What buying in Dubai actually costs
Every fee on top of the price, named.
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The short answer
Budget for roughly 6 to 7 per cent above the purchase price on a cash purchase of a ready property. The Dubai Land Department transfer fee is 4 per cent and fixed; agency commission is conventionally 2 per cent and negotiable; and trustee, developer NOC and title deed fees add a few thousand dirhams between them. Mortgage costs are additional.
Ask Noor to explain this simplyThe fixed one
The Dubai Land Department charges 4 per cent of the purchase price to register the transfer. Convention says it is split between buyer and seller; practice says the buyer pays it. Assume you are paying it unless your contract says otherwise, and treat any assurance to the contrary as something to get in writing.
This is the one figure in a Dubai purchase that is genuinely fixed and not open to negotiation.
The negotiable ones
Agency commission is conventionally 2 per cent plus VAT. It is negotiable, and what you are paying should be agreed in writing before you commit to anything, not raised at the point of transfer.
Registration trustee fees are tiered by price band. Developer No Objection Certificate fees vary substantially between developers and are a common late surprise: ask your developer for the figure early.
- Agency commission, negotiable, agree it in writing up front.
- Trustee fee, tiered by price, confirm with the trustee office.
- Developer NOC, varies by developer, ask early.
- Title deed issuance, a small administrative charge.
What people forget
Service charges start from the transfer date, not from when you move in. On an apartment they are the largest ongoing cost of ownership and vary enormously by building.
If you are borrowing, arrangement and valuation fees are additional. If you are buying remotely, a power of attorney has a cost. And a conveyancer, while optional, is worth the fee on a first or remote purchase.
Accurate as of August 2026. Visa, tax and legal rules change, and how they apply depends on your circumstances. Treat this as orientation, not advice, verify anything you intend to act on with the relevant UAE authority or a licensed adviser. We will introduce you to one.
Asked and answered
Is the 4% DLD fee negotiable?
No. It is set by the Dubai Land Department. Who pays it is a matter of contract, but the fee itself is fixed.
Can I negotiate the agency commission?
Yes. It is a fee for a service, and like any fee it is open to discussion. What matters more is that it is agreed in writing before you are committed, so it is not a conversation you are having under time pressure at the end.
Are these figures current?
Our buying cost calculator carries the date each figure was last checked, and every fee that varies in practice is editable so you can put your own numbers in. Confirm current fees with the Dubai Land Department and your developer before relying on any of them.
Ask the specific version of this question.
A guide describes how something works in general. Your answer depends on the property, the building and your circumstances, which is a conversation, not an article.
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