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Dubai Property Transfer Fee Calculator

Calculate the full cost of buying property in Dubai — DLD 4% transfer fee, trustee, registration, agent commission, and mortgage. The number every buyer wishes they'd known earlier.

By Alex Thorp, who has set up 40+ UAE businesses · Updated

Your Purchase

All figures are estimates. Actual fees vary by property type (off-plan vs ready), trustee, and special incentives.

Total Buyer Cost (excl. property price)

AED 0

~$0 USD

Breakdown

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Worked example: AED 2M Marina apartment

You're buying a AED 2,000,000 apartment in Dubai Marina, with a 75% mortgage (AED 1.5M loan), paying agent commission, buyer pays full DLD.

That's ~6.5% on top of the property price. Plan for it. Many first-time buyers budget for the deposit + mortgage but forget the AED 130k of fees, then have to scramble at signing.

Property Transfer FAQ

What is the Dubai DLD transfer fee?
The Dubai Land Department (DLD) transfer fee is 4% of the property purchase price. Officially it is split 2% buyer / 2% seller, but in practice the buyer almost always pays the full 4% as standard UAE market custom.
What other fees do I pay when buying property in Dubai?
On top of the 4% DLD fee, expect: trustee/registration office fee (~AED 4,000), DLD admin and Oqood/title deed fee (~AED 2,000–4,000), agent commission (typically 2% + 5% VAT), and if mortgaged, a mortgage registration fee of 0.25% of the loan + ~AED 290.
Is the 4% DLD fee negotiable?
The DLD fee itself is fixed by the government and not negotiable. However, you can negotiate with the seller to share or absorb some of the cost — some sellers offer to pay the 4% as a buyer incentive in slow markets. Always confirm in writing in the SPA (Sale and Purchase Agreement).
Are there different fees for off-plan vs ready properties?
Off-plan properties pay an Oqood registration fee (typically AED 5,000) instead of the title deed at handover. Otherwise the 4% DLD fee applies the same to both. Off-plan often has more flexible payment plans which can offset the upfront cost burden.
Do free zone or other emirates pay different fees?
Designated free zones like DIFC have their own registration authorities with separate (usually similar) fee structures. Standard freehold areas (Marina, Downtown, JBR, Palm, etc.) all use the DLD 4%. Other emirates (Abu Dhabi, Sharjah) have different rates and rules entirely — Abu Dhabi for example charges 4% to seller-only.

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Disclaimer: Estimates based on standard 2026 Dubai market practice. Actual fees vary by trustee office, property type, and incentives. For binding numbers, request a fee schedule from your conveyancer or RERA-registered agent.