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Dubai Property Fees 2025: DLD, Oqood, Commission, Hidden Costs

Dubai property fees in 2025 typically include a 4% Dubai Land Department (DLD) transfer fee (often paid by the buyer, though law allows a split), DLD trustee/partner fees of AED 2,000–4,000 + VAT, title deed and map fees (from AED 250), typical 2% agent commission (+5% VAT), off‑plan Oqood registration (4%), and, where relevant, mortgage registration at 0.25% of the loan + AED 290. Official DLD schedules confirm the core items and rates.

What counts as “Dubai property fees” and why they matter

Dubai property fees are the mandatory and ancillary costs you pay to register and complete a sale, protect title, and comply with regulations. The big line items are the DLD transfer fee, trustee/service partner fees, title deed and mapping, Oqood for off‑plan, agent commission, NOC, valuation, and mortgage registration (if financing). Getting them right helps you budget, negotiate, and avoid delays.

• The DLD collects 4% on sale registration, legally split 2% seller and 2% buyer unless agreed otherwise; in practice, buyers often cover the 4% to secure a deal. See the DLD’s official Property Sale Registration page for the fee components and trustee charges, and the underlying fee policy clarified in the Executive Council resolution discussed by Al Tamimi & Co. and on the DLD’s Property Sale Registration page.
• Mortgage registration, if you finance, is 0.25% of the loan amount plus AED 290, with service partner fees applicable; see DLD’s Mortgage registration application.
• Off‑plan (Oqood) is a provisional registration of the sale (typically 4% of the original price). DLD services also show service partner fee tiers for provisional registration processes. See DLD’s mortgage/Oqood section for service partner fee structures on provisional (Oqood) processing Mortgage registration.

When you plan purchases or sales, compute these fees early and compare scenarios (cash vs. mortgage, off‑plan vs. ready, different developers), so your offer strategy and ROI stay on track. If you plan to lease your unit post-handover, you can also optimize returns with dedicated property management.

Who pays what (buyers, sellers, landlords, investors)

• Buyers (ready resale):
  • DLD transfer fee: 4% of purchase price (legally 2% each party unless agreed; practice often buyer pays 4%).
  • DLD trustee/service partner fee: AED 2,000 (≤ AED 500,000) or AED 4,000 (≥ AED 500,000) + VAT.
  • Title deed issuance and mapping: AED 250 for deed; map fees AED 250 for apartments/villas or AED 100–225 for land, plus AED 10 knowledge + AED 10 innovation fees.
  • Agency commission: typically 2% of purchase price + 5% VAT.
  • Mortgage buyers: 0.25% of loan amount + AED 290 for DLD mortgage registration.
  • Developer NOC for resale: commonly AED 500–5,000 + VAT (varies by developer).
• Sellers:
  • By law, can be assigned 2% of the 4% DLD fee if agreed; in practice, often zero if buyer covers 4% in a competitive deal.
  • Settlement of service charges and any developer dues to obtain the NOC.
• Investors in off‑plan:
  • Oqood registration: typically 4% on original price at initial/provisional registration (replaced later by title deed at completion).
  • Service partner fees for provisional/Oqood processes apply per DLD schedules.
• Landlords:
  • Post-handover operating costs: service charges (AED/sq.ft. varies by community), maintenance, and tenancy registration (Ejari) for rentals.

Your 2025 fee checklist (ready, off‑plan, and mortgage)

Use this compact checklist to estimate closing costs quickly. Confirm exact items at your trustee office, as partner fees and developer NOC amounts vary.

• DLD transfer fee (sale registration): 4% of price (law permits 2% seller/2% buyer split).
• Trustee/service partner fee: AED 2,000 (≤ 500k) or AED 4,000 (≥ 500k) + VAT (per DLD).
• Title deed issuance: AED 250; mapping: AED 250 for apartments/villas, AED 100–225 for land; + AED 10 knowledge + AED 10 innovation (per drawing).
• Mortgage registration (if applicable): 0.25% of loan + AED 290; service partner fee applies.
• Off‑plan (Oqood): 4% of original price; service partner fee tiers apply on provisional registration.
• Agency commission: typically 2% + 5% VAT.
• Developer NOC: often AED 500–5,000 + VAT (varies by developer).
• Valuation fee (if financing): commonly AED 2,500–3,500 (bank/vendor dependent).
• Other incidentals: manager’s cheques, courier, POA notarization (if used).

Side‑by‑side at a glance

How fees affect buyers, sellers, landlords, and investors

• Buyers: The 4% DLD fee is the largest single cost. If you finance, add 0.25% of the loan + AED 290 and valuation. Offers are stronger when the buyer absorbs the 4%, but some developers will waive or subsidize the DLD fee in promotions (especially off‑plan).
• Sellers: Higher service charge arrears or unresolved snag/NOC issues can delay transfer and increase soft costs. Clearing dues early smooths the deal.
• Landlords: Service charges and management fees affect net yield. Small gains in service charge efficiency can add 0.2–0.5 percentage points to net yield. Consider professional property management to improve occupancy and reduce leakage.
• Off‑plan investors: Oqood secures your contractual interest before completion. The 4% is based on original price, so lock in incentives early and track fee vouchers through the developer’s Oqood portal.

Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

• Undervaluing the transaction: DLD can verify and adjust values for fee calculation. Fee evasion risks penalties up to double the prescribed fee under the Executive Council fee resolution framework discussed by Al Tamimi & Co..
• Missing NOC timing: Developers need time to clear service charges and issue NOCs. Apply early to keep your trustee appointment.
• Overlooking trustee tiers: Budget AED 2,000 (≤ AED 500,000) or AED 4,000 (≥ AED 500,000) + VAT as per DLD Property Sale Registration.
• Not accounting for mapping fees: Apartments/villas incur AED 250 map fees; land uses AED 100–225.
• Mortgage sequencing: Align liability letters, valuation, and bank approvals before trustee day to avoid rebooking and extra courier/cheque costs.

Our process at West Gate Dubai (what we do differently)

• Upfront fee map for your unit type and price band, so you see all costs before offering on a property.
• Mortgage pathing: introductions to lenders and brokers, with a realistic timeline for valuation and approvals.
• Off‑plan advisory: developer due diligence, Oqood support, and handover planning across Dubai’s top master communities; explore current off‑plan opportunities.
• Leasing strategy: if you plan to rent, we estimate net yield and optimize handover-to-market with in‑house property management to protect occupancy and returns.
• Inventory access: browse curated properties for sale and for rent—plus projects that never hit the open portals.

Professionally, we also highlight that we have many more properties available than what you see online, and you can fill the form to be contacted by a professional agent through our contact page.

A quick scenario: two buyers, two outcomes

• Buyer A (ready resale, cash)
  Price AED 1,800,000. Fees: DLD 4% = 72,000; trustee AED 4,000 + VAT; title deed AED 250; map AED 250; agent 2% = 36,000 + VAT. Total fees ≈ AED 115k–120k. They close in one trustee session; seller delivered a clean NOC.
• Buyer B (off‑plan, mortgage later)
  Booking at AED 1,200,000 with 4% Oqood on original price (48,000). Upon completion, they register mortgage (0.25% of loan + AED 290). Developer covered part of DLD costs as a promotion. Net fees paid over the cycle are lower than a similar ready unit—plus capital appreciation during construction.

2025 insights and advanced tips

• Promotions can shift who pays the 4%: Developers sometimes cover DLD/Oqood fees on select launches. Even a partial waiver meaningfully improves IRR for investors.
• Trustee capacity and scheduling: Book early for end‑of‑month closings as partner centers get busy.
• Cheque strategy: Use manager’s cheques per DLD guidance; ensure name fields and amounts match trustee instructions to avoid reissuance fees.
• Warehouse/unique asset caveats: Certain categories have different fee calculations; always confirm with DLD ahead of time.
• Fee transparency is favored: DLD digitization (Dubai REST) keeps processes fast; stay within official channels to avoid surprises.

Measuring success (KPIs that matter)

• Net yield (post service charges and management)
• Time to transfer (offer accepted → trustee completion)
• Vacancy days post-handover (if leasing)
• Resale liquidity (days on market vs. community average)
• Cost-to-close variance (initial estimate vs. actual trustee receipt)

Our clients typically shorten time‑to‑transfer and reduce cost variance by aligning NOCs, valuation, cheques, and developer clearances on a disciplined timeline. If you want to rent after purchase, you can also maximize ROI with tailored property management support.

Why Partner with West Gate Dubai

• Cost clarity at the start: a line‑by‑line fee forecast for your property type and price band.
• Negotiation leverage: we know where incentives are (DLD contributions, post‑handover plans) on the most active launches and resales across the city.
• Handover-to-income: if your goal is yield, we transition seamlessly from conveyancing to leasing with in‑house property management.
• Live inventory: find current properties for sale and vetted properties for rent, plus calibrated off‑plan picks at Off-plan Projects in Dubai.

We also maintain a wider inventory than what’s public; to access it and receive a professional callback, please fill the form on our contact page.

FAQs

• Who pays the 4% DLD fee in Dubai?
  The Executive Council fee schedule splits it 2% seller and 2% buyer unless both agree otherwise. In practice, most transactions assign the full 4% to the buyer to strengthen the offer or match market norms. See policy context via Al Tamimi & Co..
• What is Oqood and how much does it cost?
  Oqood is the provisional registration for off‑plan sales. Buyers typically pay 4% on the original price at initial registration, with service partner fees applying to provisional transactions. Final title deed is issued on completion. Fee frameworks are referenced across DLD services, including service partner tiers noted in Mortgage registration (DLD).
• How much is the trustee/service partner fee?
  For sale registration at trustee centers, DLD lists AED 2,000 + VAT (≤ AED 500,000) and AED 4,000 + VAT (≥ AED 500,000). See DLD Property Sale Registration.
• What are the title deed and mapping fees?
  DLD charges AED 250 for title deed issuance. Mapping fees are AED 250 for apartments/villas and AED 100–225 for land, plus AED 10 knowledge and AED 10 innovation per drawing. Reference: DLD Property Sale Registration.
• If I take a mortgage, what additional fees apply?
  DLD mortgage registration is 0.25% of the loan amount + AED 290, with service partner fees applying via trustee channels. Banks may also charge valuation and processing fees. See DLD Mortgage registration.
• Can I reduce these fees?
  You can sometimes negotiate fee sharing with the seller and capture developer promotions (e.g., partial DLD waivers) on off‑plan. Using a conveyancing plan that sequences NOC, valuation, and cheques also avoids rebooking and incidental costs.

Call to Action

If you want a clean, line‑by‑line estimate for your unit and a sharper path to transfer, our advisors can help you select the right property and minimize friction. Explore active listings on our properties for sale page, or tell us what you need and we’ll send a tailored shortlist. We have many more properties available than what’s public—fill the form on our contact page and a professional agent will contact you.