Dubai Land Department Fees 2026: The 4% Explained

The Dubai Land Department charges 4% of the purchase price to transfer a property into your name. On a AED 2 million apartment that is AED 80,000. Officially the 4% is split equally between buyer and seller, but in practice the buyer pays all of it unless the contract says otherwise.

That 4% is the largest of about six charges you meet on completion day. Altogether, budget 6 to 7% above the purchase price if you are buying in cash, and 7 to 8% with a mortgage.

Dubai property fees at a glance (2026)

Charge	Amount	Paid by
DLD transfer fee	4% of price	Buyer, in practice
Trustee office fee	AED 4,200 inc. VAT	Buyer
Title deed issuance	AED 580	Buyer
Agency commission	2% + VAT	Buyer (resale)
Developer NOC	AED 500 to 5,000	Seller, usually
Mortgage registration	0.25% of loan + AED 290	Buyer, if borrowing

Who actually pays the 4% transfer fee?

The Dubai Land Department sets the transfer fee at 4% and splits it on paper: 2% from the buyer, 2% from the seller.

In practice the buyer pays the full 4%. This is the market norm across Dubai and it will be written into your Memorandum of Understanding, known as Form F. It is negotiable, and in a slower market a seller may agree to cover their half, but that has to be agreed in writing before anyone signs. Assume you are paying all of it unless you have negotiated otherwise.

What does buying a property in Dubai actually cost?

Here is a ready resale property, bought in cash through an agent, at three price points.

Charge	AED 1,000,000	AED 2,000,000	AED 5,000,000
DLD transfer fee (4%)	40,000	80,000	200,000
Trustee office fee	4,200	4,200	4,200
Title deed issuance	580	580	580
Agency commission (2% + VAT)	21,000	42,000	105,000
Developer NOC	500 to 5,000	500 to 5,000	500 to 5,000
Total	66,280 to 70,780	127,280 to 131,780	310,280 to 314,780
As a percentage	6.6 to 7.1%	6.4 to 6.6%	6.2 to 6.3%

Notice that the percentage falls as the price rises. Several of these charges are flat, so they weigh far more heavily on a studio than on a villa.

Every charge, explained

DLD transfer fee: 4% of the purchase price

Paid at the registration trustee office on transfer day, by manager's cheque. This is what registers you as the legal owner.

Trustee office fee: AED 4,200

AED 4,000 plus 5% VAT for property at AED 500,000 or above. Below that it is AED 2,000 plus VAT, so AED 2,100.

Title deed issuance: AED 580

The document proving ownership. It costs AED 580 for apartments and offices, AED 430 for land, and AED 40 for an off-plan contract.

Agency commission: 2% plus VAT

The market standard on resale, so 2.1% once VAT is added. Buying new off-plan directly from a developer, the developer pays the agent and this does not apply to you.

Developer NOC: AED 500 to 5,000

A No Objection Certificate confirming the seller owes the developer nothing. The developer sets the price, not the DLD, and the range is wide. Ask for the figure early, because this is the charge that surprises people most often.

Mortgage registration: 0.25% of the loan

Only if you are borrowing. It is 0.25% of the loan amount plus roughly AED 290. On a AED 1.5 million loan that is about AED 4,040. Your bank will add its own arrangement and valuation fees, usually AED 3,000 to 5,000.

How are off-plan fees different?

Off-plan property is registered on the Oqood system instead of receiving a title deed. You still pay the 4% DLD fee, normally at booking. There is no agency commission when you buy directly from the developer, and no NOC. Our guide to buying off-plan in Dubai covers how the payment plans work.

What taxes does Dubai charge on property?

None of the ones you may be used to:

No annual property tax.
No capital gains tax when you sell.
No inheritance tax on UAE property.

You do pay ongoing service charges to your building or community. That is a separate, recurring cost, and it varies widely between communities. Check it before you commit, not after.

Before you sign

Get every figure in writing before you commit, particularly the developer's NOC, which nobody can predict for you. The fees above are published by the Dubai Land Department and current as of August 2026. Confirm them at the time of your transaction, because they do change.

If you would like these numbers worked out for a specific property, our RERA-licensed team will do it for you at no cost. Get in touch, or browse what is available for sale in Dubai and off-plan.

Frequently asked questions

Can the 4% DLD fee be added to my mortgage?+

No. Banks in Dubai lend against the property price only. The DLD transfer fee and all other closing costs must be paid in cash on transfer day.

Is the 4% transfer fee negotiable?+

The fee itself is fixed by the Dubai Land Department. Who pays it is negotiable between buyer and seller, and must be agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding before signing. In practice the buyer pays all 4%.

Do I pay the 4% again when I sell?+

No. The 4% is charged once per transfer. If the buyer pays it in full, as is standard in Dubai, the seller pays nothing to the DLD.

Are the fees different for foreign buyers?+

No. Dubai Land Department fees are identical whether you are a UAE national, a resident, or an overseas buyer purchasing in a freehold area.

How much should I budget above the purchase price?+

Budget 6 to 7 percent above the purchase price if buying in cash, and 7 to 8 percent if you are taking a mortgage. On a AED 2 million property that is roughly AED 130,000.