How much are Dubai service charges per square foot by building, what factors change them, how can owners verify charges, and how do they affect net rental yield?
How to Check Dubai Service Charges by Building (Verified)
What service charges are, where to verify the exact rate, and how they hit net yield.
Direct Answer
Dubai service charges are annual building and community fees billed per square foot, and they vary building by building. The only reliable way to get your exact rate is the Dubai Land Department Service Charge Index (Mollak, Dubai REST), where you search by project, usage, and year, then export the result.
Explanation
If you want service charges by building, the key point is this, there isn’t one dependable average that works across Dubai. The same area can have two towers next to each other with totally different charges. So rather than guessing, Dubai gives you a proper verification route.
The Dubai Land Department Service Charge Index is designed for exactly this. DLD describes it as a service that lets customers inquire about the approved service fees for jointly owned properties, approved through RERA. You can access it online (including the Mollak system) or through Dubai REST.
How to verify an exact building rate, in plain steps:
- Open the Service Charge Index, then search by project name + usage + year, or use title deed details, or select the building on the map.
- If you are using Dubai REST, the flow is: Services, Service Charge Index, enter details or map, select project, usage, year, search.
- Export the result as a PDF for your records, the online tool supports exporting.
What makes charges go up or down?
Size matters because it is charged per sq ft, but it’s not the only driver. Practical factors include the building type,
property usage (residential vs commercial), and what the community is actually maintaining, pools, lifts, gyms, security,
landscaping, and sometimes district cooling arrangements.
This is where investors get caught out. A high gross yield can look great until service charges land. The clean way is: Net rent = annual rent minus service charges and operating costs, then Net yield = net rent divided by purchase price.
Quick Fact Table
| What you want to know | Best way to get it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Service charge rate for your exact building | DLD Service Charge Index, project, usage, year | This is the verified, building-level number |
| How charges are presented | Per sq ft, by year, exportable result | Easy to model in a yield calculator |
| Typical market range context | Many guides cite AED 3 to AED 30 | Helpful context, not a substitute for building lookup |
| Main drivers | Usage, size, type, location, amenities | Explains why “same area” can differ |
| Yield impact | Use net yield, not gross yield | Prevents overestimating returns |
| Owner verification method | Dubai REST app also supports lookup | Useful when you need it quickly on your phone |
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