fee scenarios buyers actually face in Dubai

These examples keep things grounded. I’ll use round numbers so the logic is easy to follow. Your real fee sheet will depend on the exact unit, process, and whether there are developer steps, but this is the feel of it.

Example 1, cash buyer purchasing secondary

Purchase price: AED 2,000,000
Buyer type: cash, ready property

Typical fee buckets:

• DLD fee: 4% of price
• Trustee and admin: fixed fee bands plus VAT
• Agent commission: 2% plus VAT
• NOC: only if required

Quick example table:

Line item	Estimate method
DLD fee	4% x AED 2,000,000
Trustee fee	AED 4,000 + VAT band typical
Agent commission	2% x AED 2,000,000 + VAT
NOC	only if required, budget a range

Example 2, mortgage buyer purchasing secondary

Purchase price: AED 2,000,000
Loan amount: AED 1,400,000 (example)

Same costs as the cash buyer, plus mortgage-related costs:

• Mortgage registration fee: 0.25% of the mortgage value is listed in DLD service guidance for mortgaged sale processing.
• Bank arrangement fee: up to 1% plus VAT (varies by bank)
• Valuation fee: AED 2,500 to AED 3,500 plus VAT is a common planning range

Mini table:

Mortgage add-on	Estimate method
DLD mortgage registration	0.25% x loan amount + admin (often referenced as AED 290)
Bank arrangement fee	up to 1% x loan + VAT
Valuation	AED 2,500 to AED 3,500 + VAT

Example 3, buying off plan direct from developer

Unit price: AED 1,600,000
Buyer type: off plan, direct from developer

Typical fee buckets:

• 4% DLD registration cost is still the main anchor, but timing differs for off plan registration pathways
• Developer admin fees, varies by project
• Handover setup costs later, like DEWA deposit (AED 2,000 apartments, AED 4,000 villas is commonly cited)

This is the off plan reality, you might not feel the fees all on day one, but you still need to plan the total.

If you want a guided purchase,  WhatsApp me  the area you like, I’ll shortlist options and handle the process end-to-end.

Example 4, off plan resale transfer before handover

This is where buyers can make money, or get surprised, depending on whether they asked the right questions early.

Key fee questions to plan for:

• Is resale allowed before a certain percentage is paid
• Are there transfer charges or admin steps
• Is developer approval required, and what is the process timeline

Example 5, investor buying with a short-term rental plan

Short-term rental returns can look amazing on paper, then get normal after you include reality.

Cost buckets investors often forget:

• Service charges impact net yield directly
• Turnover and maintenance costs rise with guest stays
• Setup costs, furnishing, photos, linens, plus ongoing management fees

Tenant housing fee is also a real monthly outflow for many residents in Dubai, it’s commonly described as 5% of annual rent, paid monthly via DEWA.

No pressure.  WhatsApp me  your budget and I’ll tell you what’s realistic, and what fees to expect, before you waste time.

Dubai property fee calculator (simple framework you can copy)

Inputs to collect, price, property type, mortgage, off plan vs resale

Keep it simple:

• Purchase price
• Ready vs off plan
• Cash vs mortgage
• Loan amount if mortgage
• Is NOC required, if known
• Unit size and building name for service charges estimation

Calculator formula, line-by-line fee estimation

Resale, cash buyer

• DLD = 0.04 x price + admin
• Trustee = fixed fee band + VAT
• Commission = 0.02 x price + VAT
• NOC = estimate range if required
• Optional conveyancing = AED 6,000 to AED 10,000 (if used)

Mortgage buyer adds

• Mortgage registration = 0.0025 x loan + admin
• Arrangement fee = up to 0.01 x loan + VAT
• Valuation = AED 2,500 to AED 3,500 + VAT

Common calculator mistakes, what people forget to include

• VAT on services, especially commission and some bank fees
• Mortgage registration fee being based on loan, not price
• NOC cost and timeline
• Service charges when comparing “yield”
• DEWA deposit and initial setup if you need the unit live fast
• Ejari fees, small but real, commonly referenced as AED 155 online or about AED 219.75 via trustee registration channels

Ready to buy?  WhatsApp me  your budget and preferred areas, I’ll shortlist options and guide you through the purchase step by step. 

FAQs

1. What are the total fees to buy property in Dubai in 2026?

   Most buyers should plan around 7% to 10% of the purchase price for a typical resale purchase once you include the big items, plus the “small” admin costs that add up. The core stack is usually 4% DLD fee, trustee fee, agent commission (often 2% plus VAT), and then extras like NOC (if required) and mortgage fees (if financing). Off plan can feel different because the timing changes, not because fees disappear.

2. What is the Dubai Land Department (DLD) fee, and how is it calculated?

   A simple planning rule is: DLD fee = 4% of the purchase price + admin charges. The admin portion is typically a fixed amount that varies by process and property type, and many buyers budget around AED 580 as a common reference point for ready units.

3. Who pays the 4% DLD transfer fee in Dubai, buyer or seller?

   In most real transactions, the buyer pays the DLD fee. It can be negotiated or “split” in some deals, but don’t assume, confirm it clearly in writing in the agreement and the buyer cost sheet.

4. What is the trustee office fee in Dubai property transfer, and how much is it?

   For many resale transfers processed through trustee offices, buyers often see fee bands like:
   
   AED 2,000 + 5% VAT for properties under AED 500k
   AED 4,000 + 5% VAT for properties above AED 500k
   
   Exact amounts can vary by process, but those bands are widely used as planning numbers.

5. What is the Oqood fee in Dubai, and when is it paid for off plan property?

   Oqood is the off plan registration pathway. In practical budgeting, buyers still plan around the main government registration cost (commonly treated like the “4%”), but the timing can be earlier, during registration stages rather than at a resale-style transfer day. Developers can also have their own admin steps around it, so always ask for the fee and timing schedule in writing.

6. What is the mortgage registration fee in Dubai, and how much is 0.25% of the loan amount?

   A common planning formula is: 0.25% of the loan amount + AED 290 (admin).
   
   Example: if your loan is AED 1,500,000, then 0.25% = AED 3,750, plus AED 290 admin.

7. How much are Dubai service charges per square foot, and how do they affect net rental yield?

   Service charges vary a lot by building and community, so there isn’t one number that stays true across Dubai. They can materially change your net yield because they repeat every year. The practical approach is to verify service charges for the exact building, then calculate net yield after: service charges, maintenance allowance, and realistic vacancy assumptions.