Cost of Buying Property in Dubai
Buying a ready resale home in Dubai costs more than the price. This guide explains every fee a buyer pays, who normally pays what, and how much to budget, with worked examples.
Fees checked against official sources: 25 September 2026The short answer
On an AED 2,000,000 cash purchase, the fixed government and registration costs come to about AED 44,720 (2.2% of the price) when you pay the standard 2% DLD share. If you pay the full 4%, add another 2%. Agency commission, bank fees and legal fees come on top.
Calculate your buying costsHow much are buying costs at different prices?
Cash purchases, before agency, bank and legal fees. The trustee fee is included with VAT and assumed to be paid by the buyer.
| Price | 2% buyer share | Full 4% |
|---|---|---|
| AED 1,000,000 | AED 24,7202.5% of price | AED 44,7204.5% of price |
| AED 2,000,000 | AED 44,7202.2% of price | AED 84,7204.2% of price |
| AED 3,000,000 | AED 64,7202.2% of price | AED 124,7204.2% of price |
| AED 5,000,000 | AED 104,7202.1% of price | AED 204,7204.1% of price |
Every fee a Dubai property buyer pays
These are the Dubai Land Department and registration fees on a ready residential resale, the costs every buyer faces whatever agent or bank they use.
DLD sale registration fee: 4% of the price
The Dubai Land Department charges 4% of the sale value to register the transfer. Its Property Sale Registration service lists 2% for the buyer and 2% for the seller, but the split is agreed in the sale contract, and many buyers agree to pay the full 4%. Check your contract (Form F / MOU) before you budget. No VAT is added to DLD fees.
Registration trustee (service partner) fee
The transfer is processed at a Real Estate Registration Trustee office. Its fee is AED 2,000 for properties under AED 500,000 and AED 4,000 at AED 500,000 and above, plus 5% VAT because the trustee is a private company. DLD does not say which party pays it; buyers usually plan for it.
Title deed fee: AED 250
Charged for issuing the new title deed in your name.
Property map fee: AED 250
Charged for the map of the apartment, townhouse or villa.
Knowledge and innovation fees: AED 10 each
Two small fixed DLD charges (AED 10 knowledge, AED 10 innovation) added to the transaction.
- DLD sale registration fee
- AED 40,000
- Registration trustee (service partner) fee
- AED 4,000
- VAT on registration trustee fee
- AED 200
- Title deed fee
- AED 250
- Property map fee
- AED 250
- Knowledge fee
- AED 10
- Innovation fee
- AED 10
- Total buying costs
- AED 44,720
Want to see how the fees split between buyer and seller? Use the Dubai DLD Fee Calculator.
Extra costs when you buy with a mortgage
A mortgage adds DLD mortgage registration on top of the sale fees: 0.25% of the loan amount, plus AED 520 in mortgage document fees (title deed, property map, knowledge and innovation). When the mortgage is registered on the same day as the sale, which is the usual case, no second trustee fee is charged.
Your bank will also charge its own valuation and processing fees. And the bank only lends part of the price: you pay the rest yourself, on top of all the fees. In this example you fund 20% of the price.
- DLD sale registration fee
- AED 40,000
- Registration trustee (service partner) fee
- AED 4,000
- VAT on registration trustee fee
- AED 200
- Title deed fee
- AED 250
- Property map fee
- AED 250
- Knowledge fee
- AED 10
- Innovation fee
- AED 10
- Mortgage registration fee
- AED 4,000
- Mortgage title deed fee
- AED 250
- Mortgage property map fee
- AED 250
- Mortgage knowledge fee
- AED 10
- Mortgage innovation fee
- AED 10
- Total buying costs
- AED 49,240
Total cash needed in this example, before bank fees and commission: AED 449,240 (AED 400,000 towards the price plus AED 49,240 in fees).
Costs that depend on your agent, bank and developer
These costs are real but vary from one deal to the next, so there is no single correct figure. Ask for each in writing and add them to your budget.
Agency commission
Agreed with your agency, usually as a percentage of the price, plus 5% VAT if the agency is VAT-registered. It is often the largest cost after the DLD fee, so get it in writing before you make an offer.
Bank valuation and processing fees
Set by each lender. Ask your bank or broker for a written list of its fees before you apply.
Conveyancing or legal fees
Optional but common, especially for buyers outside the UAE. Fees depend on the firm and the work involved.
Developer NOC fee
Many developers charge for a No Objection Certificate before the transfer. The amount is set by the developer; confirm who pays it in your contract.
Moving in
Utility connection deposits, service charges for the rest of the year and furnishing are not transaction fees, but they come due soon after the transfer.
How to budget for your purchase
- 1Agree the price and commissionConfirm the agency fee and whether VAT is added.
- 2Read the sale contract (Form F / MOU)Check who pays the 4% DLD fee, the trustee fee and the developer NOC fee.
- 3Get your bank's fee scheduleIf you use a mortgage, ask for valuation, processing and any other charges in writing.
- 4Run the numbersEnter the price, mortgage and quotes into the buying cost calculator.
- 5Keep a bufferLeave room for fees that change or that you learn about late, such as NOC or service charge arrears.
What this guide does not cover
This guide covers ready residential resale property bought by individuals. Off-plan purchases (registered through Oqood), land, commercial property, company purchases, auctions and fee exemptions follow different rules and are not included.
Official sources
Every statutory fee in this guide comes from the Dubai Land Department, Dubai legislation or the Federal Tax Authority, checked on 25 September 2026. The figures are produced by the same calculation engine as our calculators.
- 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)
Figures are estimates. Fees can change, and agency, bank and conveyancing charges vary. Confirm the costs for your transaction with the Dubai Land Department, your bank, agent or conveyancer before you commit.