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What does it actually cost to buy a home in Dubai?
Beyond the purchase price: the Dubai Land Department transfer fee, agency commission, and the other charges to budget for.
3 min read
In short: budget roughly 6% to 8% on top of the price for a resale purchase. The largest item is the Dubai Land Department transfer fee of 4%, then agency commission of around 2%, plus smaller title deed, trustee, and any mortgage fees.
The advertised price of a property is rarely the full cost of buying it. Here's what typically sits on top, so there are no surprises at transfer. The figures below are illustrative for a straightforward resale purchase; we'll confirm exact numbers for your specific purchase.
Dubai Land Department transfer fee
The DLD's schedule sets a transfer fee totalling 4% of the property's purchase price, split as 2% for the buyer and 2% for the seller. What each party actually pays is a matter of agreement between buyer and seller, and the buyer commonly ends up covering some or all of it, so we'll confirm the split for your transaction rather than assume it.
Title deed and admin fees
On top of the transfer fee, there's a smaller title deed issuance charge, plus trustee office fees payable at the transfer appointment. These are one-off transaction costs, separate from the service charges and insurance you'll pay as an owner afterwards. We'll confirm the exact figures for your specific purchase before you reach the transfer stage.
Agency commission
On a resale purchase, agency commission is a commercially agreed fee rather than a fixed government tariff, and the market standard is around 2% of the purchase price, paid to the buyer's agent. On off-plan purchases bought directly through the developer, the agent's commission is usually paid by the developer instead, at no extra cost to you.
Mortgage related costs
If you're financing the purchase, expect a mortgage registration fee of around 0.25% of the loan amount, plus the bank's own arrangement and valuation fees, and check whether VAT applies to any service you're charged for.
A worked example
For a resale apartment priced at AED 1,500,000, assuming the buyer covers the full 4% transfer fee and a 2% agency commission: that's AED 60,000 in transfer fee plus AED 30,000 in commission, before title deed, trustee, and any mortgage-related fees. Your own numbers depend on how the transfer fee is split and whether you're financing the purchase, so treat this as a starting point, not a quote.
| Item | Basis | On AED 1,500,000 |
|---|---|---|
| DLD transfer fee | 4% of the price, split by agreement | AED 60,000 if the buyer covers it all |
| Agency commission | Around 2% of the price, agreed commercially | AED 30,000 |
| Title deed and trustee fees | Fixed charges at transfer | Confirmed for your purchase |
| Mortgage registration | 0.25% of the loan, if financing | Depends on the loan amount |
Reviewed 7 September 2026, against the Dubai Land Department's property sale registration service. Fees change; confirm current figures for your specific purchase before relying on them.
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