by 
The price on the listing is never the full cost of buying in Dubai. Budget roughly 6 to 7% on top for a resale home, and around 4% for an off-plan unit. Here is every fee, who pays it, and a worked example so you know exactly what to plan for.
Dubai has no annual property tax, no stamp duty in the European sense and no capital gains tax for individual owners. That makes the one-off costs at purchase the main fees to understand. They are fixed by the Dubai Land Department (DLD), its registration trustees and the market, and they are the same whether you live in Dubai or buy from abroad.
The good news: they are predictable. Once you know the price, you can calculate your total budget to within a few thousand dirhams.
Every Fee When You Buy a Ready or Resale Home
1. DLD transfer fee: 4% of the price
This is the largest cost. The Dubai Land Department charges 4% of the purchase price to register the transfer. By law the fee can be split between buyer and seller, but by market convention the buyer pays the full 4%. It is paid on the day of transfer at the registration trustee’s office, usually by manager’s cheque.
2. Title deed and DLD admin charges: around AED 580
Small fixed charges for issuing the new title deed and the property map, plus the DLD knowledge and innovation fees. Together they come to around AED 580 for an apartment or villa.
3. Registration trustee fee: AED 4,000 + VAT
The transfer is processed at a DLD-approved Real Estate Registration Trustee. Their fee is AED 4,000 + 5% VAT when the price is AED 500,000 or more, and AED 2,000 + VAT below that.
4. Agency fee: usually 2% + VAT
On a resale purchase, the buyer’s agency fee is typically 2% of the price, plus 5% VAT. It is agreed in writing before viewings, in the RERA agreement between you and your broker.
5. Developer NOC: usually paid by the seller
Before a resale can be registered, the developer issues a No Objection Certificate confirming there are no outstanding service charges. It costs roughly AED 500 to 5,000 depending on the developer, and the seller normally pays it. Check this point in the sale agreement (Form F).
Sources: Dubai Land Department (sale registration service fees), fäm Properties, Sotheby’s International Realty UAE and Real Estate Club Dubai (2025–2026). Fees can change; your broker or trustee will confirm the final figures before transfer.
“In Dubai the extra costs are not hidden, they are simply not on the listing. Ask for the full cost sheet before you make an offer, and you will never be surprised on transfer day.”
Off-Plan: What Changes
Buying from a developer works differently. The 4% DLD fee is paid when the developer registers your purchase in the Oqood system, usually within weeks of booking, and it is not paid again at handover. There is normally no agency fee for the buyer, because the developer pays the broker. A few small admin fees apply at registration and when the Oqood is converted into a title deed at handover. On some launches, developers offer to pay part or all of the DLD fee as a sales incentive, so it is worth asking. Read our off-plan buyer’s guide for the full process.
Worked Example: An AED 3,000,000 Apartment
Here is what a resale apartment priced at AED 3,000,000 really costs on transfer day:
- DLD transfer fee (4%): AED 120,000
- Title deed and admin charges: about AED 580
- Registration trustee: AED 4,000 + AED 200 VAT = AED 4,200
- Agency fee (2% + VAT): AED 60,000 + AED 3,000 VAT = AED 63,000
- Total costs: about AED 187,800, or around 6.3% of the price
The same apartment bought off-plan from the developer would cost around AED 120,000 in fees, about 4%, spread over the payment plan rather than paid on one day.
Costs After You Buy
- Service charges: paid yearly to the building’s owners’ association, per square foot. Expect around AED 12–25/sq ft in mid-market communities and AED 40–67/sq ft in prime branded residences. Always ask for the latest RERA-approved rate before you buy.
- DEWA connection: a refundable security deposit, typically about AED 2,000 for an apartment, when you connect water and electricity in your name.
- Housing fee: if you live in the property, Dubai Municipality’s housing fee is billed monthly through your DEWA account.
There is no annual property tax on residential property in Dubai, which is one of the reasons the total cost of ownership remains lower than in most European capitals.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a ready or resale home, budget about 6 to 7% on top of the price: 4% DLD transfer fee, around AED 580 in title deed and admin charges, AED 4,000 + VAT for the registration trustee and usually 2% + VAT for the agency. Off-plan purchases cost around 4%, as there is normally no agency fee for the buyer.
By law it can be split, but by market convention the buyer pays the full 4%. It is negotiable in the sale agreement, and some developers cover part or all of it on new launches.
No. On off-plan, the 4% is paid when your purchase is registered in Oqood, shortly after booking. At handover you only pay small admin fees to convert the Oqood into a title deed.
There is no annual property tax on residential property. Owners pay yearly service charges to the building or community, and residents pay a housing fee through their DEWA bill.
Luxe Harmony prepares a clear breakdown of every fee for the property you are considering, so you know your total budget before you commit.
