The advertised sale price is not the final amount you should budget when buying property in Dubai.

A purchase can involve Dubai Land Department registration charges, title-deed and map fees, Registration Trustee charges, brokerage commission, mortgage registration, bank expenses and ongoing service charges. Off-plan property has its own registration structure, while a mortgaged resale property can involve additional steps and costs.

Understanding these expenses before making an offer is essential because even a few percentage points become significant on a high-value property.

There is also an important point that is frequently oversimplified online: Dubai Land Department’s current Property Sale Registration schedule formally lists the registration charge as 2% of the sale value for the seller and 2% for the buyer. That produces a combined registration charge of 4%. The commercial agreement between the parties can affect who ultimately bears particular costs, so buyers should check the actual sale contract rather than automatically assuming that every 4% is legally assigned to them.

This guide explains the current official charges, which costs are negotiable, how mortgage and off-plan expenses differ, and how to calculate a more realistic total acquisition budget.

Dubai Property Buying Costs at a Glance

For a typical completed apartment or villa purchase, the main costs can include:

Cost	Current Position
DLD seller registration charge	2% of sale value
DLD buyer registration charge	2% of sale value
Combined DLD registration charge	4% of sale value
Title deed certificate	AED250
Apartment/villa map	AED250
Unified land map under Dubai Municipality	AED225
Land map outside Dubai Municipality jurisdiction	AED100
Knowledge fee	AED10
Innovation fee	AED10
Registration Trustee fee if property is AED500,000+	AED4,000 + VAT
Registration Trustee fee below AED500,000	AED2,000 + VAT
Mortgage registration	0.25% of mortgage value, plus applicable charges
Brokerage commission	Contractually agreed; not a universal DLD-fixed percentage
Developer/NOC-related charges	Property/developer specific
Bank valuation/processing	Lender specific
Annual service charges	Building/community specific

The DLD amounts above come from the current Property Sale Registration and Mortgage Registration services.

The most important lesson is that not every cost is a fixed percentage established by law. Some charges are official government fees. Others are contractual or depend on the property, broker, bank or developer.

The DLD Property Registration Fee

The largest official transaction charge in many Dubai property purchases is the registration fee.

Dubai Land Department currently lists:

Seller: 2% of the sale value

Buyer: 2% of the sale value

This produces a combined registration charge of:

4% of the property sale value.

Example: AED1 million property

On a property selling for AED1 million:

Seller’s DLD-listed portion:

AED1,000,000 × 2% = AED20,000

Buyer’s DLD-listed portion:

AED1,000,000 × 2% = AED20,000

Combined registration charge:

AED40,000

Who actually pays the 4%?

This needs careful explanation.

The official DLD service schedule allocates 2% to the seller and 2% to the buyer. DLD has also previously clarified that the required 4% registration amount is paid according to the agreement concluded between seller and buyer.

Therefore, the sale agreement matters.

A buyer should ask specifically:

What portion of the DLD registration charge am I contractually paying?
Is the seller paying their listed 2%?
Has the transaction been negotiated so that one side covers more of the combined charge?
Are any developer promotions covering part of the registration cost?

Do not rely on a generic online calculator without confirming the contract.

Title Deed Fee

DLD currently lists an AED250 fee for issuance of the title deed certificate during completed-property sale registration.

The electronic title deed is an important output of the registration process because it records the purchaser’s registered property ownership after the transaction is completed.

Although AED250 is small relative to the value of most Dubai properties, it should still be included in a complete acquisition budget.

Property Map Fees

Map charges depend on the property type.

DLD’s current Property Sale Registration service lists:

Map	Current Fee
Unified map under Dubai Municipality	AED225
Land map outside Dubai Municipality jurisdiction	AED100
Villa or apartment map	AED250

A buyer should therefore not add every map fee in the table simultaneously.

The applicable charge depends on what is being purchased.

For a typical apartment or villa transaction, the current published unit/villa map fee is AED250.

Knowledge and Innovation Fees

DLD currently lists:

AED10 Knowledge fee
AED10 Innovation fee

within its Property Sale Registration charges.

These are relatively minor compared with the percentage-based registration fee but should still appear in a complete transaction estimate.

