Dubai Property Buying Cost Calculator
Estimate the cash required to buy a ready resale apartment, townhouse or villa in Dubai, with an itemised fee breakdown. Not for off-plan purchases.
Official source reviewed: 25 September 2026Calculate your buying costs
Estimated remaining cash required
AED —
Enter a purchase price to see your estimate. Every fee appears on its own line, so you can see where the total comes from.
What costs does the calculator include?
The calculator shows an itemised fee breakdown and estimates the remaining cash you need, taking into account any booking money you have already paid.
It adds up:
- your share of the price, which is the purchase price minus any mortgage
- the DLD sale registration fee, the registration trustee (service partner) fee with VAT (your share), and the title deed, property map, knowledge and innovation fees
- with a mortgage: the mortgage registration fee and mortgage document fees
- any agency, bank, conveyancing or other charges you enter
Dubai property buying fees explained
These are the registration fees and transaction costs for a ready residential resale transfer. No VAT is added to DLD government fees. The registration trustee is a private service provider, so 5% VAT is added to its fee.
Sale registration
| Fee | Current rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DLD sale registration fee | 4% of the purchase price | Buyer and seller pay 2% each as standard. Choose 4% if your contract says you pay all of it. |
| Registration trustee (service partner) fee | AED 2,000 below AED 500,000, AED 4,000 from AED 500,000 | Plus 5% VAT. DLD does not specify which party pays; the calculator assumes the buyer pays unless you change it. |
| Title deed fee | AED 250 | New title deed in your name. |
| Property map fee | AED 250 | Apartment, villa or unit map. |
| Knowledge and innovation fees | AED 10 + AED 10 | Fixed DLD fees. |
DLD sale registration fee
4% of the purchase price
Buyer and seller pay 2% each as standard. Choose 4% if your contract says you pay all of it.
Registration trustee (service partner) fee
AED 2,000 below AED 500,000, AED 4,000 from AED 500,000
Plus 5% VAT. DLD does not specify which party pays; the calculator assumes the buyer pays unless you change it.
Title deed fee
AED 250
New title deed in your name.
Property map fee
AED 250
Apartment, villa or unit map.
Knowledge and innovation fees
AED 10 + AED 10
Fixed DLD fees.
Mortgage (only with a loan)
| Fee | Current rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage registration fee | 0.25% of the mortgage amount | No separate registration trustee (service partner) fee when registered on the same day as the sale. |
| Mortgage title deed, property map, knowledge and innovation fees | AED 250 + AED 250 + AED 10 + AED 10 = AED 520 | Listed separately from the sale fees in DLD's combined service for a sale with a same-day mortgage. |
Mortgage registration fee
0.25% of the mortgage amount
No separate registration trustee (service partner) fee when registered on the same day as the sale.
Mortgage title deed, property map, knowledge and innovation fees
AED 250 + AED 250 + AED 10 + AED 10 = AED 520
Listed separately from the sale fees in DLD's combined service for a sale with a same-day mortgage.
Need only the official registration fees? Use the Dubai DLD Fee Calculator.
Is the Dubai DLD fee 2% or 4%?
The DLD sale registration fee is 4% of the sale value in total. The Dubai Land Department’s current Property Sale Registration service lists 2% of the sale value for the seller and 2% for the buyer. That is why the calculator uses a 2% buyer share by default.
Buyer and seller can agree a different split, and in some sales the buyer agrees to pay the full 4%. The calculator includes a buyer-pays-full-fee option for that case. Paying 4% is not a legal requirement for every buyer. Check what your sale contract (Form F / MOU) says.
Cash buyer vs mortgage buyer
Cash buyer
You fund the full purchase price plus the DLD and registration fees. No mortgage fees apply.
Mortgage buyer
You fund the price minus the mortgage, plus the same DLD and registration fees, plus the mortgage registration fee of 0.25% of the mortgage amount and AED 520 in mortgage document fees (title deed, property map, knowledge and innovation). Bank valuation and processing fees vary by lender, so enter them yourself.
The mortgage amount you enter is an estimate, not a mortgage approval. Additional DLD or bank mortgage charges can depend on the registration route.
How your booking amount affects the cash required
The booking amount (often a deposit paid when the sale agreement is signed) is part of the purchase price you have already paid. It reduces the remaining cash you need. It does not change the basis for DLD fees, which are still calculated on the full purchase price.
- 1Purchase price minus mortgageYour share of the price
- 2Plus transaction costsDLD, registration and mortgage fees, and charges you enter
- 3Equals total cash before bookingEverything you fund yourself
- 4Minus booking already paidMoney already paid towards the price
- 5Equals remaining cash requiredThe headline figure in the calculator
Example Dubai buying costs
Both examples use the standard 2% buyer share and exclude agency, bank and conveyancing fees.
