Dubai 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.
The numbers that matter most for this question — at a glance.
| Community Type | AED/sqft Range | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-tier apartments | 10–15 | Standard amenities |
| Premium apartments | 15–25 | Pool, gym, concierge |
| Branded residences | 25–40 | Hotel-grade services |
| Townhouses / villas | 4–10 | Community amenities only |
| District cooling (extra) | AED 0.5–1.5/RTH | Variable |
Yes — service charges can increase year-on-year, but only after RERA approval of the new budget and an owners-committee vote. Steep one-off jumps usually reflect deferred maintenance, reserve-fund top-ups or major equipment replacement.
Request the building last 3 years of service-charge invoices from the seller or owners association, and cross-check via the RERA Mollak portal which records approved budgets and any disputes.
Community service charges per sqft are lower for villas (see property type comparison) (AED 4–10), but villas have additional private maintenance — gardening, pool service, AC servicing — that adds AED 15–40K annually for a typical 4–5BR villa.
Continue exploring with three more answers from our knowledge base.
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