Registration Trustee Fees

Completed property transactions can be processed through authorised Real Estate Registration Trustee centres.

DLD currently lists the following service-partner charges:

Sale value of AED500,000 or more: AED4,000 + VAT

Sale value below AED500,000: AED2,000 + VAT.

With 5% VAT, AED4,000 becomes AED4,200 where that VAT treatment applies to the trustee service.

That means most mainstream Dubai property purchases above AED500,000 should account for an additional trustee-service expense alongside the percentage registration fee.

Example: Official Buyer-Side DLD Costs

To understand how the numbers work, consider an apartment priced at AED1 million, assuming the buyer pays only the buyer-side 2% listed in DLD’s formal schedule.

Cost	Example
Buyer DLD registration portion – 2%	AED20,000
Title deed	AED250
Apartment map	AED250
Knowledge fee	AED10
Innovation fee	AED10
Trustee fee	AED4,000 + VAT
Trustee VAT at 5%	AED200
Illustrative total	AED24,720

This example excludes brokerage, financing, insurance, professional fees and any developer-specific charges.

If the contractual agreement requires the buyer to bear the full combined 4% registration amount, another AED20,000 would be added in this AED1 million example, bringing the illustrative DLD/trustee-related amount to approximately AED44,720.

That distinction is why buyers should understand the contract rather than simply applying “4%” to every transaction.

Cost Examples at Different Property Prices

Using the DLD-listed buyer portion of 2% plus the AED250 title deed, AED250 apartment/villa map, AED20 Knowledge/Innovation charges and AED4,000 + VAT trustee charge for properties above AED500,000:

Property Price	Buyer 2%	Other Illustrated DLD/Trustee Costs	Approx. Buyer-Side Total*
AED1 million	AED20,000	AED4,720	AED24,720
AED2 million	AED40,000	AED4,720	AED44,720
AED5 million	AED100,000	AED4,720	AED104,720

*Illustrative only and based on the buyer-side portion stated in DLD’s official fee schedule. Brokerage, mortgage costs and other transaction-specific expenses are excluded.

If a contract instead makes the buyer responsible for the full combined 4% registration charge, the acquisition budget would be correspondingly higher.

Is Broker Commission a Fixed Dubai Government Fee?

No fixed universal broker percentage appears in DLD’s Property Sale Registration fee schedule.

Brokerage commission is contractual.

DLD’s official FAQs state that a broker receives the agreed-upon commission according to the brokerage relationship and that entitlement can depend on the terms of the brokerage contract.

DLD’s official Contract F also contains a dedicated section for commission details.

This means buyers should avoid treating a commonly quoted market percentage as if it were a mandatory government charge.

Before agreeing to broker fees, confirm:

the commission amount or percentage
whether VAT is added
who is paying it
when it becomes payable
whether any additional administration fee exists
whether the amount is recorded correctly in the relevant brokerage/sale documentation

The commission should be agreed clearly rather than discovered at transfer.

VAT and Dubai Residential Property

VAT treatment should not be confused with DLD registration fees.

The UAE Federal Tax Authority states that supplies of residential properties are generally exempt from VAT, while the first supply of qualifying residential property within three years of completion is zero-rated under the applicable rules. Commercial property is treated differently and is generally subject to VAT at the standard 5% rate.

This does not mean that every service connected to a residential property purchase is VAT-free.

For example, DLD expressly lists the Registration Trustee charge as being subject to VAT.

Professional and commercial service providers may also have their own VAT treatment.

The correct approach is to distinguish:

VAT on the property transaction itself

from

VAT on services connected to the transaction.

Mortgage Registration Fee

A financed buyer has additional costs.

Dubai Land Department currently charges 0.25% of the mortgage value for registration of an ordinary mortgage.

DLD also lists additional charges such as:

AED250 title-deed issuance fee
AED10 Knowledge fee
AED10 Innovation fee

depending on the mortgage transaction structure.

Example: AED1 million mortgage

If the registered mortgage value is AED1 million:

AED1,000,000 × 0.25% = AED2,500

That AED2,500 is the percentage-based DLD mortgage registration charge before applicable additional transaction fees.