- Purchase price
- AED 2,000,000
- DLD and registration fees
- AED 44,720
- Total cash before booking
- AED 2,044,720
- Purchase price
- AED 2,000,000
- Mortgage
- −AED 1,400,000
- DLD and registration fees
- AED 44,720
- Mortgage registration fees
- AED 4,020
- Total cash before booking
- AED 648,740
- Booking already paid
- −AED 100,000
- Remaining cash required
- AED 548,740
Costs not automatically included
Agency commission, bank valuation and processing fees, and conveyancing fees depend on your provider. The calculator never assumes them; enter the amounts you have been quoted. It also leaves out:
Separate registration trustee (service partner) fee for the mortgage
Exempt when the mortgage is registered on the same day as the sale, which is the normal case this calculator covers. A standalone mortgage registration would incur it.
Land mortgage map fees
DLD lists different mortgage map amounts for land. This calculator covers apartments, townhouses and villas, so it uses the AED 250 building/apartment mortgage map fee.
Dubai Now discounted registration
Discounted self-service registration is not modelled yet. It is planned as a future option.
Developer NOC fee
Set by each developer. Add it under other charges if you are paying it.
Mortgage release on the seller's loan
Out of scope for this calculator.
Official sources and methodology
Every statutory fee comes from the Dubai Land Department, Dubai legislation or the Federal Tax Authority and was checked against the source listed below on 25 September 2026. The calculator covers ready residential resale property bought by individuals. It does not cover off-plan, land, commercial property, company purchases, auctions or fee exemptions.
- Dubai Legislation PortalExecutive Council Resolution No. (30) of 2013 Approving Fees of the Land Department (opens in a new tab)
- Dubai Land DepartmentProperty Sale Registration (opens in a new tab)
- Dubai Land DepartmentMortgage Registration (opens in a new tab)
- Dubai Land DepartmentRegistering the Sale of a Mortgaged Property (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Tax AuthorityWhat is the standard rate of VAT in the UAE? (opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
How much are the fees when buying property in Dubai?
For a ready resale property, the main cost is the Dubai Land Department sale registration fee: 4% of the price in total, with a standard buyer share of 2%. On top of that come the registration trustee (service partner) fee (AED 2,000 or AED 4,000 plus 5% VAT), a AED 250 title deed fee, a AED 250 property map fee and AED 10 knowledge and AED 10 innovation fees. On a AED 2,000,000 cash purchase at the standard share, these come to AED 44,720. Agency, bank and conveyancing fees are extra and vary by provider.
Is the DLD fee 2% or 4%?
The DLD sale registration fee is 4% of the sale value in total. The DLD Property Sale Registration service lists 2% for the seller and 2% for the buyer. The parties can agree a different split, for example the buyer paying the full 4%, so the calculator lets you choose either.
Who pays the DLD fee in Dubai?
By default, buyer and seller each pay 2%. Your sale contract (Form F / MOU) sets out what was agreed for your transaction. Check it before you calculate.
How much cash do I need to buy property in Dubai with a mortgage?
You need the part of the price the mortgage does not cover, plus all transaction costs, including the mortgage registration fees. For example, a AED 2,000,000 property with a AED 1,400,000 mortgage at the standard DLD share needs about AED 648,740 before any booking already paid, excluding agency and bank fees. How much a bank will lend is its own decision; the calculator does not assess eligibility.
What is the registration trustee fee?
Transfers are processed at a Real Estate Registration Trustee office, which charges a registration trustee (service partner) fee: AED 2,000 for a price below AED 500,000 and AED 4,000 at AED 500,000 and above, plus 5% VAT. DLD publishes the amount but does not specify which party must pay it. The calculator assumes the buyer pays as a planning assumption; you can change this to the seller, a split or a custom share.
What DLD fees apply to a mortgage?
The mortgage registration fee is 0.25% of the mortgage value, plus a AED 250 mortgage title deed fee, a AED 250 mortgage property map fee and AED 10 knowledge and AED 10 innovation fees (AED 520 in fixed fees). These are separate from the title deed and map fees on the sale itself. When the mortgage is registered on the same day as the sale, the separate registration trustee (service partner) fee for the mortgage is exempt. Other DLD or bank charges can depend on the registration route.
Does the booking deposit reduce DLD fees?
No. The booking deposit is part of the purchase price you have already paid. It reduces the cash you still need, but DLD fees are still calculated on the full purchase price.
Are agency fees automatically included?
No. Agency commission depends on your agreement with the agent, so the calculator never assumes it. Enter it as a percentage or a fixed amount, and choose whether to add 5% VAT.
Does this work for off-plan property?
No. The calculator covers ready (completed) resale apartments, townhouses and villas. Off-plan purchases follow different registration rules and fees.
Results are estimates. Fees can change, and bank, broker and conveyancing charges vary. Confirm transaction-specific charges with the Dubai Land Department, your bank, broker or conveyancer before you commit.