The true cost of buying property in Dubai

CBUAE-sourcedUpdated 2 June 2026Reviewed by a UAE-qualified accountant

The deposit gets all the attention, but it is only part of the cash you need to buy in Dubai. On top of it, expect to pay roughly 6% to 8% of the purchase price in one-off transaction fees. Here is every line, with the figures verified against the Dubai Land Department (DLD) schedule.

Costs every buyer pays

  • DLD transfer fee — 4% of the price. The headline government charge. Legally split 2% buyer / 2% seller, but buyers customarily pay the full 4%.
  • DLD admin charges — about AED 580. A bundle of small fixed fees (title deed, property map, knowledge and innovation fees).
  • Registration trustee fee — AED 2,100 or AED 4,200. AED 2,000 + VAT for property under AED 500,000, and AED 4,000 + VAT at or above it.
  • Agency commission — 2% + 5% VAT. If you buy through an agent. It is a market convention, so it is negotiable.

Extra costs if you take a mortgage

  • Mortgage registration — 0.25% of the loan + AED 290, paid to the DLD. Note this is on the loan, not the property price.
  • Property valuation — about AED 2,500–3,500 + VAT. The Central Bank requires an independent valuation; the fee is set by the bank/valuer.
  • Bank arrangement fee — 0.5% to 1% of the loan + VAT. Some banks waive this during promotions.

Resale-only: the developer NOC

Buying a resale (secondary-market) property usually involves a developer No Objection Certificate (NOC) fee, typically AED 500–5,000. It confirms the seller's service charges are settled — and because of that it is often paid by the seller, though it can be negotiated in the sale agreement.

A worked example

On an AED 2,000,000 ready home bought with an 80% mortgage (AED 1.6M loan), the fees come to roughly:

  • DLD transfer (4%): AED 80,000
  • DLD admin: AED 580
  • Trustee fee: AED 4,200
  • Agency (2% + VAT): AED 42,000
  • Mortgage registration (0.25% + AED 290): AED 4,290
  • Valuation (+VAT): ~AED 3,150
  • Bank arrangement (1% + VAT): AED 16,800

That is about AED 151,000 in fees — roughly 7.5% of the price — on top of your AED 400,000 deposit, for around AED 551,000 of cash to close. A cash buyer on the same property would pay about AED 127,000 in fees (no mortgage costs).

Work out your exact figure

Every purchase is a little different — price band, cash vs mortgage, resale or new, agent or not. The Dubai purchase-cost calculator itemises all of these for your specific deal, and you can adjust the negotiable fees. Pair it with the eligibility calculator to see the deposit and loan side too.

Try the tool

Put these rules to work on your own numbers.

Purchase-Cost Calculator →

Frequently asked questions

What are the total costs of buying property in Dubai?
On top of your deposit, budget roughly 6–8% of the price. The main items are the 4% DLD transfer fee, ~AED 580 admin charges, the registration trustee fee (AED 2,100 or 4,200), and 2% agency commission plus VAT. With a mortgage, add 0.25% of the loan plus AED 290 for registration, a valuation (~AED 2,500–3,500) and a bank arrangement fee (0.5–1% of the loan).
How much is the DLD fee in Dubai?
The Dubai Land Department transfer fee is 4% of the property price. It is legally split 2% buyer and 2% seller, but in practice the buyer usually pays the full 4%, plus a small admin bundle of about AED 580.
Are buying costs higher with a mortgage?
Yes. A cash buyer avoids the mortgage registration fee (0.25% of the loan + AED 290), the valuation fee and the bank arrangement fee. These mortgage-only costs typically add around 1.5% of the loan.

← All guides