When you buy property in Dubai, the price is not the only cost. Plan for roughly 4–5% on top of the price for off-plan and around 7–10% for a ready property bought on the secondary market, depending on financing.
Off-plan property — what you pay
- DLD fee: 4% of the purchase price, paid when the purchase is registered (Oqood).
- Oqood / registration admin fees charged through the developer — usually a few thousand dirhams.
- No agency fee for the buyer in most off-plan projects — the developer pays the agent.
- Service charges start from handover, not before.
Secondary (ready) property — what you pay
- DLD transfer fee: 4% of the price.
- Title deed fee (around AED 580) and small DLD knowledge/innovation fees.
- Trustee office fee: AED 2,000 + VAT (price under AED 500,000) or AED 4,000 + VAT (above).
- Agency fee: usually 2% + VAT.
- Developer NOC: typically AED 500–5,000 + VAT.
- With a mortgage: 0.25% of the loan + about AED 290 registration, bank valuation around AED 2,500–3,500 and bank processing fees.
Good to know
- Purchase costs cannot be added to the mortgage — they are paid in cash.
- Service charges vary by building; always check them before you buy.
- I prepare a full cost sheet for every property I recommend.
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