Tax on Selling Property in Dubai

There is no capital gains tax on property for individuals in Dubai, and no annual property tax. Selling costs you transaction fees rather than tax: the Land Department transfer fee, agency commission and trustee charges.

The part sellers miss is the second question. Dubai not taxing your gain says nothing about whether your own country will.

What a sale actually costs

Cost	Market position	Usually paid by
Land Department transfer fee	4 percent of the price	Buyer, by convention
Agency commission	2 percent plus VAT	Buyer on a sale, by convention
Registration trustee fee	A fixed office fee	Buyer
Mortgage discharge	Bank and registration charges	Seller, if mortgaged
Service charges to date	Settled before the NOC	Seller

No capital gains tax, but check the other side

If you are tax resident somewhere that taxes worldwide gains, that country may well want to see this sale. The rules differ by jurisdiction and by how long you have been away, so this is a question for an adviser where you are resident rather than for an estate agent in Dubai.

Does corporate tax change anything?

The UAE has introduced corporate tax, which is a different matter from taxing an individual's property gain. If the property is held by a company rather than by you personally, treat the tax position as a question for your accountant before you sell.

What to work out before you list

Your outstanding mortgage balance and the discharge cost
Your service charge account, which has to be clear for the developer NOC
What the property will realistically achieve, not what you hope
Your tax position at home, before the money moves

Working out the real number

Our guide to Land Department fees breaks down the transfer costs in detail, and rental yields by community is the better read if you are weighing selling against keeping it let.

Thinking about selling?

We will give you an honest figure before you commit to anything. See the selling process or ask what your property would achieve.

Current as of August 2026, and general information rather than tax advice. Fee conventions can be negotiated and tax rules change, so confirm both your Dubai costs and your home country position before you sell.

Frequently asked questions

Is there capital gains tax on property in Dubai?+

There is no capital gains tax on property for individuals in Dubai, and no annual property tax. What a sale does carry is transaction cost: the Land Department transfer fee, agency commission and trustee fees.

What does it actually cost me to sell?+

The main costs are the 4 percent Land Department transfer fee, which the buyer conventionally pays, agency commission plus VAT, trustee office fees, and a mortgage discharge if the property is mortgaged.

Will I be taxed at home on a Dubai gain?+

Possibly. Many countries tax their residents on worldwide gains regardless of where the property is. Dubai not taxing the gain does not mean nobody does, so take advice where you are tax resident.