Buyer's Guides · 6 min · 2026-10-23
Mortgage Registration at the Dubai Land Department: 0.25% Fee and How the Charge Works
Every Dubai home loan is registered as a mortgage at the Dubai Land Department. Here is the fee, why the charge exists and how it is released when you repay.
The fee and the rule in brief
When you buy a property in Dubai with a home loan, the lender's charge over the property is registered at the Dubai Land Department (DLD). The mortgage registration fee is 0.25% of the loan amount, plus admin fees. Registration is required because the CBUAE Regulations Regarding Mortgage Loans (Article 3.7) state that "a first class mortgage in the name of the mortgage loan provider must be taken on all financed properties". When the loan is fully repaid, the mortgage is released and the title is free of the charge.
What the 0.25% costs on common loan sizes
| Loan amount | Registration fee (0.25%) | Plus |
|---|---|---|
| AED 800,000 | AED 2,000 | admin fees |
| AED 1,200,000 | AED 3,000 | admin fees |
| AED 2,000,000 | AED 5,000 | admin fees |
| AED 4,000,000 | AED 10,000 | admin fees |
The fee is based on the loan, not on the property price. A larger down payment means a smaller loan and a smaller registration fee.
Where it fits in your purchase costs
For an AED 1,500,000 ready apartment with an 80% loan of AED 1,200,000:
| DLD item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer fee (4% of price, usually paid by the buyer in practice) | AED 60,000 |
| Mortgage registration (0.25% of loan) | AED 3,000 + admin fees |
| Title deed | AED 250 |
| Trustee office fee (property ≥ AED 500,000) | AED 4,000 + VAT |
Our guide to how much cash you really need adds the down payment and builds the full budget.
How the charge works
A first-class mortgage
Article 3.7 requires a first-class mortgage in the lender's name on every financed property. "First class" means the lender holds the first-ranking charge: if the property is sold while the loan is outstanding, the lender is repaid first from the proceeds. That is why:
- The title must be "free from encumbrances and contain no impediments for the registration of security interests" (Article 2.5).
- The lender checks title and conditions before drawdown as part of its due diligence (Article 2.6).
Where a property falls under a government housing scheme and a first charge cannot be created, Article 3.7 lets lenders use other protections, including a second charge where possible.
You stay the owner
The mortgage does not transfer ownership. You are the registered owner and the lender holds a registered charge as security. You can live in or rent out the property within your loan terms.
Selling with a mortgage
If you sell before the loan is repaid, the outstanding balance is settled from the sale, the lender releases its charge and the buyer receives a clear title. Early repayment charges are capped by Article 4 at the actual cost of breaking a fixed loan and/or the fees in Regulation No. 29/2011.
Release at payoff, conceptually
When the last installment is paid, or when you repay early or refinance:
- The lender confirms the loan is settled and issues the documents needed to release its charge.
- The mortgage is removed from the DLD register.
- The title no longer carries the lender's charge.
Ask your lender and the DLD for the documents and any fees that apply to the release at that time. When refinancing, the new lender registers its own first-class mortgage once the old one is released. Article 4 states there should be "no impediment for borrowers to refinance with other institutions". See our mortgage buyout calculator and the early repayment and refinancing guide.
A practical checklist for registration
- Budget the fee early: 0.25% of the loan plus admin fees, in cash, alongside the 4% transfer fee.
- Check the loan amount on your offer, since the fee follows it. A change in valuation changes the loan and therefore the fee.
- Check the title: it must be free from encumbrances for the lender to register its charge (Article 2.5). If the seller still has a mortgage, it is settled and released as part of the transfer.
- Keep your documents: the loan contract signed on each page, the fee schedule (Article 4) and the registration papers.
- Ask who coordinates the step: lender, trustee office and buyer each play a role on transfer day, and each lender sets its own process.
Off-plan purchases
For off-plan properties, the LTV cap is 50% (Article 3.2.C) and the lender pays the developer with your equity first, then against independently confirmed milestones (Article 2.1). Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007 requires buyers' payments to go into a RERA-approved escrow account for the project. Ask your lender how and when its security is registered for an off-plan unit.
FAQ
How much is mortgage registration in Dubai?
0.25% of the loan amount plus admin fees, paid to the Dubai Land Department.
Is the fee on the property price or the loan?
On the loan amount. An AED 1,200,000 loan costs AED 3,000 plus admin fees.
Why must the mortgage be registered?
Article 3.7 of the CBUAE regulation requires a first-class mortgage in the lender's name on all financed properties.
What happens to the mortgage when I repay the loan?
The lender releases its charge and the mortgage is removed from the DLD register, so the title is free of it. Ask your lender about the release documents.
Estimate every fee with the Dubai buying costs calculators or read the full UAE mortgage guide.
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.
Related guides
Calculators for this guide: Mortgage calculator Dubai & UAE · Dubai mortgage for non-residents · Off-plan calculator Dubai