Dubai Property Buying Cost Calculator (DLD Fees) 2026
Every cost of buying property in Dubai or Abu Dhabi: 4% DLD transfer fee, trustee admin, 0.25% mortgage registration, agency commission with VAT, developer NOC, valuation and arrangement fees — and the cash needed to complete.
| Land-department transfer fee | — |
|---|---|
| Registration trustee / admin | — |
| Mortgage registration | — |
| Agency commission (+5% VAT) | — |
| Developer NOC | — |
| Bank valuation + arrangement | — |
| Costs as % of price | — |
| Cash to complete (down payment + costs) | — |
In short
Buying a ready property in Dubai costs about 7–8% of the price on top of the deposit: a 4% DLD transfer fee plus AED 580 admin, 0.25% of the loan plus AED 290 to register a mortgage, typically 2% agency commission plus 5% VAT, a developer NOC fee and bank valuation and arrangement fees — AED 111,370 on an AED 1.5 million apartment with an AED 1.2 million mortgage; Abu Dhabi charges a 2% transfer fee.
Who this is for: Buyers of ready or off-plan property in Dubai and Abu Dhabi who need the full list of fees — DLD, registration, agency, NOC, bank — and the total cash to complete, including investors comparing cash and mortgage purchases.
What it costs to buy property in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
The biggest line is the Dubai Land Department transfer fee of 4% of the purchase price (2% in Abu Dhabi), paid at the registration trustee together with a flat AED 580 admin fee for a ready property. Off-plan purchases pay the same 4% as an Oqood registration fee to the developer. If you borrow, DLD charges 0.25% of the loan + AED 290 to register the mortgage, and the bank adds a valuation fee (AED 2,500–3,500) and an arrangement fee of up to 1% of the loan. The seller's developer usually charges an NOC fee (AED 500–5,000) to confirm no service charges are outstanding, and the agent's commission is customarily 2% + 5% VAT.
All of it is payable in cash on top of the down payment — none of these costs can be financed — so a mortgaged buyer typically needs 7–8% of the price in fees plus a 20% deposit. The calculator totals every line and shows the cash needed to complete.
See also: UAE Rental Yield Calculator, Dubai Off-Plan Payment Plan Calculator.
Assumptions
- Dubai transfer fee 4% (ready and off-plan/Oqood) + AED 580 trustee admin; Abu Dhabi 2% with no admin fee.
- Mortgage registration 0.25% of the loan + AED 290 (Dubai); 0.1% in Abu Dhabi is not modelled separately.
- Agency commission at the percentage you enter plus 5% VAT; NOC, valuation and arrangement fees as entered.
- Service charges, insurance, utility deposits and furnishing are excluded.
Worked example
DLD 4% AED 60,000 + admin AED 580 + mortgage registration AED 3,290 + agency 2% + VAT AED 31,500 + NOC AED 1,000 + valuation AED 3,000 + arrangement 1% AED 12,000 = AED 111,370, or 7.42% of the price. With the AED 300,000 down payment the buyer needs AED 411,370 in cash to complete.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays the 4% DLD fee — buyer or seller?
By law it can be split, but in practice the buyer pays the full 4% in Dubai. Developers sometimes offer to pay it as an off-plan incentive.
Is there VAT on buying a home in the UAE?
No VAT on residential property sales (first sale within three years of completion is zero-rated, later sales exempt), but 5% VAT applies to agency commission and other services.
What is the Oqood fee?
The 4% registration fee on off-plan purchases, paid to DLD through the developer when the sale contract is registered.
Are there annual property taxes in Dubai?
No annual property tax. Owners pay the building's service charge; tenants pay a 5% housing fee on rent through DEWA.
Can the buying costs be added to the mortgage?
No. The Central Bank requires all fees and the down payment to be paid from the buyer's own funds, which is why lenders ask for proof of cash before approval.
What does Abu Dhabi charge?
A 2% transfer fee to the Department of Municipalities and Transport, with no trustee admin fee; mortgage registration is 0.1% of the loan.
Does the 4% apply when buying from family?
Gift transfers between first-degree relatives pay a reduced 0.125% DLD fee instead of 4%.
Are fees different in free zones like JLT or DIFC?
DLD-registered freehold areas use the same 4%; a few jurisdictions such as DIFC register through their own authority with different fees.
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