2026-10-12
DLD Fees in Dubai Explained: What Buyers Actually Pay
The listing shows one number: the price. Then you reach the transfer stage and find out you need another 4% to 8% on top, in cash.
Most of that extra is DLD fees in Dubai. It's also the cost buyers most often get wrong.
Below, you'll find what the Dubai Land Department charges, who pays, how it changes for off-plan and mortgaged deals, and three real examples.
The Dubai Land Department (DLD) registers every property sale in the emirate. When a home changes hands, the DLD records it and issues the title deed. What it charges for that is called DLD fees.
They're government charges, not a broker's markup. Your ownership isn't legal until they're paid.
There are four parts:
Here's the 2026 schedule. Fixed charges do change, so check with your trustee office before transfer day.
Fee | Amount | Applies to |
| Transfer fee | 4% of price | Every sale |
| Title deed | AED 580 (AED 430 for land) | Ready property |
| Trustee office | AED 2,000 + VAT under AED 500k; AED 4,000 + VAT above | Ready property |
| Oqood registration | 4% + small admin fee | Off-plan |
| Mortgage registration | 0.25% of loan + AED 290 | Financed deals |
This is almost all of it. On an AED 1 million apartment, you'll pay AED 40,000.
On paper, the fee is split 2% buyer, 2% seller. In reality, Dubai buyers pay the full 4% in nearly every deal. Assume it's yours unless the contract says otherwise.
It's charged on the declared price or the DLD's valuation, whichever is higher. Writing a lower price on the contract won't help, and it can cause trouble at registration.
Every ready-property transfer goes through a DLD-approved trustee office. Most Dubai homes now cost over AED 500,000, so budget AED 4,200 including VAT.
The DLD also registers the bank's charge on your home. It's 0.25% of the loan, not the price, plus AED 290. A AED 1 million loan costs AED 2,790 to register.
Buy off-plan from a developer and your purchase goes into the DLD's Oqood register. You still pay 4%, usually at booking, plus a small admin fee.
What you usually skip:
A note on "DLD waived" offers. The DLD doesn't waive anything. The developer pays the fee for you as an incentive. It's a real saving, but compare the total cost against similar projects. A good property developer in Dubai will spell out exactly what's covered.
You pay the 4%, the title deed fee and the trustee fee on transfer day. If you used an agent, their commission is due too.
These aren't DLD fees, but you'll still need the cash:
One thing catches a lot of first-time buyers: banks don't lend for any of this. Fees come out of your own pocket, on top of your down payment.
A resale 1 BHK apartment for sale in Dubai at AED 750,000.
Item | AED |
| Transfer fee (4%) | 30,000 |
| Title deed | 580 |
| Trustee fee | 4,200 |
| Agency (2% + VAT) | 15,750 |
| Total on top of price | 50,530 |
That's about 6.7%.
A 2 bedroom apartment Dubai for sale at AED 1,400,000, with an 80% loan of AED 1,120,000.
Item | AED |
| Transfer fee (4%) | 56,000 |
| Title deed | 580 |
| Trustee fee | 4,200 |
| Mortgage registration | 3,090 |
| Bank valuation | ~3,000 |
| Agency (2% + VAT) | 29,400 |
| Total on top of price | 96,270 |
About 6.9%, before any bank processing fee. Add the AED 280,000 down payment and you need roughly AED 376,000 in cash.
A 3 BHK flat in Dubai at AED 2,500,000.
Item | AED |
| Oqood / DLD fee (4%) | 100,000 |
| Admin fee | Small fixed charge |
| Agency commission | None |
| Total at booking | ~100,000 |
Around 4%, and less if the developer covers part of the DLD fee.
The lesson? Buying direct usually costs a few percentage points less in fees than buying resale through an agent.
Ask for a written fee breakdown before the appointment. A cheque for the wrong amount is a common reason transfers get pushed back.
By law, it can be split 2% each. In practice, the buyer pays the full 4% in most deals. Check your Form F (the sale agreement) to see what was agreed.
No. UAE banks only lend against the property price. The 4% fee and other costs must be paid from your own savings.
Yes. You pay 4% through the Oqood system, usually at booking. Some developers cover all or part of it as a sales incentive.
Once the transfer is registered, no. If a sale is cancelled before registration, any fees already paid depend on the contract and DLD rules, so ask your trustee or lawyer.
Roughly 4–5% for off-plan bought direct, 6–7% for a ready home bought with cash through an agent, and 7–8% if you're also taking a mortgage.
Knowing the fees changes how you compare homes. A slightly pricier off-plan unit with no agent fee and a developer-paid DLD fee can cost less overall than a cheaper resale.
Browse each flat for sale in Dubai and ask for a full cost breakdown with the price. The Purvanchal team can walk you through payment plans, fee offers and exactly what you'd pay from booking to handover.
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