Below is every cost, with worked examples for a AED 2,000,000 apartment.

Taxes on property in Dubai

Tax Applies to individuals?
Annual property tax No
Capital gains tax on sale No
Personal income tax on rent No
Corporate tax (9%) Only for companies and licensed business activity with taxable profit above AED 375,000 — not for individuals holding property personally
VAT First sale of new residential property is generally zero-rated and resale of residential property is generally exempt; commercial property is subject to 5% VAT

Important: taxes in your country of residence may still apply to rental income or gains from Dubai property. Check with a tax advisor in your home jurisdiction.

One-off buying costs: ready (secondary) property

Cost Amount
DLD transfer fee 4% of the purchase price (by market convention paid by the buyer)
DLD admin / title deed fee AED 580 + AED 250 title deed issuance
Trustee office fee AED 4,000 (price under AED 500,000) or AED 4,200 (AED 500,000+), plus 5% VAT
Agency commission Usually 2% of the price + 5% VAT
Developer NOC AED 500–5,000, usually paid by the seller

Example: ready apartment for AED 2,000,000 (cash)

Item AED
DLD fee 4% 80,000
DLD admin + title deed 830
Trustee fee (4,200 + VAT) 4,410
Agency fee 2% + VAT 42,000
Total costs ≈ 127,240 (about 6.4%)

One-off buying costs: off-plan property

Cost Amount
DLD fee (Oqood registration) 4% of the price
DLD admin fee AED 40
Agency commission Usually none when buying from the developer (the developer pays the broker)

Example: off-plan apartment for AED 2,000,000

Item AED
DLD fee 4% 80,000
DLD admin fee 40
Total costs ≈ 80,040 (about 4%)

Some developers run promotions where they cover part or all of the DLD fee. Payment of the price itself follows the payment plan.

Mortgage costs

Cost Amount
Mortgage registration (DLD) 0.25% of the loan amount + AED 290
Bank valuation About AED 2,500–3,500
Bank arrangement fee Up to 1% of the loan (varies by bank, sometimes waived)
Mortgage release (when repaid) AED 1,290

Example: a AED 1,600,000 loan adds about AED 4,290 in registration fees plus valuation and bank fees. How much you can borrow: residents up to 80% on a first home under AED 5 million (UAE Central Bank caps), non-residents typically 50–60%. See our mortgage guide.

Ongoing costs of owning property in Dubai

  • Service charges — paid annually per square foot to the building's owners association; they vary widely by building and are published in the DLD service charge index.
  • Utilities — DEWA (electricity and water) and cooling, if the building uses district cooling.
  • Municipality housing fee — charged to occupants through the DEWA bill.
  • Property management — typically a percentage of annual rent if you use a manager; more for holiday-home management.
  • Ejari — registration of a tenancy contract when you rent the property out (small fee).

When calculating rental yield, always deduct service charges. Our investment calculator does this automatically.

Costs when selling

The seller typically pays the developer NOC fee and, if a mortgage is repaid, the mortgage release fee and any early settlement charge. Agency commission on the seller's side is agreed in the listing agreement. There is no capital gains tax in Dubai for individuals. Thinking of selling? See Sell with SPI Dubai.

Buying in Abu Dhabi: how costs differ

In Abu Dhabi, foreigners can buy freehold property in designated investment zones such as Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, Al Reem Island, Al Raha Beach and Al Maryah Island. The registration fee is 2% of the price (paid to the Department of Municipalities and Transport; often split between buyer and seller), instead of Dubai's 4%. Other fees (title deed, mortgage registration, agency) also apply.

Calculate your total cost

Use the SPI Dubai investment calculator to calculate all fees, payment plan instalments and projected rental yield for a specific property, or ask an advisor to prepare the numbers for you.

This article is for general information only and is not tax, legal or financial advice. Fees can change; confirm current amounts with the Dubai Land Department, Abu Dhabi DMT, your bank or a qualified advisor.

Sources: Dubai Land Department service fees (2026); UAE Federal Tax Authority; UAE Ministry of Finance (Corporate Tax Law); UAE Central Bank mortgage regulations; Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport fee schedule (as summarised in 2026 market guides).