Finance & Mortgage · 8 min · 2026-03-14
Complete Cost Breakdown: Buying Property in Dubai
A transparent breakdown of every cost involved in purchasing property in Dubai — from DLD registration to service charges.
The True Cost of Buying Property in Dubai
Beyond the purchase price, several fees affect your net ROI. If you're buying off-plan, also review our guide on payment plans and check whether your investment could qualify for the Golden Visa.
One-Time Purchase Costs
| Fee | Amount | Paid To |
|---|---|---|
| DLD Registration Fee | 4% of the sale value | Dubai Land Department |
| Title Deed Issuance | AED 250 + small fixed DLD fees | DLD |
| Agent Commission | Agreed with the broker (2% assumed in the example below) | Real estate broker |
| NOC Fee | Set by the developer | Developer |
| Mortgage Registration | 0.25% of loan amount | DLD |
| Valuation Fee | Set by the lender | Bank valuer |
| Trustee Fee | AED 4,000 + VAT for a sale value of AED 500,000 or more (lower fee below) | DLD Trustee |
Source: Dubai Land Department.
Example: AED 2,000,000 Apartment (illustrative)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Property price | AED 2,000,000 |
| DLD fee (4%) | AED 80,000 |
| Agent commission (2%, assumed) | AED 40,000 |
| Title deed + trustee fee (4,000 + 5% VAT) | AED 4,450 |
| Total acquisition cost | AED 2,124,450 |
In this example the costs add about 6.2% to the property price when the buyer pays the full DLD fee. Your own figure depends on the commission you agree and on whether you take a mortgage.
Recurring Annual Costs to Budget
| Expense | How to estimate it |
|---|---|
| Service charges | Building budget; RERA service charge index on the DLD channels |
| Utilities (DEWA) | Depends on unit size and use; paid by the occupant |
| Maintenance | Keep a yearly allowance for repairs and replacements |
| Insurance | Quotes for building contents and landlord cover |
Include these costs in your rental yield calculation to get a net figure.
See the true all-in cost with OffPlanSimulator.
Reviewed by Ahmed Benjas, co-founder & CEO of Cevitas Real Estate
Moroccan real estate expert based in Dubai, co-founder & CEO of Cevitas Real Estate, a RERA-licensed brokerage (NGI House, Deira), with an AED 200M+ track record. He works in French, Arabic, Darija and English.
Who is Ahmed Benjas? · Moroccan real estate broker in Dubai · His guides on cevitas.ae
Related guides
Calculators for this guide: Dubai property ROI calculator · Off-plan calculator Dubai