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Cost of Buying Property in Dubai — All Fees Explained
Most buyers underestimate the upfront cost of a Dubai property purchase by 5–7% of the price. Here's every line item, who you pay, and how to budget accurately.
Cash purchase — the standard fee table
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| DLD transfer fee | 4% of property value | Dubai Land Department |
| DLD admin fee | AED 580 (apartments) / AED 430 (off-plan) | DLD |
| Trustee office fee | AED 4,200 (above AED 500k) | DLD trustee office |
| Title deed issuance | AED 250 | DLD |
| Agency commission | 2% of property value (+ 5% VAT) | Real estate brokerage |
| Conveyancer (optional) | AED 6,000 – 9,000 | Conveyancing firm |
| NOC fee | AED 500 – 5,000 | Developer (varies) |
Add-ons for mortgage purchases
| Mortgage registration | 0.25% of loan + AED 290 | DLD |
| Bank processing fee | 0.5% – 1% of loan + 5% VAT | Lender |
| Property valuation | AED 2,500 – 3,500 | Valuation firm |
| Life insurance (annual) | 0.025% – 0.05% of outstanding loan | Insurer |
Worked example — AED 2,000,000 apartment with 75% mortgage
- DLD transfer fee: AED 80,000
- Admin + trustee + title: AED 5,030
- Agency 2% + VAT: AED 42,000
- Mortgage registration (loan AED 1.5M): AED 4,040
- Bank processing 0.75% + VAT: AED 11,813
- Valuation: AED 3,000
- Total upfront cost beyond down payment: ~AED 145,883
- Plus down payment of AED 500k = ~AED 646k cash needed at closing
What buyers often miss
- Cooling-off / NOC delays can add 2–4 weeks to handover — budget for accommodation.
- Outstanding service charge debt on the unit transfers with ownership; always check before signing.
- Trakheesi permit verification is now mandatory — Hunt My Nest does this automatically for every listing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Residential resale is VAT-exempt. New builds bought from a developer attract 5% VAT but it's typically built into the price. Commercial property is 5% VATable.
There's no annual property tax in Dubai. You'll pay service charges (to the OA) and the 5% Dubai Municipality housing fee on rented units (deducted via DEWA bills).
Yes — non-residents can buy freehold property in any of Dubai's designated freehold zones with no restrictions on resale or rental.