What taxes and fees should I expect when buying a property in Dubai?

Here are the main taxes and fees you should expect when buying a property in Dubai as of 2025:

Mandatory Government & Land Department Fees

• DLD Transfer Fee: 4% of the property’s sale price charged by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) for transferring ownership. Registration/Admin Fee (Title Deed): Fixed fee for issuing a new title deed typically around AED 580.
• Mortgage Registration Fee: If you’re using finance, there’s 0.25% of the mortgage amount plus an admin fee of about AED 290.
• Property Registration Fee: For properties below AED 500,000: ~AED 2,000 + VAT; above AED 500,000: ~AED 4,000 + VAT.

Broker / Agent Fees

• Commission for buying property: Generally 2% of the purchase price plus 5% VAT. This is common but may be negotiable depending on the property, developer, or market.
• Off-plan properties: Often developers pay the agents’ commissions themselves, so buyers may not need to pay this fee.

Other Fees & Costs to Budget For

• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Developer: Needed for resales, sometimes for transfers; fees vary by developer.
• Trustee or Registration Office Fees: Depending on location or use of a trustee office, could be AED 2,000–AED 4,000.
• Valuation & Mortgage Setup Fees: If financing, bank valuation (few thousand AED) + processing / administration fees.
• Service & Maintenance Charges: Ongoing charges (annual) for building maintenance, common area upkeep, amenities; depends on location, developer quality, project type.

Example Breakdown

If you plan to buy off-plan, check whether any of these fees are waived or included by the developer (especially the agent commission or DLD fees).

In summary, the main fees are the 4% DLD transfer, agent commission ~2%, plus admin, registration, mortgage-related fees, and annual maintenance. Always build a buffer of ~5-7% above the purchase price to cover all such costs.