Dubai Property Upfront Costs

General guidance to set expectations, current as of 2026 but not guaranteed. For an exact figure use DLD's official Procedure Fee Calculator (dubailand.gov.ae) or ask our advisor. Figures are typical and change — confirm current rates.

How much do I need beyond the property price?

When buying a ready property, budget for these on top of the price:

• DLD transfer fee: 4% of the value (buyer typically pays the full 4% by convention)
• Agency fee: commonly 2% + 5% VAT on resale (off-plan direct from a developer usually has none)
• DLD registration (trustee) fee: ≈ AED 4,200 (≥ AED 500k) or ≈ AED 2,100 (below)
• Title deed + small fixed fees: AED 250 title deed + minor knowledge/innovation/map fees
• Developer NOC: roughly AED 500–5,000 (+ VAT), set by the developer
• Mortgage costs (if financing): mortgage registration 0.25% of the loan (+ ~AED 290) + bank

arrangement (~0.5–1% of the loan) + valuation (~AED 2,500–3,500)

Rule of thumb: ~6–8% of the price for a cash buyer, rising to ~7–10% for a mortgage buyer. The 4% DLD fee is the single biggest cost. These fees are generally paid in cash upfront and cannot be rolled into the loan — a mortgage buyer needs the down payment PLUS these fees in cash.

Worked example — cash buyer, AED 2,000,000 resale (illustrative)

• DLD transfer (4%): AED 80,000
• Agency (2%) + VAT: ~AED 42,000
• Registration ~AED 4,200 + title deed ~AED 250 + NOC/admin
• Total ≈ AED 127,000–130,000 (~6.5%)

Worked example — mortgage buyer, AED 2,000,000 (80% LTV, AED 1.6M loan)

• The cash-buyer costs above, PLUS:
• Mortgage registration (0.25% of loan): ~AED 4,000
• Bank arrangement (~1% of loan) + VAT: ~AED 16,000+
• Valuation: ~AED 2,500–3,500
• Total fees ≈ AED 144,000–170,000 (~7–8.5%), on top of the AED 400,000 down payment

*These are estimates for illustration, not a quote. Fixed fees are a larger share of cheaper properties, so the % is higher on lower-priced homes. Our advisor confirms exact costs.*

What about renting?

When renting, budget for: the security deposit (~5% of annual rent unfurnished / ~10% furnished), agency fee (~5% + VAT), first rent cheque(s), Ejari (~AED 155–220), and a DEWA deposit + connection. First-time move-in commonly runs ~12–15% of annual rent in one-off costs. See the Renting information.

No property tax

Dubai has no annual property tax, no capital gains tax, and no stamp duty on residential property — one reason total buying costs are relatively low versus many global cities.

Can you calculate my exact upfront cost?

Yes — tell us the price (and cash vs mortgage) and we can estimate the total, or the advisor confirms precise figures. DLD's Procedure Fee Calculator gives the exact government fees.