13 November 2026
Costs of Buying Property in Dubai in 2026: Every Fee Explained
By Hiren NakerManaging Director, Legacy Elite Real Estate
The asking price is only part of what you pay for a home in Dubai. Every purchase also carries Dubai Land Department (DLD) fees, registration charges and, depending on how you buy, agency, mortgage and developer costs. Property Finder puts typical total transaction costs at 7% to 10% of the price, so a buyer of a AED 2 million apartment should budget roughly AED 140,000 to AED 200,000 on top (Property Finder, 3 July 2026).
This guide lists every main fee in plain English, who usually pays it, how buying off-plan changes the picture, and a worked example for a ready apartment. Figures are as of 13 November 2026. The 4% transfer fee is the same in every source we checked, but some of the smaller fixed charges are itemised differently, so confirm the final amounts with your registration trustee before you transfer.
Dubai property buying costs at a glance (as of 13 November 2026)
- DLD transfer fee: 4% of the purchase price. The DLD splits it 2% buyer and 2% seller, but in practice the buyer often pays it all (Property Finder; betterhomes).
- Registration trustee fee: AED 2,000 plus VAT below AED 500,000, and AED 4,000 plus VAT above (Property Finder; betterhomes).
- Title deed and admin: a few hundred dirhams. Property Finder quotes AED 580 for most ready units; betterhomes itemises a AED 250 title deed fee, a map fee of AED 100 to AED 250 and AED 10 knowledge and innovation fees.
- Agency commission: usually 2% of the price plus 5% VAT on resale purchases (Property Finder; betterhomes).
- With a mortgage: 0.25% of the loan to register it with the DLD plus an admin fee, and a bank valuation of about AED 2,500 to AED 3,500 (Property Finder).
- Off-plan: the 4% still applies, registered on the Oqood system, plus smaller fixed fees (betterhomes).
The DLD transfer fee: 4% of the price
The largest cost after the deposit is the Dubai Land Department transfer fee of 4% of the declared purchase price, payable when the sale is registered and the title deed is issued. Property Finder notes that the fee applies to both ready and off-plan sales and that there has been no announced change to the 4% rate heading into 2026 (3 July 2026).
The DLD divides the fee equally between buyer and seller, but betterhomes points out that many resale contracts make the buyer responsible for the full 4% (16 March 2026). It is negotiable, so check the Memorandum of Understanding (Form F) before you sign: on a AED 1.5 million home, the difference between paying 2% and 4% is AED 30,000. Some developers also run launch offers that cover part of the fee on new projects; if you are offered one, get it in writing in the sale agreement.
Registration and title deed fees
A resale transfer is completed at a Real Estate Registration Trustee office, which charges a fixed service fee:
| Purchase price | Trustee office fee |
|---|---|
| Below AED 500,000 | AED 2,000 + 5% VAT |
| AED 500,000 and above | AED 4,000 + 5% VAT |
Source: Property Finder (3 July 2026) and betterhomes (16 March 2026).
On top of that come small government charges for the title deed itself. Sources itemise them differently: Property Finder quotes a title deed fee of AED 580 for most ready units, while betterhomes lists AED 250 for the title deed certificate, a map fee of AED 225 to AED 250 (AED 100 for land outside Dubai Municipality), and knowledge and innovation fees of AED 10 each. Either way, the total is a few hundred dirhams, small next to the 4%.
Agency commission and developer NOC
When you buy a resale property through a broker, the usual commission is 2% of the price plus 5% VAT, normally paid by the buyer unless the agreement says otherwise (Property Finder; betterhomes). Always use a RERA-registered broker and make sure the commission is written into Form F.
The seller also needs a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the developer confirming there are no unpaid service charges. Property Finder puts it at AED 500 to AED 5,000 plus VAT, depending on the developer; betterhomes notes that the amount is set by each developer. Who pays the NOC fee is a point to agree in the contract.
Extra costs if you buy with a mortgage
Buying with a loan adds three main costs, according to Property Finder (3 July 2026):
- Mortgage registration: 0.25% of the loan amount, plus an administrative fee of about AED 290, paid to the DLD. betterhomes also lists a service partner fee of AED 4,000 plus VAT for mortgage registration (AED 5,000 plus VAT on provisional Oqood transactions).
- Valuation: typically AED 2,500 to AED 3,500, charged through the bank.
- Bank fees: lenders set their own arrangement or processing fees, so ask for them in writing with the offer.
