Dubai DLD Fees & Closing Costs Calculator
Every fee from DLD transfer to conveyancer — know the real cost before you sign.
What are Dubai DLD fees in 2026?
The Dubai Land Department (DLD) charges a 4% transfer fee on every property purchase, plus AED 4,200 title deed, AED 540 trustee fee, and AED 290 mortgage registration (0.25% of loan if financed). With 2% agent commission and a developer NOC, total closing costs on a AED 1.5M apartment land around AED 96,000–105,000 — roughly 6.4–7% of purchase price.
Dubai closing cost breakdown
The headline DLD fee of 4% is only part of the story. A typical Dubai residential purchase runs 6–8% of price in closing costs — sometimes higher for off-plan or mortgaged deals.
The full fee stack — every line item
- DLD transfer fee — 4% of price, paid at registration
- Oqood fee — 4% + AED 3,000 for off-plan (at handover)
- Title deed fee — AED 4,200 fixed
- Trustee fee — AED 540 for standard transactions
- Mortgage registration — 0.25% of loan + AED 290
- Developer NOC — AED 500–5,000 (varies by developer)
- Agent commission — 2% + 5% VAT
- VAT — 5% on commercial; exempt/zero-rated on residential
- Conveyancer (optional) — AED 5,000–10,000
Closing costs by purchase price (2026)
Concrete numbers for the common Dubai price bands. Assumes a financed (mortgage) purchase, ready (not off-plan) secondary-market apartment, 2% agent commission included.
| Purchase price | DLD 4% | Agent 2% +VAT | Mortgage reg | Other fixed | Total closing | % of price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AED 750,000 | 30,000 | 15,750 | 1,790 | ~7,000 | 54,540 | 7.3% |
| AED 1,500,000 | 60,000 | 31,500 | 3,290 | ~7,000 | 101,790 | 6.8% |
| AED 3,000,000 | 120,000 | 63,000 | 6,290 | ~7,000 | 196,290 | 6.5% |
| AED 5,000,000 | 200,000 | 105,000 | 10,290 | ~7,000 | 322,290 | 6.4% |
| AED 10,000,000 | 400,000 | 210,000 | 20,290 | ~7,000 | 637,290 | 6.4% |
Closing costs as a percentage decrease slightly with price because the fixed components (title deed, trustee, NOC) dilute. Off-plan adds 4% Oqood + AED 3,000 — typically paid at handover, not at signing.
Off-plan vs ready: when do you pay each fee?
The timing of fees differs between off-plan (under-construction) and ready (secondary or completed) purchases:
- Ready / secondary: All fees due at the DLD trustee office on transfer day — cashier's cheques, full settlement in 1–3 hours.
- Off-plan from developer: 4% Oqood + AED 3,000 admin at handover (1–4 years after signing the SPA). DLD title deed transfer happens after building completion. Agent commission (if any) is usually paid at SPA signing.
- Off-plan resale (assignment): A "no-objection" assignment fee from the developer (typically AED 5,000–15,000) plus a 4% Oqood transfer to the new buyer.
How to reduce closing costs legally
- Negotiate the agent commission: 2% is standard but many agents will close at 1.5% on a serious offer — saves 0.6% on a AED 1.5M deal.
- Buy direct from developer at launch: many developers offer "DLD fee waived" promotions that absorb the 4% Oqood, especially in soft markets.
- Buy without a mortgage: saves the 0.25% mortgage-registration fee on the loan amount (around AED 3,000 on a typical purchase).
- Skip the conveyancer for small ready-market deals: if the property is well-known and developer-clean, a Dubai-resident buyer can often skip the conveyancer fee. Always retain one for AED 5M+ deals or any off-plan / non-resident transaction.
Use this alongside the mortgage calculator to see full monthly + upfront spend, or the Dubai ROI calculator to see how closing costs impact your real cash-on-cash return.
Dubai DLD Fees — FAQ
What is the DLD fee in Dubai?+
The Dubai Land Department (DLD) transfer fee is 4% of the property purchase price. By default it is split equally between buyer and seller (2% + 2%), though most transactions pass the full 4% to the buyer in practice. It is paid in cashier's cheque at the DLD trustee office at registration.
Is there an Oqood fee for off-plan property?+
Yes. Off-plan property requires DLD Oqood registration — also 4% of the purchase price plus an AED 3,000 admin fee. Oqood is paid at handover and is separate from the eventual title deed issuance, which happens after building completion.
What other fees apply when buying in Dubai?+
Beyond the 4% DLD transfer fee, expect: 2% agent commission + 5% VAT, AED 4,200 title deed fee, AED 540 trustee fee, mortgage registration (0.25% + AED 290 if financed), NOC from developer (AED 500–5,000), and optional conveyancer fees (AED 5,000–10,000). Total closing costs typically run 6–8% of purchase price.
Does VAT apply to real estate in Dubai?+
Residential properties are VAT-exempt on first sale (off-plan from developer) and zero-rated thereafter on secondary market resales. Commercial properties attract 5% VAT. Service charges, agent commissions, and conveyancer fees include 5% VAT.
Can I negotiate or split the DLD fee with the seller?+
Legally the 4% DLD fee is split 2% buyer + 2% seller, but standard Dubai practice is for the buyer to pay 100%. In a buyer's market you can negotiate the seller to cover half (2%), which saves AED 30k on a AED 1.5M deal. Make sure the split is written into the MOU before signing.
How is the DLD fee calculated for off-plan property?+
For off-plan, the 4% Oqood registration is calculated on the purchase price (not the eventual handover value). If the developer offers a "DLD waiver" promotion, this is typically a marketing discount — the fee is still collected, just absorbed by the developer.
What happens at the DLD trustee office?+
Both parties (or their POA-holders) meet at a DLD-accredited trustee office on transfer day. Documents are verified, manager's cheques exchanged, NOC from the developer presented, and the title deed is transferred electronically into the buyer's name. The whole process takes 1–2 hours.
Can I claim back the DLD fee if I sell quickly?+
No. The 4% DLD fee is a one-time transfer tax with no refund mechanism. Some short-term flippers consider this in their math — selling within 12 months means absorbing both the buy-side 4% and the sell-side closing costs, easily 7–10% friction.
How much is the developer NOC fee in Dubai?+
The No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the master developer ranges AED 500–5,000 depending on the developer. Emaar, DAMAC, Nakheel typically charge AED 1,500–3,000. The NOC confirms no outstanding service charges or community fees, and the developer's consent to transfer.
Do I need a conveyancer to buy property in Dubai?+
Not legally required, but strongly recommended for purchases above AED 1M, off-plan from developers, or any non-resident buyer. A licensed conveyancer charges AED 5,000–10,000 and handles MOU review, title due diligence, escrow setup, DLD coordination, and POA execution.
Are there any tax savings on Dubai property purchases?+
Dubai has no personal income tax on rental income, no capital gains tax, and no inheritance tax on UAE-resident property. The only "tax" is the 4% one-time DLD transfer fee. For corporates, 9% UAE corporate tax applies to profits above AED 375k from June 2023 — most retail buyers are unaffected.
How long does the DLD transfer take?+
Same-day for cash purchases — typically 1–3 hours at the trustee office. Financed purchases take 2–4 weeks total from MOU signing: 1 week for bank valuation and final approval, 1 week for NOC, then transfer day. Non-residents add 1–2 weeks for document attestation.
Want the full picture?
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