What are the costs of buying property in Dubai?

Amidst a booming real estate market and ease in Dubai's residency regulations, many Dubai expats are looking to ditch the traditional renting model and move to purchasing a property they can call their own while the market still is moving at an upward pace but still providing great value at the moment.

At the same time, investors should be aware of the costs involved with purchasing property in the Dubai real estate market and include them in their investment plans and to make informed financial decisions. 

The costs involved include payments to your real estate agent, banks, Dubai land department, and conveyancer. As a rule of thumb, you can expect to spend approximately 8% of your property value in fees alone.

Costs Of Buying Property In Dubai

1. Dubai Land Department

In order to purchase a property and for the purchase to be valid, you must register it with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) within 60 days of the transaction.

The costs are as follows:

1. Dubai Land Department (DLD) Fees - 4% of the purchase price + AED 580 admin fee for apartments or AED 430 for land transactions or AED 40 for an off-plan property 

Usually, this entire cost is borne by the buyer, but it's actually expected that both the buyer and seller are expected to equally pitch in for the DLD fee. 

2. Property Registration Fee - For properties valued below AED 500,000, you will need to pay AED 2,000 +5% VAT 

For properties valued above AED 500,000, the price is AED 4,000 + 5% VAT 

3. Mortgage Registration Fees (if the property is on a mortgage) - 0.25% of the loan amount + AED 290

2. Service Fees

Service fees are composed of mainly your broker fee to the real estate agent and conveyancing fees. A conveyancer is an entity that ensures that the buyer's interests are protected during the time of sale and in accordance with UAE laws and regulations. 

The costs are as follows:

1. Real Estate Agent Fee - 2% of the purchase price + 5% VAT 

2. Conveyance Fee - Approximately AED 6,000 to AED 10,000 (depending on the conveyancer)

3. Mortgage Fees (Applicable Only If You Have A Mortgage)

1. Bank Mortgage Arrangement Fee - 1% of the loan amount + 5% VAT 

2. Property Valuation Fee - Between AED 2,500 – AED 3,500 + 5% VAT

In the event that the property you are buying is already mortgaged, you will need to pay off the seller's mortgage either by settling the amount yourself or through the bank. Once the mortgage is paid off, you need to get an NOC in order to proceed with transfer.

You also have the option to include these fees as well as the DLD fee to offset the financial commitment needed then and there. These fees are topped up with the loan amount. 

4. Home Insurance (Optional)

Home insurance is important, especially if you are purchasing an end-use property and want to protect your interests. Though not compulsory, it is highly recommended and relatively not too expensive. The costs are as follows:

1. Home & Contents Insurance - Approximately AED 1,000 

2. Life Insurance - Approximately 0.4-0.8% per annum on the decreasing loan balance (this is a compulsory cost if you are purchasing a property on mortgage basis and will be arranged through the mortgage provider).

Other Costs To Consider

Property Deposit

In order to reserve your property, you will need to deposit 10% of the agreed transaction value on a cheque in the seller's name, which is held by the real estate agent appointed till the property has transferred. 

Service Fees

A running annual cost, service fees vary from development to development. These are the charges for the development that you live in and should form part of our property purchase considerations. You can check the service fee charges on the Dubai Land Department website here.