Example: AED2 million mortgage

AED2,000,000 × 0.25% = AED5,000

This illustrates why buyers should calculate mortgage costs using the loan amount, not the full property value.

Bank Mortgage Fees

DLD mortgage registration should not be confused with fees charged by the bank.

Depending on the lender and product, a financed purchase can involve charges relating to:

mortgage processing
property valuation
documentation
insurance
account arrangements
early settlement
liability letters
NOCs

Actual costs need to be obtained from the lender’s current Key Facts Statement and financing offer.

The Central Bank of the UAE requires licensed financial institutions to disclose applicable fees to customers. Its current fee framework also caps home-loan early settlement fees at 1% of the outstanding balance or AED10,000, whichever is less.

The CBUAE schedule additionally lists AED85 for issuance of a home-loan liability letter and AED150 for issuance of an NOC within the applicable regulated fee framework.

Mortgage buyers should obtain a complete written breakdown rather than comparing lenders on interest rate alone.

The Deposit Is Not a Fee

Buyers sometimes include the transaction deposit when calculating “fees,” but the deposit and acquisition costs are different.

A deposit is generally part of the commercial purchase arrangement rather than a government charge.

The amount, conditions and consequences should be stated in the sale agreement.

Do not assume that a percentage commonly used in resale transactions is a universal government requirement.

The important questions are:

How much is the deposit?
Who holds it?
Is it applied to the purchase price?
Under what circumstances can it be forfeited?
What happens if financing fails?
What happens if the seller defaults?

Read the relevant sale agreement before providing significant funds.

Developer NOC Costs

For applicable completed freehold property transactions, DLD currently requires an electronic no-objection certificate from the developer as part of the Property Sale Registration documentation.

However, there is no single universal developer NOC price stated in DLD’s sale-registration fee table.

Any developer administration or NOC-related charge should therefore be confirmed with the relevant developer or master community.

Do not assume that the cost for one Dubai development applies to another.

Buying a Mortgaged Resale Property

If the seller already has a mortgage, the transaction can involve additional steps to settle or release that financing.

DLD provides a specific service for registering the sale of mortgaged property and lists separate charges relating to mortgage release and sale registration.

This can make the process more complicated than buying an unencumbered property.

The transaction may involve:

seller’s lender
buyer’s lender, if applicable
liability documentation
mortgage release
registration
trustee processing

Buyers should obtain a transaction-specific cost schedule rather than assuming the normal unmortgaged resale calculation is sufficient.

Off-Plan Property Registration Fees

Buying an off-plan property does not remove DLD registration costs.

DLD’s current Initial Sale Registration service lists:

Seller: 2% of sale value

Purchaser: 2% of sale value

plus:

AED10 Knowledge fee
AED10 Innovation fee.

The same service also lists an AED1,000 developer self-registration charge for provisional sales through the Oqood portal.

Buyers should distinguish the developer’s system charge from amounts contractually charged to the purchaser.

Do developers sometimes advertise “DLD fee waived”?

Developers can structure promotions or commercial incentives around registration expenses.

That does not mean the registration requirement itself disappears.

DLD has explained that property registration fees must be settled to complete legal registration and that the allocation can follow the agreement between seller and purchaser.

A promotion should therefore be checked carefully to establish:

exactly how much is being covered
which party is paying
whether the incentive applies to the whole registration amount
whether conditions or deadlines apply

Oqood Is Part of the Off-Plan Process

Off-plan transactions are provisionally registered before completion.

DLD’s Initial Sale Registration service uses the Oqood system for developer registration of qualifying off-plan sales.

The service currently states that the Sale and Purchase Agreement should be registered in the provisional register within 90 days of signing.

For buyers, proper registration matters more than simply receiving a payment receipt from the developer.

Service Charges Are Not a Purchase Fee, but They Matter

Service charges generally begin as an ownership cost rather than a one-time acquisition fee.

For apartments and other jointly owned properties, they can materially affect the real cost of holding the asset.

Dubai Land Department’s Service Charge Index allows buyers and owners to check service fees approved by RERA for jointly owned properties.

Dubai REST also provides property owners with information including service charges and rental return.

Why service charges matter to investors

Imagine two apartments each produce AED100,000 per year in rent.

