Each calculator answers one question about a Dubai property decision. Find your situation below to see which one to start with, what it covers and what to have ready before you open it.
| Your situation | Start with |
|---|---|
| I have found a ready home and need to know how much cash to have | Buying cost calculatorBackground: cost of buying guide |
| I only need the DLD fees, or how they split between buyer and seller | DLD fee calculator |
| I am buying off-plan on a developer payment plan | Off-plan payment plan calculator |
| I want to know how much a bank could lend me | Mortgage affordability calculatorBackground: mortgage guide for expats |
| I rent now and wonder whether buying would leave me better off | Rent vs buy calculator |
| I am buying a property to rent out | Rental yield & ROI calculator |
| I am selling and want to know what I will receive | Selling cost calculator |
For a ready resale home, start with the buying cost calculator: it includes the buyer’s DLD and registration fees, plus your share of the price, mortgage registration and the fees you add. Use the DLD fee calculator when you only need the government fees, want to see the seller’s side too, or are negotiating the split. Buying from a developer works differently, so off-plan purchases have their own calculator.
How much cash do I need to buy?
Use it when: You have a price for a ready resale home and want the total cash to have on transfer day: your share of the price plus every government, trustee and bank fee.
Have ready:
What government registration fees apply?
Use it when: You only need the Dubai Land Department and registration fees, or you are agreeing with the other side who pays what. Buyers and sellers can both use it.
Have ready:
How much do I pay, and when?
Use it when: You are buying from a developer on a payment plan, such as 60/40 or post-handover, and want dated instalments and the cash needed before handover.
Have ready:
Your budget usually depends on the mortgage. Check what you could borrow first, then use the result as the loan amount in the buying cost calculator. New to Dubai mortgages? Read how the process works for expats.
How much property can I afford?
Use it when: Before you view properties, to see the loan and price range your income supports under the Central Bank's limits, and what the monthly payment could be.
Have ready:
These two answer different questions. Rent vs buy compares owning your home with renting a similar one. Rental yield looks at a property you would let to someone else. Neither assumes prices or rents will rise unless you say so.
Is it financially better to rent or buy?
Use it when: You rent now and want to know how long you would need to stay for buying to leave you better off, under assumptions you set.
Have ready:
What return could a rental property generate?
Use it when: You are buying to let and want gross and net yield after vacancy, service charges and running costs, plus cash flow if you borrow.
Have ready:
Selling costs come out of the sale price, and repaying a mortgage reduces what you receive without being a cost. The selling calculator keeps the two apart so you can see both.
How much will I receive after selling?
Use it when: You are selling a ready property and want your net proceeds after commission, DLD fees and, if you have a mortgage, the settlement and release costs.
Have ready:
The calculators share the same fee rules and official sources, so the numbers agree from one tool to the next. For the reasoning behind them, see the guides; for general questions, see the FAQ.