Dubai Land Department 4% transfer fee, broker commission, NOC, Oqood, trustee office, mortgage registration — this calculator adds everything for your specific transaction type. Secondary, off-plan, or mortgage-funded, the breakdown is precise.
Enter property details — calculator breaks down every fee: DLD 4%, broker commission, Oqood for off-plan, mortgage-related fees, and total outlay.
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Request Cost SheetThe single largest transaction fee is the Dubai Land Department transfer fee at 4% of property value. This is collected at the DLD registration appointment and is non-negotiable. On a AED 2M property, this is AED 80,000 paid directly to DLD as government fee. DLD also charges smaller fixed administrative fees (approximately AED 580) and title deed issuance (AED 250).
For secondary market purchases (buying from another owner rather than directly from developer), broker commission applies at the industry standard 2% of sale price plus 5% VAT on the commission itself. On a AED 2M property, this is AED 40,000 commission + AED 2,000 VAT = AED 42,000 total. For off-plan purchases from developers, broker commission is typically developer-paid (you pay zero), though trade-off is developer pricing may be 1-3% above secondary-market equivalents.
Off-plan transactions include an additional Oqood registration fee at 2% of property value. Oqood is the pre-title registration system for off-plan properties — it registers your rights to the unit during construction. This fee is typically paid at the time of reservation or first major payment. Oqood fee is credited against final DLD fees when the title deed transfers at handover, not charged on top.
If you are financing part of the purchase through a UAE mortgage (typically available for NRIs; complicated for residents due to FEMA), additional fees apply. Bank processing fee is typically 1% of the loan amount plus 5% VAT — on a AED 1M mortgage, approximately AED 10,500. Property valuation required by the bank is AED 2,500-5,000.
Mortgage registration with DLD (separate from property transfer registration) is 0.25% of the loan amount. This registers the bank's charge against the property title. It is collected at the same DLD appointment as the main transfer.
For cash-only purchases without mortgage, all these mortgage-related fees do not apply, keeping total transaction cost to approximately 6-7% of property value. Adding a 50% mortgage typically adds 1.5-2% to total outlay, before accounting for ongoing mortgage interest. The calculator above toggles these on/off based on your inputs.
No. The 4% is set by Dubai government regulation and applies to every freehold property transfer equally. There is no HNI reduction, no early-adopter discount, no scheme-based reduction. Attempts to under-report property value to DLD to reduce the 4% are fraudulent and criminal — DLD valuations independently verify submitted sale prices.
Traditionally split 50/50 between buyer and seller, which means buyer pays only 2% of property value directly. In practice over 2020-2026, market conventions have shifted — many Dubai transactions now have buyer paying full 4%. Clarify with specific developer or seller upfront whether 4% is split or buyer-only. For off-plan purchases from developers, buyer typically pays full 4% directly to DLD.
Standard industry rate yes. For high-value secondary transactions (AED 10M+), negotiating to 1.5% is sometimes achievable. For unusual or complex transactions, brokers may charge premium (3-5%). For off-plan direct-from-developer purchases, broker commission is developer-paid — you pay zero separately, though developer pricing incorporates typical broker remuneration.
No, for residential property. UAE VAT at 5% applies to new commercial property and to services (broker commission, legal fees, bank processing) but not to sale of residential real estate. This is genuinely valuable compared to markets where full 10-20% VAT applies to residential transactions. Commercial property and hotel apartments are exceptions — 5% VAT does apply there.
Required when taking a UAE mortgage — the bank commissions an independent valuation (AED 2,500-5,000) to establish lending basis. For cash purchases without mortgage, valuation is optional — some HNI buyers commission their own valuations for negotiation, but this is not a mandatory transaction fee.
No annual DLD fees. Once the title deed transfers, DLD has no recurring charges. However, annual service charges (building maintenance, typically AED 15-35 per sqft) apply to apartments — paid to the building management company, not DLD. Rental Ejari registration is AED 220 annual renewal. No annual property tax.
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