Dubai DLD fee and upfront cash calculator
Enter the price and your mortgage to see every Dubai Land Department fee, the agent commission and the total cash you need on transfer day.
How the fees are calculated
Transfer fee = price × 4% (or 2% if split with the seller)
Trustee fee = AED 4,000 + 5% VAT if price ≥ AED 500,000, else AED 2,000 + 5% VAT
Mortgage registration = loan × 0.25%
Cash needed = (price − loan) + all fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer fee | 4% of the sale value (DLD lists 2% seller + 2% buyer) | Dubai Land Department |
| Title deed | AED 250 + AED 10 knowledge + AED 10 innovation | DLD |
| Map | AED 250 apartment or villa; AED 225 land on the DM unified map; AED 100 other land | DLD |
| Registration trustee (service partner) | AED 4,000 + VAT (price ≥ 500,000) or AED 2,000 + VAT | Trustee office |
| Mortgage registration | 0.25% of the loan | DLD |
| Agent commission | Usually 2% + VAT (agreed, not set by law) | Broker |
The fee lines come from the DLD's Property Sale Registration and Registering the Sale of a Mortgaged Property service pages. Sales done online through Dubai Now list lower service partner fees (AED 1,000 or 500 + VAT) and AED 30 knowledge and innovation fees, so a Dubai Now transfer can cost a little less.
Worked examples
Example 1: apartment with a mortgage
Price AED 1,500,000, mortgage 1,200,000, agent 2%. Transfer fee 60,000; title deed 270; map 250; trustee 4,200; mortgage registration 3,000; agent 31,500. Fees total AED 99,220 (6.61% of the price), and cash needed is 300,000 + 99,220 = AED 399,220.
Example 2: cash studio, no agent
Price AED 450,000, paid in cash, bought directly. Transfer fee 18,000; title deed 270; map 250; trustee 2,100 (the lower fee, because the price is under 500,000). Fees total AED 20,620, so you need AED 470,620.
Example 3: villa paid in cash
Price AED 3,000,000 with a 2% agent. Transfer fee 120,000; title deed 270; map 250; trustee 4,200; agent 63,000. Fees total AED 187,720, and cash needed is AED 3,187,720.
Example 4: first home with a smaller mortgage
Price AED 800,000, mortgage 600,000, agent 2%. Transfer fee 32,000; title deed 270; map 250; trustee 4,200; mortgage registration 1,500; agent 16,800. Fees total AED 55,020 and cash needed is AED 255,020.
Costs this calculator does not include
- Bank charges: valuation (often a few thousand dirhams), processing fees and life or property insurance. Add them under "Other costs".
- Developer fees: a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the developer for resales, and service charge arrears.
- Moving in: DEWA connection deposit, Ejari if you rent it out, and furnishing.
- Off-plan (Oqood) registration, which follows a different fee schedule.
Common mistakes
- Budgeting only the 4%. With an agent and a mortgage, total fees are usually 6% to 7% of the price.
- Forgetting the mortgage fees. The 0.25% registration fee is on the loan amount, and your bank adds its own charges.
- Assuming the seller pays half. The DLD lists a 2% / 2% split, but the sale agreement decides who pays.
- Paying fees by personal cheque. DLD fees are paid by manager's cheque or the official e-payment channels at the trustee office.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the DLD transfer fee in Dubai?
4% of the sale value. The Dubai Land Department lists it as 2% for the seller and 2% for the buyer, but in most resale deals the buyer agrees to pay the full 4%. Check your sale agreement (Form F).
What other DLD fees does a buyer pay?
AED 250 for the title deed plus a AED 10 knowledge fee and a AED 10 innovation fee, a map fee (AED 250 for an apartment or villa, AED 225 or AED 100 for land), and the registration trustee fee: AED 4,000 + VAT if the price is AED 500,000 or more, or AED 2,000 + VAT below that.
How much is the mortgage registration fee?
DLD charges 0.25% of the mortgage amount. Some guides add a fixed administrative charge of about AED 290; we could not find it on the DLD service page, so it is not included. Add it under "Other costs" if your bank or trustee quotes it.
Is the agent fee fixed by law?
No. 2% of the price plus 5% VAT is the usual market rate, but it is agreed between you and the agent. Set it to 0 if you buy directly.
Is VAT charged on the 4% fee?
The DLD pages mark VAT only on the service partner (trustee) fee. The calculator adds 5% VAT to the trustee fee and the agent commission, not to the government fees.
Does this work for off-plan purchases?
Not fully. Off-plan sales are registered through the developer (Oqood), with different admin fees, and payments follow the developer's plan. The 4% fee still applies, but use the result as a rough guide only.
How much down payment do I need?
The calculator treats the down payment as the price minus your mortgage. Minimum down payments are set by UAE Central Bank mortgage rules and depend on your status, the property value and whether it is your first home. Ask your bank for your limit.
Results are estimates. Fees are as listed on dubailand.gov.ae on the date below and can change; your trustee office and bank will confirm the final amounts. This is not legal or financial advice.
Last verified on 2026-11-09 against Dubai Land Department: "Property Sale Registration" and "Registering the Sale of a Mortgaged Property" services on dubailand.gov.ae.