The main fee: 4% DLD transfer
The largest cost is the Dubai Land Department transfer fee — 4% of the purchase price — paid once at the point of transfer. It is technically split between buyer and seller but is almost always paid in full by the buyer in practice. On an off-plan purchase, developers sometimes offer DLD-fee waivers as an incentive, which can save you the full 4%.
Agency commission and registration
A RERA-licensed broker typically charges 2% of the price (plus 5% VAT on that commission). Add DLD registration and admin fees — a few thousand dirhams (higher for units above AED 500,000), plus a title-deed issuance fee. For off-plan bought directly from a developer, there may be no agency commission at all.
Mortgage costs (if you finance)
If you take a mortgage, add a bank arrangement fee (around 1% of the loan), a mortgage registration fee at the DLD (0.25% of the loan amount plus a small admin fee), and a property valuation fee (roughly AED 2,500–3,500). Non-resident and expat mortgages usually require a larger down payment — often 20–50% depending on residency and property value.
Worked example: AED 1,000,000 apartment (cash)
DLD transfer fee (4%): AED 40,000. Agency commission (2% + VAT): ~AED 21,000. DLD registration + title deed + trustee fees: ~AED 5,000–8,000. Total one-time cost: roughly AED 66,000–69,000, or about 6.6–6.9% on top of the price. Add mortgage fees only if you finance. After purchase, ongoing costs are service charges (per sqft, varies by community) — not tax.
What you DON'T pay
There is no annual property tax, no council tax, and no capital-gains tax on residential property in Dubai. Rental income is also untaxed at the personal level. This is a major reason Dubai's net yields compare well internationally — the fees are front-loaded at purchase, not recurring.