If Property A has substantially higher service charges than Property B, the first property can deliver a significantly lower net return despite identical headline rental income.

Always calculate:

Net income = Rental income − ownership expenses

rather than judging an investment on gross rent alone.

Who Pays Service Charges After Transfer?

The owner of a jointly owned property has the primary responsibility for applicable service and usage charges under Dubai’s jointly owned property framework, subject to the applicable legal and contractual arrangements. DLD has also highlighted the owner’s responsibility for approved common-property charges.

During a resale transaction, buyers should confirm that relevant outstanding obligations have been dealt with as part of the transfer and NOC process.

After ownership is transferred, annual service charges become part of the purchaser’s ongoing cost model.

Property Inspection and Snagging Costs

A professional property inspection is not a universal DLD fee.

However, it can be a worthwhile transaction expense, particularly for:

older villas
high-value residences
heavily renovated properties
properties showing signs of maintenance issues
newly completed units approaching handover

Inspection fees vary according to property size and provider.

Because there is no single official government rate, obtain a quotation for the exact property.

The same principle applies to professional snagging of a newly completed unit.

Legal and Conveyancing Costs

A standard Dubai property transaction does not have one universal government-mandated legal-advice charge.

Some buyers handle straightforward transactions through brokers, developers, lenders and authorised registration processes.

Others appoint a lawyer or conveyancer, particularly when:

the transaction is high value
a company is buying
ownership is complex
a power of attorney is involved
the property is subject to unusual contractual terms
succession planning matters
the buyer is investing internationally

Professional fees vary according to the work involved.

International purchasers should obtain a written fee quotation rather than treating legal costs as a fixed percentage of the property value.

Property Valuation Costs

Mortgage lenders typically need to establish the value of the property before finalising financing.

The bank’s valuation is separate from DLD’s sale-registration fee.

The amount charged can vary between lenders and financing arrangements.

For cash buyers, an independent valuation may also be useful when:

comparable transactions are limited
the property is unusual
the purchase is high value
related parties are involved
the buyer wants additional price evidence

DLD provides formal property valuation services and lists accredited valuation companies among its official real estate services.

Insurance Costs

Insurance can form part of the ownership or financing budget.

A lender may impose insurance-related requirements on a financed purchase, while owners may independently choose additional property coverage.

The correct cost depends on:

property
value
lender
policy
coverage

It should therefore remain a separate line in the buying budget rather than being estimated through a generic Dubai percentage.

Furnishing and Fit-Out Costs

A property advertised for AED2 million may require significantly more capital before it is ready for occupation or rental.

Possible post-purchase expenditure includes:

furniture
appliances
curtains
lighting
internet setup
interior design
landscaping
smart-home equipment
minor renovation

These are not transaction fees, but they affect the amount of cash needed to make the property usable.

This is particularly important when comparing a furnished ready property with an unfurnished off-plan unit.

Moving and Utility Setup Costs

Owner-occupiers should also budget for practical post-transfer costs.

These can include moving, utility connections and other property setup expenses.

Rather than building these into a generic percentage, calculate them separately once the property and occupancy plan are known.

Are There Annual Property Taxes in Dubai?

Buyers should distinguish transaction and ownership charges from the tax systems they may know in other countries.

For residential property, the FTA’s current VAT guidance states that residential property supplies are generally exempt, with the first supply of qualifying new residential property subject to zero-rating rules. Commercial property is generally taxable at 5%.

However, property owners can still face recurring costs such as:

service charges
maintenance
utilities
insurance
property management
financing costs

International investors should also remember that their country of tax residence may impose reporting or tax obligations relating to overseas property, rental income or gains.

Those obligations are jurisdiction-specific and require appropriate tax advice.

Costs for Cash Buyers vs Mortgage Buyers

A cash buyer generally avoids several financing-related expenses.

Cost	Cash Buyer	Mortgage Buyer
DLD sale registration	Yes	Yes
Title/map fees	Yes	Yes
Trustee fee	Yes	Yes
Brokerage where applicable	Yes	Yes
Mortgage registration	No	Yes
Bank processing	No	Potentially
Bank valuation	Not necessarily	Usually relevant
Finance-related insurance	No lender requirement	May apply
Interest/financing cost	No	Yes

Mortgage finance therefore increases the total transaction and long-term ownership cost, even though it reduces the amount of cash needed to fund the property price immediately.

