What It Really Costs to Buy in Dubai in 2026

The price on the listing is not the total you pay. Budgeting for the full cost avoids surprises at transfer.

01. The main one-off costs

• Dubai Land Department transfer fee: 4% of the price, usually paid by the buyer.
• Registration (trustee) fee: AED 4,000 plus VAT for a sale of AED 500,000 or more, and AED 2,000 plus VAT below that, according to the Dubai Land Department.
• Title deed: AED 250, plus small knowledge and innovation fees.
• Agency commission: commonly 2% of the price plus VAT.
• Sharing costs: some costs, such as the trustee fee, are sometimes shared with the seller by agreement, so confirm in writing.

02. If you take a mortgage

• Bank arrangement fee and valuation fee.
• Mortgage registration fee at the Dubai Land Department: 0.25% of the loan amount.
• Life and property insurance.

Lenders generally expect the transfer fee and the commission to be paid in cash, so confirm this with your bank.

03. A simple example

For a property priced at AED 2,000,000 you might expect roughly:

• Transfer fee: AED 80,000
• Commission plus VAT: AED 42,000
• Registration and title deed fees: about AED 4,500

That is about 6% to 6.5% before any mortgage costs. Your own figure will differ, so ask for a written breakdown.

04. Ongoing costs

• Service charges: paid every year for shared facilities and maintenance. They vary a lot between buildings, so ask for the current rate per square foot.
• Utilities and cooling charges: depending on the building.
• Insurance and maintenance for your own unit.

05. Costs that catch buyers out

• Developer or building fees at handover.
• A No Objection Certificate fee when buying a resale unit.
• The cost of furnishing and moving in.

Fees and rules change, so confirm current figures with the Dubai Land Department or a trustee office before you budget. For the full process, read the Buyer's Guide.

Official sources: Dubai Land Department: sale registration · Dubai Land Department: mortgage registration

Want a personal cost breakdown? Speak to our team and we will prepare one for the property you are considering.