Which Dubai property costs are official?
The Dubai Land Department's completed-property sale service separates the registration fee into 2% of the sale value for the buyer and 2% for the seller. It also lists the title-deed certificate, map, knowledge and innovation fees, plus a registration trustee service-partner fee. The parties' sale agreement may allocate the 4% total differently, which is why buyer calculations commonly show either a 2% or 4% buyer-funded assumption.
| Cost | Official or variable basis | Planning treatment |
|---|---|---|
| DLD sale registration | 2% buyer + 2% seller on DLD's service page | Use the allocation written into the sale agreement. Model 4% only when the buyer will fund the full total. |
| Registration trustee | AED 4,000 + VAT at AED 500,000 or above; AED 2,000 + VAT below AED 500,000 | AED 4,200 or AED 2,100 including 5% VAT. |
| Title deed and map | AED 250 title deed; apartment/villa map AED 250; AED 10 knowledge + AED 10 innovation | A common apartment/villa estimate is AED 520. Land-map treatment differs. |
| Mortgage registration | 0.25% of the mortgage value | Apply to the loan amount, not the property price. |
The official completed-sale service page allocates 2% to each party. Many transaction agreements place the whole 4% economic cost on the buyer. The calculator therefore keeps the buyer-funded percentage editable.
Which buying costs depend on the transaction?
Professional and commercial charges are not one universal government tariff. Ask for written quotations and confirm whether VAT is included.
Agency and conveyancing
A resale buyer may pay an agency fee, usually quoted as a percentage, plus VAT. Conveyancing, legal review or power-of-attorney work is separate where used.
Bank arrangement and valuation
Compare the bank's arrangement, valuation, processing, early-settlement and insurance costs. A lower headline rate can still produce a higher total cost.
Inspection and repairs
Ready properties may require a technical inspection, snagging, AC servicing, appliance replacement, painting or immediate maintenance.
Developer administration
Confirm reservation, Oqood or registration handling, payment-plan and assignment charges in the reservation form and sale-and-purchase agreement.
Also separate acquisition costs from ownership costs. Service charges, insurance, property management, vacancy, maintenance and furnishing affect the investment after purchase and should be tested in the rental-yield calculator.
Worked examples: cash and mortgage purchases
AED 1.5 million apartment
- Property price
- AED 1,500,000
- DLD assumption at 4%
- AED 60,000
- Trustee + common title/map fees
- AED 4,720
- Agency at 2% + VAT
- AED 31,500
- Indicative acquisition costs before inspection/other items
- AED 96,220
This equals about 6.4% of the property price. If the agreement allocates only 2% DLD to the buyer, the estimate falls by AED 30,000.
AED 2.5 million apartment
- 20% down payment
- AED 500,000
- DLD assumption at 4%
- AED 100,000
- Trustee + common title/map fees
- AED 4,720
- Mortgage registration at 0.25% of AED 2m
- AED 5,000
- Agency at 2% + VAT
- AED 52,500
- Cash before bank, valuation, inspection and other costs
- AED 662,220
The down payment is not the full cash requirement. The lender may also value the property below the agreed price, increasing the buyer's cash contribution.
How to set a safe Dubai property budget
- Fix the maximum total cash you can deploy without exhausting your emergency reserve.
- Decide whether the buyer will fund 2% or 4% DLD registration under the intended contract.
- Add trustee, title/map, agency, mortgage and professional costs.
- Keep furnishing, repairs and the first year of ownership costs outside the purchase-price figure.
- For a mortgage, stress-test the payment at a higher rate and a lower bank valuation.
- Compare the result with recent area medians on Dubai Data.
Official sources and review basis
- Dubai Land Department, Property Sale Registration
- Dubai Land Department, Registering the Sale of a Mortgaged Property
- Central Bank of the UAE, Financial Stability Report and mortgage borrower controls
Reviewed 3 August 2026. Government fees, finance rules and tax treatment can change; confirm the transaction-specific position before signing or remitting funds.