Costs for Ready vs Off-Plan Property

The cost structure also changes according to completion status.

Cost	Ready/Resale	Off-Plan
DLD registration	Yes	Yes
Trustee transfer fee	Relevant to completed transfer	Different provisional process
Title deed	Issued after completed registration	Final title comes later
Provisional registration/Oqood	No	Yes
Developer payment schedule	Usually not	Yes
Mortgage registration	If financed	If qualifying finance used
NOC	Relevant to applicable resale	Different developer process
Immediate service charges	After ownership	Usually after relevant completion/handover stage
Snagging	Existing property inspection	Often relevant at handover

The lower initial instalment often advertised with off-plan property should not be confused with a lower total acquisition cost.

First-Time Home Buyer Programme and DLD Fee Payments

Dubai’s First-Time Home Buyer Programme can provide additional financial flexibility for qualifying UAE residents purchasing their first home.

DLD currently states that benefits may include flexible payment arrangements for DLD registration fees through eligible credit cards, with interest-free instalment plans, as well as preferential financing offers from participating banks.

These benefits are not automatically available to every purchaser.

Eligibility and participating-bank/developer terms should be checked through the official programme before relying on them in a budget.

How Much Cash Should You Budget Above the Property Price?

There is no single percentage that accurately describes every purchase.

The correct amount depends on:

how the 4% DLD registration charge is allocated
whether a broker is involved
whether mortgage financing is used
trustee charges
property type
developer fees
valuation
insurance
professional advice
furnishing
service charges

For this reason, a buyer should prepare an itemised acquisition statement rather than simply adding an arbitrary 5%, 7% or 10% to the property value.

A good budget has three categories

1. Purchase price

The amount paid for the property itself.

2. Transaction costs

Registration, trustee, broker, mortgage and other acquisition expenses.

3. Post-purchase reserve

Service charges, maintenance, furnishing, repairs and unexpected costs.

Separating the three provides a much clearer picture of affordability.

Example Budget for an AED2 Million Apartment

Consider a hypothetical AED2 million completed apartment.

Under DLD’s formal fee schedule, the buyer-side registration portion would be:

2% × AED2 million = AED40,000

Then add illustrative official costs:

Title deed: AED250
Apartment map: AED250
Knowledge fee: AED10
Innovation fee: AED10
Registration Trustee: AED4,000 + VAT

The illustrated official buyer-side amount is approximately:

AED44,720

before brokerage, mortgage expenses, inspection, insurance, furnishing or other transaction-specific charges.

If the sale agreement requires the buyer to pay the seller’s 2% registration portion as well, another:

AED40,000

would need to be added.

That would bring the illustrative registration/trustee amount to approximately:

AED84,720

before other expenses.

This single example demonstrates why identifying who is contractually paying each cost matters.

Example Budget for a Mortgage Buyer

Now suppose the same AED2 million property is partly financed.

If the registered mortgage amount were AED1.2 million, DLD’s 0.25% mortgage registration charge would be:

AED1,200,000 × 0.25% = AED3,000

before applicable additional mortgage-registration and lender costs.

The buyer would therefore need to budget for:

purchase cash contribution
sale-registration costs
trustee charges
mortgage registration
lender valuation
applicable bank charges
brokerage where agreed
post-purchase costs

The deposit alone is not a complete representation of how much cash a mortgage buyer needs.

Costs International Buyers Should Consider

A non-resident buyer can have additional practical expenses that a local resident may not encounter to the same extent.

Possible costs include:

international bank-transfer fees
currency conversion
document attestation where required
power of attorney where applicable
international legal or tax advice
property management
overseas travel

These are not universal DLD charges.

They depend on the buyer’s country, ownership structure and transaction method.

International investors should calculate costs in both dirhams and their home currency, particularly where exchange-rate movements could materially affect the capital committed.

Common Mistakes When Calculating Dubai Property Costs

Assuming the buyer always legally pays the entire 4%

DLD’s current service schedule lists 2% for the seller and 2% for the buyer. The contract can determine how the commercial burden is ultimately allocated.

