Plan for 7–10% on top of the headline price for a Dubai property purchase: DLD transfer fee 4%, agency commission 2% + VAT, plus developer NOC, trustee/registration, conveyancer and (if applicable) mortgage processing fees of around 1%.
The numbers that matter most for this question — at a glance.
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DLD transfer fee | 4% of price | Paid by buyer typically |
| Agency fee | 2% + VAT | Negotiable on multi-unit |
| NOC (developer) | AED 500–5,000 | For resale clearance |
| Trustee / registration | AED 4,000 | Standard |
| Conveyancer | AED 5,000–10,000 | Optional but recommended |
| [[slug:mortgage-for-foreigners|Mortgage processing]] | ~1% of loan | If financing |
No personal property tax in Dubai. Annual costs are limited to service charges (typically AED 10–25 per square foot for apartments, lower for villas), municipality fees on rentals (5% of annual rent paid via DEWA), and any mortgage interest.
Yes. Agency fees (2%) are often negotiable on multi-unit deals or off-plan brokerage. Some developers absorb DLD fees as a marketing incentive on launches. Conveyancer fees are negotiable on portfolio transactions.
Annual holding costs are limited to service charges (AED 10–25/sqft for apartments), 5% municipality fee on rent (only if rented), DEWA, district cooling consumption, and any mortgage interest. There is no annual property tax.
Continue exploring with three more answers from our knowledge base.
You can sell a Dubai property at any time with no holding period and no capital gains tax — the most common exit strategies are hold-and-let, flip at handover, refinance-and-hold to release equity, and trade up into larger or higher-quality stock.
Read insightDubai service charges typically run AED 10–25 per square foot annually for apartments, AED 4–10 per square foot for townhouses and villas, and AED 25–40 per square foot for branded residences — always verify the building's 3-year Mollak history before purchase.
Read insightYes — UAE banks lend to non-residents with 50–60% loan-to-value, while UAE residents access up to 80% LTV on first homes; rates typically sit in the 4–6% range, with terms up to 25 years and competitive products for HNW clients.
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