How Much Does It Cost to Buy Property in Dubai? (2026)
Buying a AED 1.5M Dubai apartment adds about AED 96,000 in fees (6.4%). See every fee, a price-band table and answers to common questions.
Here is the part most listings leave out: the price is not the whole bill. If you buy a ready AED 1.5 million apartment in Dubai with cash, expect to pay about AED 96,000 on top in government and agency fees. That is 6.4% of the price. With a mortgage it rises to about AED 103,000, or 6.8%.
We walked through these numbers with buyers so often that we decided to write them down once, line by line. Rates below come from a July 2026 fee guide, and we re-check them with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) before any client transfers, because fees can change.
How much extra do you pay to buy property in Dubai?
Plan on roughly 6% to 7% of the purchase price for a ready property. Some guides suggest budgeting 7% to 10% once you add smaller items such as developer clearance certificates, furnishing and moving costs. The biggest single line is the 4% DLD transfer fee, followed by the agent's commission.
Every fee, with a worked example
Here is a cash purchase of a ready apartment priced at AED 1,500,000.
Cost | Rate or amount | On AED 1.5M |
|---|---|---|
DLD transfer fee | 4% of price (legally split 50/50, usually paid by the buyer) | AED 60,000 |
Title deed issuance | AED 580 for most ready units | AED 580 |
Trustee office registration | AED 4,000 above AED 500,000, plus 5% VAT | AED 4,200 |
Agency commission | Typically 2%, plus 5% VAT | AED 31,500 |
Knowledge and innovation fees | About AED 10 each | About AED 20 |
Total (cash purchase) | About AED 96,300 (6.4%) |
One thing worth knowing: some of the homes we list are marked Buyer-Fee-Free, which means the developer/seller covers the buyer's brokerage fee, so the agency line in this table may not apply. Check each listing for exactly what is covered. You can browse properties for sale and filter from there.
Extra costs if you take a mortgage
A mortgage adds two bank-related costs. The mortgage registration fee is 0.25% of the loan plus about AED 290 in admin. The bank's valuation fee runs AED 2,500 to AED 3,500.
Cost | Rate or amount | On an AED 1.2M loan (80%) |
|---|---|---|
Mortgage registration | 0.25% of loan + about AED 290 | AED 3,290 |
Valuation fee | AED 2,500 to AED 3,500 | About AED 3,000 |
Total fees with mortgage | About AED 102,600 (6.8%) |
Your down payment is separate from these fees, so on transfer day you need the down payment and the fees in cash.
What do the fees look like at different prices?
The percentage barely moves, so you can use 6.3% to 6.6% as a quick estimate for a cash purchase of a ready unit above AED 500,000.
Purchase price | DLD fee (4%) | Agency fee + VAT (For Secondary Properties only) | Other fixed costs | Total fees | As % of price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AED 1,000,000 | AED 40,000 | AED 21,000 | AED 4,800 | AED 65,800 | 6.6% |
AED 1,500,000 | AED 60,000 | AED 31,500 | AED 4,800 | AED 96,300 | 6.4% |
AED 2,000,000 | AED 80,000 | AED 42,000 | AED 4,800 | AED 126,800 | 6.3% |
AED 3,000,000 | AED 120,000 | AED 63,000 | AED 4,800 | AED 187,800 | 6.3% |
These are our own calculations from the rates above, assuming a 2% agency commission. Your deal may differ.
Is off-plan cheaper?
Not on the big line. The 4% DLD fee still applies to off-plan purchases. What changes is the paperwork: an off-plan sale is registered on the DLD's interim register, called Oqood, instead of getting a title deed straight away, so some registration fees differ. Ask for the exact figure for your project before you commit. If you are weighing an off-plan project, read our guide on whether off-plan property in Dubai is safe first.
Five costs buyers forget
Service charges. They are due every year and vary a lot by building. Ask for the last three years, not just this year's.
Furnishing. If you plan to rent the unit out furnished, budget for it.
Property management. An agent who looks after tenants charges a fee.
Currency exchange. If you are sending money from India, the UK or elsewhere, the rate and transfer fees add up.
Vacant months. Advertised rental yields assume the unit is let all year. Our guide to renting versus buying in Dubai shows how that changes your return.
See the DLD fee on real projects
To make the 4% concrete, here is what the DLD fee comes to on three off-plan one-bedroom apartments currently listed with us. Prices are the listing prices on 21 September 2026 and can change.
Project | Area | Listing price | DLD fee (4%) |
|---|---|---|---|
Warsan | AED 850,000 | AED 34,000 | |
Downtown Jebel Ali | AED 899,000 | AED 35,960 | |
Al Furjan | AED 982,000 | AED 39,280 |
Frequently asked questions
How much are the fees when buying property in Dubai?
About 6% to 7% of the price for a ready property. On AED 1.5 million that is roughly AED 96,300 for a cash buyer and AED 102,600 with a mortgage.
Who pays the DLD transfer fee, the buyer or the seller?
The 4% fee is legally split 50/50, but in practice it is commonly paid in full by the buyer. Confirm who pays in your sale agreement.
What is the agent's commission when buying in Dubai?
Typically 2% of the property price, plus 5% VAT on the commission. Some listings are marked Buyer-Fee-Free, where the seller covers the buyer's brokerage fee.
Do I pay the 4% DLD fee on off-plan property?
Yes. The transfer fee applies to off-plan too, although registration is done through Oqood and some administrative fees may be lower.
How much cash do I need on transfer day?
Your down payment plus the fees. For a AED 1.5 million apartment financed with an 80% loan, that is about AED 300,000 plus roughly AED 102,600 in fees.
Want your own number, not an average? Send us the property price and whether you are paying cash or using a mortgage, and one of our advisors will give you the exact cash needed on transfer day. Message us on WhatsApp or book a free consultation.
Sources: Property Finder, DLD fees guide, 3 July 2026. Worked examples and the price-band table are Keys and Numbers calculations from those rates. Listing prices are from keysandnumbers.com on 21 September 2026. Fees and rules can change; confirm current figures with the Dubai Land Department before you transact.
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