Treating broker commission as a government fee

It is an agreed contractual commission. DLD’s brokerage guidance refers to the broker’s agreed commission, and Contract F records commission information.

Forgetting trustee costs

For a property worth AED500,000 or more, DLD currently lists AED4,000 + VAT in Registration Trustee service-partner fees.

Forgetting mortgage registration

A financed buyer should add DLD’s 0.25% mortgage registration charge to the budget.

Calculating mortgage registration on the property price

The 0.25% charge applies to the mortgage value, not automatically to the entire purchase price.

Ignoring service charges

Service charges can materially affect annual ownership cost and investment returns. DLD provides an official Service Charge Index so buyers can research approved charges.

Forgetting furnishing and repairs

A property can be legally transferred but still require significant expenditure before it is ready to occupy or rent.

Assuming every developer charges the same NOC or administration fees

Developer-specific charges should be verified for the particular property.

Using an online calculator as the final transaction statement

Calculators can be useful for initial budgeting but cannot know your negotiated commission, bank terms, developer charges or contractual allocation of DLD registration costs.

Dubai Property Cost Checklist

Before signing a purchase agreement, establish the amount for each of the following:

property purchase price
buyer’s DLD registration charge
any additional DLD registration amount assigned to the buyer by contract
title deed
map charge
Knowledge fee
Innovation fee
Registration Trustee charge
brokerage commission
VAT on applicable services
developer/NOC expenses
mortgage registration
lender processing charges
property valuation
insurance
legal or conveyancing fees
property inspection
service charges
furnishing
property management
cash reserve

If several figures remain unknown, request a detailed transaction statement before committing to the purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Dubai Land Department fee when buying property?

DLD’s current completed-property sale-registration service lists 2% of the sale value for the seller and 2% for the buyer, producing a combined registration charge of 4%.

Does the buyer always pay the full 4% DLD fee?

The official DLD schedule assigns 2% to the seller and 2% to the buyer. DLD has also stated that payment of registration fees can follow the agreement concluded between seller and buyer. Buyers should therefore check the sale contract.

How much is the Registration Trustee fee?

DLD currently lists AED4,000 + VAT when the sale value is AED500,000 or more and AED2,000 + VAT when it is below AED500,000.

How much does a Dubai title deed cost?

DLD currently lists an AED250 title deed certificate issuance fee for completed-property sale registration.

How much is the Dubai mortgage registration fee?

DLD currently charges 0.25% of the mortgage value for an ordinary mortgage, plus applicable additional charges.

Is real estate agent commission fixed in Dubai?

DLD’s guidance refers to the broker’s agreed commission rather than establishing one universal commission percentage for every transaction. Commission details are also captured within the relevant contractual framework.

Do you pay VAT when buying residential property in Dubai?

The Federal Tax Authority states that residential property supplies are generally exempt from VAT, while the first supply of qualifying new residential property is subject to zero-rating rules. Commercial property is generally taxable at 5%. Services connected with a transaction can have separate VAT treatment.

Are off-plan properties subject to DLD fees?

Yes. DLD’s current Initial Sale Registration service lists 2% of the sale value for the seller and 2% for the purchaser, plus AED10 Knowledge and AED10 Innovation fees.

Are service charges included in the property purchase price?

Generally, service charges are recurring ownership expenses rather than part of the advertised purchase price. DLD provides a Service Charge Index for checking RERA-approved charges for jointly owned properties.

How can I find the service charges before buying?

Dubai Land Department’s Service Charge Index allows buyers to search approved charges, while Dubai REST also provides service-charge information to property owners.

How much extra should I budget above the Dubai property price?

There is no universal percentage because the answer depends on the DLD cost allocation, brokerage agreement, mortgage, trustee fees and property-specific expenses. Build an itemised budget using the exact transaction rather than relying on a fixed percentage.

Understanding the Real Cost Before You Buy

The true cost of buying property in Dubai is not difficult to understand once the expenses are separated into the right categories.

Start with the official charges.