Property Finder also notes that upfront transaction costs can no longer be financed by banks. Plan to pay the fees, as well as the deposit, from your own funds. Our guide to Dubai mortgage rules and LTV limits explains how large that deposit must be: at least 20% for an expatriate's first home under AED 5 million, 40% for an investment property and 50% for off-plan.
Buying off-plan: Oqood registration
When you buy from a developer before completion, the sale is registered on the DLD's Oqood system rather than with a title deed. betterhomes lists the initial off-plan registration as 2% of the sale value for the buyer and 2% for the seller, plus AED 10 knowledge and AED 10 innovation fees, with a AED 1,000 fee when the developer registers the sale through the Oqood portal (16 March 2026). In other words, the 4% DLD fee still applies. When the building is finished, the Oqood is converted into a title deed, with the title deed and map fees above.
On an off-plan purchase you also pay the developer in stages under the payment plan, so ask exactly when the registration fee falls due and who pays it. Browse current off-plan projects in Dubai to see typical payment plans.
Worked example: a AED 1.5 million ready apartment
To show how the costs add up, here is an illustration for a ready apartment bought through a broker, with the buyer paying the full 4%. It uses the figures above and is not a quote:
| Cost | Cash purchase | With an 80% mortgage |
|---|---|---|
| DLD transfer fee (4%) | AED 60,000 | AED 60,000 |
| Trustee office fee (AED 4,000 + VAT) | AED 4,200 | AED 4,200 |
| Title deed (Property Finder figure) | AED 580 | AED 580 |
| Agency commission (2% + VAT) | AED 31,500 | AED 31,500 |
| Mortgage registration (0.25% of AED 1.2M + ~AED 290) | - | AED 3,290 |
| Valuation (upper estimate) | - | AED 3,500 |
| Total before bank fees | AED 96,280 (about 6.4%) | AED 103,070 (about 6.9%) |
The mortgage column does not include the bank's own processing fee, any service partner fee or the developer's NOC, which is why the 7% to 10% range quoted by Property Finder is a sensible budget. With a mortgage, the deposit (at least AED 300,000 here) comes on top of these costs.
Costs after you get the keys
A few costs arrive at handover rather than at the transfer. betterhomes lists a refundable DEWA (water and electricity) deposit of AED 2,000 for an apartment or AED 4,000 for a villa, plus a connection fee, and separate charges where a building uses district cooling. Then there are annual service charges, which vary by building. If you live in the UK and plan to let the property, read our guide to UK tax on Dubai property, as the income may be taxed there.
What it means for buyers
- Budget 7% to 10% on top of the price. On most ready purchases the 4% DLD fee and the 2% agency commission make up the bulk of it.
- Negotiate who pays what. The 4% split, the NOC fee and the agency commission are all set out in Form F, so agree them before you sign.
- Keep cash aside for fees. Banks will not lend against them, so they come from your own funds alongside the deposit.
- Get the final figures in writing. Ask the trustee office or developer for an itemised statement before the transfer, because the small fixed charges can differ from the guides.
If you are planning a purchase and want an honest view of the full cost, tell us what you are looking for or read our Dubai investment guide.
Dubai property buying costs: quick answers
How much are DLD fees in Dubai?
The DLD transfer fee is 4% of the purchase price, plus a trustee office fee of AED 2,000 or AED 4,000 plus VAT and a few hundred dirhams for the title deed (Property Finder, 3 July 2026).
Who pays the 4% DLD fee, the buyer or the seller?
The DLD splits it 2% each, but many resale contracts make the buyer pay all 4%. It is agreed in the contract, so it can be negotiated.
Do you pay the DLD fee on off-plan property?
Yes. Off-plan sales are registered on the Oqood system and the 4% still applies, plus small fixed fees. Some developers run offers that cover part of it.
What are the total costs of buying property in Dubai?
Property Finder puts typical transaction costs at 7% to 10% of the price, including DLD fees, registration, agency commission and mortgage charges.
Can I add the fees to my mortgage?
No. According to Property Finder, upfront transaction costs can no longer be financed by banks, so they must be paid from your own funds.
Sources
- Property Finder: DLD Fees in Dubai: Your Complete 2026 Costs Guide, 3 July 2026
- betterhomes: What are the hidden costs when buying property in Dubai?, 16 March 2026
This article is for general information only and is not financial or investment advice. Fees are quoted from the sources above as of 13 November 2026; the Dubai Land Department, trustee offices, banks and developers set the final amounts and can change them, so confirm every figure before you commit. The worked example is an illustration only.