Property & investment · 2 min read
The Hidden Costs of Buying Property in Dubai
The price on the listing isn't the full price. Plan on adding roughly 7–10% for fees on top of your deposit. Here's where it goes.
By Trevio ·
Fees you'll typically pay
- DLD transfer fee — 4% of the purchase price.
- Trustee office fee — around AED 4,000 plus VAT for properties above AED 500,000.
- Mortgage registration — 0.25% of the loan amount, plus a small admin fee.
- Property valuation — typically AED 2,500–3,500.
- Bank arrangement fee — often up to 1% of the loan.
- Agency fee — commonly 2% of the price plus VAT.
Ongoing costs
Service charges, building and life insurance, and maintenance continue after you move in. Ask for the service charge per square foot before you buy.
A worked example
On a AED 2,000,000 resale with a 20% deposit: the deposit is AED 400,000, the DLD fee is AED 80,000, and agency fees add around AED 40,000. With registration, valuation, trustee and bank fees, your upfront total can land well above the deposit alone.
How to avoid surprises
- Get the full fee list before making an offer.
- Ask the bank which fees can be financed.
- Use our calculator to model your all-in cost.
FAQs
Can I borrow the fees?
Generally the down payment must come from your own funds, though some banks may finance certain fees. Ask early.
Do fees differ off-plan?
Some costs differ by project and developer. Confirm each one.
Are fees negotiable?
Some, such as agency fees, can be. Government fees are fixed.
Want your exact numbers? Try the Trevio calculator, then book a free consultation.