For completed property, DLD currently lists a combined registration fee of 4% of the sale value, formally divided into 2% for the seller and 2% for the buyer. Add the applicable title-deed, map, Knowledge, Innovation and Registration Trustee charges.

Then add transaction-specific expenses.

If a broker is involved, confirm the agreed commission. If you are financing the purchase, include the 0.25% DLD mortgage-registration fee and obtain the bank’s complete fee schedule. If you are buying off-plan, understand the provisional-registration costs and developer payment structure.

Finally, look beyond transfer day.

Service charges, maintenance, furnishing, property management and financing all affect the real cost of ownership.

The strongest approach is therefore not to ask:

“What percentage should I add to the property price?”

Instead ask:

“What is the full itemised cost of this exact transaction, and how much cash will I need before, during and after transfer?”

HAMZ International Real Estate can help buyers compare Dubai properties and understand the expected transaction costs before making an offer, including ready, off-plan, cash and mortgage purchases.

Sources & Fact-Checking

Dubai Land Department — Property Sale Registration
Supports: current 2% seller and 2% buyer registration charges, title deed fee, map charges, Knowledge and Innovation fees, Registration Trustee fees and completed-property transfer requirements.
Direct source URL:
https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/property-sale-registration/

Dubai Land Department — Mortgage Registration Application
Supports: current 0.25% mortgage registration charge, title-deed fees and applicable Knowledge and Innovation charges.
Direct source URL:
https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/request-for-mortgage-registration/

Dubai Land Department — Initial Sale Registration
Supports: current off-plan registration charges, Oqood provisional registration and developer self-registration fees.
Direct source URL:
https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/request-to-register-the-initial-sale/

Dubai Land Department — DLD Registration Fee Guidance
Supports: combined 4% registration amount and DLD clarification that payment can be based on the agreement between seller and buyer.
Direct source URL:
https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/news-media/dld-calls-on-developers-to-pay-property-registration-fees-within-60-days/

Dubai Land Department — Contract F
Supports: official Dubai sale-contract structure and the inclusion of commission details within the transaction documentation.
Direct source URL:
https://emart.dubailand.gov.ae/Contracts/ContractFPage.aspx

Dubai Land Department — Frequently Asked Questions
Supports: brokerage commission being based on the agreed contractual arrangement and broker entitlement rules.
Direct source URL:
https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/frequently-asked-questions/

Dubai Land Department — Service Charge Index
Supports: official RERA-approved service-charge enquiries for jointly owned Dubai properties.
Direct source URL:
https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/service-charge-index-overview/

Dubai Land Department — Dubai REST
Supports: property service-charge information, rental return data and digital property-management and transaction services.
Direct source URL:
https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/dubai-rest/

Dubai Land Department — Sale of Mortgaged Property
Supports: additional DLD procedures and charges that can apply when transferring a property with an existing mortgage.
Direct source URL:
https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/registering-the-sale-of-a-mortgaged-property/

Dubai Land Department — First-Time Home Buyer Programme
Supports: flexible payment arrangements for DLD registration fees through eligible credit cards and preferential financing benefits from participating institutions.
Direct source URL:
https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/first-time-home-buyer-overview/

Dubai Land Department — All Real Estate Services
Supports: availability of property valuation, accredited valuation companies, title verification, Service Charge Index and other official property services.
Direct source URL:
https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/all-services/

Central Bank of the UAE — Permissible Fees for Home Loans
Supports: regulated home-loan charges including the maximum early-settlement fee of 1% of outstanding balance or AED10,000, whichever is less, liability letters and NOC charges.
Direct source URL:
https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en/rulebook/appendix-no-2

Central Bank of the UAE — Consumer Protection Standards
Supports: lender obligations to disclose applicable financing and early-settlement fees to borrowers.
Direct source URL:
https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en/rulebook/consumer-protection-standards

Federal Tax Authority — Real Estate VAT Treatment
Supports: current VAT treatment of residential and commercial real estate in the UAE, including general residential exemption, zero-rating of qualifying first supplies and 5% VAT on commercial property supplies.
Direct source URL:
https://tax.gov.ae/en/faq.aspx?keyword=How%20will%20real%20estate%20be%20treated%3F

Cost of Buying Property in Dubai: Fees and Charges Explained