What it really costs to buy or sell in Dubai
No surprises. Here is every cost, who pays it, and what it adds up to, for cash buyers, mortgage buyers, sellers and off-plan. Figures checked October 2026. Examples use a AED 2,000,000 property.
Fees
Buyer, new off-plan launch
On a developer-direct off-plan purchase the developer pays the agent's commission, so you pay no agent fee. Why that still matters is below.
Buyer, ready property
2% of the purchase price, plus 5% VAT, for finding and negotiating the property.
Seller
2% of the sale price, plus 5% VAT. Only when the property sells. It covers marketing, viewings, negotiation and getting you to transfer.
Why a broker makes a difference when you buy off-plan
If the developer pays the commission anyway, you might ask why you need a broker at all. Here is what changes.
One project, or all of them
A developer's sales team can only sell what the developer has. A broker who is not tied to one project can put several launches in front of you side by side and recommend the one that fits your goal, not the one with a target to hit.
A straighter comparison
A developer will not tell you that a rival's launch has a better location, a stronger payment plan or an earlier handover. I will compare price, payment plan, handover date, the developer's record, service charges and likely rent, and tell you which I would choose and why.
Access to units
On niche and exclusive launches the best units go before the public sees them. Securing one depends on relationships with the developers' sales teams, built over years. That access is vital, and it is not something you can get by filling in a form.
Someone to read the paperwork with you
The Sale and Purchase Agreement, the payment schedule, the Oqood registration, the escrow arrangements and what happens if the handover is late. I walk you through each, in plain words, before you sign. The guide explains every term.
Support for the life of the property, not just the sale
I stay with the purchase from reservation through the payments, to handover and the snagging inspection of your unit. After that I can help with property management and finding a tenant, with looking at it as part of your wider portfolio, with refinancing, and with the exit when you decide to sell.
A strategy, and the reason behind it
Before looking at any project I want to understand why you are buying: income, growth, a home for the family, or a mix. Then the choice of project, the payment plan, the hold period and the exit all follow from that, instead of from whichever launch was in front of you.
How I am paid, so there are no surprises: on a developer-direct off-plan purchase the developer pays the commission, and you pay no agent fee. Ask any broker, me included, how they are paid and which developers they work with.
Buying a ready property
The big one is the Dubai Land Department registration fee: 4% of the price. The DLD's own schedule splits it 2% buyer and 2% seller, but in practice the buyer usually pays all of it unless the contract says otherwise. The rest is small by comparison, but a mortgage adds bank and registration costs. Since 1 February 2025 banks no longer lend against the DLD fee or the agent fee, so both are paid in cash.
A cash buyer should expect about 6.34% of the price on top. A mortgage buyer about 7.48%, because the 0.25% mortgage registration and the bank's own fees are added.
Selling a ready property
The seller does not usually pay the 4% DLD fee, although the DLD schedule officially splits it 2% and 2%, so check who is paying in your contract. If you agree to split it, half comes off the buyer's costs and onto yours: the calculator has a switch for it. The costs are the agent fee, the developer's NOC (the no-objection certificate needed to transfer), and, if you have a mortgage, settling it.
The Central Bank caps the early settlement fee at 1% of the balance or AED 10,000, whichever is lower. Your own bank's letter will give the exact figure.
Buying off-plan
The DLD fee is the same 4%, but it is paid up front as the Oqood registration rather than at handover. Developers add an admin fee, usually around AED 5,000, set by each developer. Some launches include a DLD waiver or a share of it, so always check the sales agreement.
If you pay by the developer's payment plan, these costs are due at the start, on top of your first instalment. If you take a mortgage at handover, the mortgage costs fall due then. First-year service charges and utility deposits are separate and vary by building.
Selling off-plan before handover
An off-plan resale is an assignment of your contract. The developer charges a NOC and assignment fee, usually AED 5,000 or more, and most developers require a minimum percentage of the price to have been paid before they allow it. The buyer pays the 4% DLD fee.
One-off costs and your return
Buying costs are paid once. They reduce your return in the first year, then disappear. The same flat on the same rent shows two different yields:
A minus in year one just means that year's rent has not yet covered the buying costs, which here takes about 1.2 years of rent. Example: AED 2,000,000 bought with cash, AED 140,000 annual rent and AED 30,000 of yearly running costs. The same maths applies to mortgage buyers, where it is worth looking at the return on the cash you actually put in. Run your own numbers in the buying and selling costs calculator
Government charges are set by rule; developer, bank and agent charges vary. The figures are typical for October 2026 and for guidance only. Confirm each one with the developer, your bank and the Dubai Land Department before you commit. Nothing here is financial, legal or tax advice.
Where these numbers come from
Checked against the official sources first, then the major portals for the charges the government does not set.
Official
- Dubai Land Department: property sale registration fees
- Dubai Land Department: sale of a mortgaged property (release fees)
- Dubai Land Department: mortgage registration
- Dubai Land Department: off-plan (Oqood) initial sale registration
- Central Bank of the UAE rulebook: mortgage loan regulations
Portals and guides
- Property Finder: how much is real estate commission in Dubai (April 2026)
- Property Finder: extra costs when buying in Dubai
- MyBayut: banks no longer finance DLD and agent fees (from 1 February 2025)
- MyBayut: Central Bank early settlement cap
- Westgate: off-plan resale transfer fees (developer NOC range)
Developer admin fees, NOC fees, bank arrangement fees and valuations are set by each developer or bank, so the amounts above are typical ranges, not rules. My own fees are as stated at the top of this page.
Frequently asked questions
How much are buying costs in Dubai?
On a ready resale the main costs are the Dubai Land Department transfer fee of 4%, the agent fee (typically 2% plus 5% VAT), the registration trustee fee of AED 2,100 or AED 4,200 depending on price, and title deed charges. Altogether that is often around 6% to 7% of the price.
Who pays the 4% DLD fee in Dubai?
By market practice the buyer usually pays the full 4% transfer fee on a resale. On off-plan it is paid as the Oqood registration, and some developers run offers that cover it. Check the sale agreement.
What extra costs come with a Dubai mortgage?
Mortgage registration at 0.25% of the loan plus AED 270 in fees, a bank valuation of around AED 3,000, and an arrangement fee of up to about 1% of the loan. Since 1 February 2025 banks no longer finance the DLD fee or agent fee, so those come from your cash.
What does it cost to sell property in Dubai?
Usually the agent fee (2% plus VAT) and a developer no-objection certificate, typically a few thousand dirhams. With a mortgage, add the DLD release fee and the bank's early settlement fee, which the Central Bank caps at 1% of the balance or AED 10,000, whichever is lower.
Do off-plan buyers pay an agent fee in Dubai?
Normally not on a developer-direct new launch, because the developer pays the agent. The buyer pays the Oqood registration and a developer admin fee. Reselling off-plan before handover adds a developer transfer or no-objection fee.
Planning to finance this?
Answer three quick questions and GCC Mortgages will come back with what you can borrow and which banks fit, before you commit to anything.
Want your exact numbers?
Tell me the property, your budget and whether you are paying cash or borrowing, and I will send you a line-by-line cost sheet.