When you buy property, your investment includes costs of around 7-8% of the property value in fees and charges.
All costs when buying property in Dubai: This guide breaks down exactly what you'll pay so there are no surprises down the line.
With StakeOne there are no hidden fees or price markups. You buy, manage and sell full properties in one app from anywhere in the world. Learn more.
Dubai has no local property tax, no capital gains tax and no tax on rental income. What you pay is mostly upfront and what you earn from your investment is not locally taxed.
Once you complete the property purchase, the ongoing costs are straightforward.
Dubai Land Department (DLD) transfer fee
Some developers waive or subsidise this fee on off-plan launches.
Property registration fee
Title deed & map fees
Most buyers pay this.
When you buy off-plan through StakeOne, we earn directly from developers to ensure you keep more of your investment. We do not add a markup to property prices.
Buying off-plan has a different cost structure. Here's what applies:
Dubai developers offer a range of payment structures that make owning property more achievable, no matter your investment strategy. It varies from developer to developer, so it’s important to consider when buying.
1% per month plans
These plans make it easier to step into ownership. Start with a small down payment, then pay 1% of the property price each month. It’s a steady, predictable path to building equity.
Post-handover plans
Pay a portion during construction, then settle the rest after handover, often using rental income. It’s a smart way to align payments with cash flow.
Milestone-based plans (like 60/40)
Your instalments track construction progress. A common structure: 60% paid during the build, 40% on completion. This reduces upfront risk and gives you more control as the project moves forward.
Oqood (Arabic for "contracts") is the registration system for off-plan properties. This is the proof of ownership during construction, before the title deed is issued at handover.
Important: This 4% is your DLD fee paid upfront. You don't pay 4% again at handover, the Oqood converts to a title deed.
Once your downpayment is paid, the developer registers the property with the DLD. At this point, you will receive an Oqood certificate (digital registration).
After that, you receive the Sales Purchase Agreement (SPA), at which point you can also start the Golden Visa application.
Before accepting the handover, it’s highly recommended to get a professional snagging inspection. This identifies any issues that the developer must fix before you take the keys.
Buying a completed property involves a few additional considerations:
No objection certificate (NOC)
The seller obtains this from the developer to confirm no outstanding service charges. While typically the seller's cost, it can affect transaction timelines.
Conveyancing (optional, but recommended)
A conveyancer handles the legal and administrative aspects of the property transfer. Worth considering for complex transactions.
Mortgage costs, if you're financing
Taking a mortgage? These are some additional costs to consider:
| Fee type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Bank arrangement fee | 1% of loan amount + 5% VAT |
| Property valuation | AED 2,500-3,500 + 5% VAT |
| DLD mortgage registration | 0.25% of loan + AED 290 |
| Down payment | 20-25% (varies by residency status) |
Here's what the total cost looks like:
Example 1: AED 800,000 apartment
| Cost item | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|
| Property price | 800,000 |
| Oqood/DLD fee (4%) | 32,000 |
| Registration fee | 4,200 |
| Admin & title deed fees | 4,100 |
Example 2: AED 1,500,000 apartment
| Cost item | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|
| Property price | 1,500,000 |
| Oqood/DLD fee (4%) | 60,000 |
| Registration fee | 4,200 |
| Admin & title deed fees | 4,100 |
Once you receive your keys, here's what you'll pay every year:
The service charge in Dubai can range from AED 3 to AED 30 per sq ft. annually, so it’s best to compare against existing properties in the same area as you are planning to buy.
These are annual fees for maintaining the building or community, including costs associated with common areas, pools, gyms, security, landscaping, elevators, etc. It’s charged per square foot and varies significantly by each building and community.
You can check the service charge index directly with the DLD, which provides a platform where you can select specific buildings and the year of service charges. View here.
If your building uses district cooling (common in newer developments):
Mandatory tenancy contract registration:
You have 2 paths.
You handle tenant sourcing, viewings, Ejari, rent collection, maintenance callouts, and renewals. No fees, but expect hours per month minimum: more when issues arise. Impractical if you're overseas or time-poor.
Most property management companies in Dubai charge:
| Service | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Management fee | 5-8% of annual rent |
| Tenant finding fee | 5-7% of annual rent (one-time) |
| Renewal fee | AED 1,000-2,500 |
| Maintenance | 10-20% markup on invoices |
| Check-in/check-out inspection | AED 500-1,000 each |
Service quality varies significantly, and many are reactive rather than proactive.
Most brokers disappear after the sale, but StakeOne doesn't.
We're your single point of contact throughout the entire ownership journey:
Whether you're buying from Dubai or abroad, you get the same hands-on support.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Upfront fees | |
| DLD transfer fee | 4% of purchase price |
| Admin fee | AED 40-580 |
| Registration fee | AED 2,000-4,000 + VAT |
| Title deed & map fees | AED 520 |
| Agency commission | 2% + VAT |
| NOC (ready property) | AED 500-5,000 |
| Snagging (off-plan) | AED 800-2,500 |
| If financing | |
| Bank arrangement fee | 1% of loan + VAT |
| Valuation fee | AED 2,500-3,500 + VAT |
| Mortgage registration | 0.25% of loan + AED 290 |
| Ongoing costs | |
| Service charges | AED 3-30/sq ft/year |
| DEWA deposit | AED 2,000-4,000 (refundable) |
| Ejari (for rentals) | AED 175-220 |
Make sure to consider approximately 7-8% of the purchase price as part of your investment. The exact percentage depends on whether you're buying off-plan or ready, whether you're financing, and who you buy through.
With StakeOne, you get end-to-end support, from property selection through to rental management and resale.
StakeOne: Ownership, simplified.
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This material is being issued by Stake One Real Estate Brokerage LLC.