Dubai property buying costs: the fees DLD lists
Dubai Land Department's sale registration page lists 2% of the sale value for the buyer and 2% for the seller, plus fixed fees (page read 9 October 2026). Agent commission is not a DLD fee: DLD's FAQ says it is set by agreement.
DLD is the Dubai Land Department. Its Property Sale Registration page names the offices of the Real Estate Registration Trustee as the service centres where a sale is registered.
What does DLD charge to register a sale?
The Property Sale Registration page lists these fees (read 9 October 2026):
| Item | Fee listed on the page read 9 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Registration, buyer | 2% of the sale value |
| Registration, seller | 2% of the sale value |
| Title deed certificate | AED 250 |
| Villas and apartments (listed with the map fees) | AED 250 |
| Knowledge fee | AED 10 |
| Innovation fee | AED 10 |
| Service partner fee, sale value AED 500,000 or more | AED 4,000 plus VAT |
| Service partner fee, sale value under AED 500,000 | AED 2,000 plus VAT |
The same page lists AED 225 for a unified map under Dubai Municipality and AED 100 for a map of land not under Dubai Municipality (read 9 October 2026).
It gives the issued documents as an electronic title deed, an electronic map and fee balances. Payment methods listed are ePay, Dubai Pay, Noqodi Wallet and manager's cheque.
Who pays the registration fee?
The page lists 2% under "Seller" and 2% under "Buyer" (read 9 October 2026). It does not say whether the parties may agree to split them another way.
Is there another route with other fees?
DLD's page for buying or selling through the DubaiNow app lists 2% of the transaction value for each side and AED 250 for the title deed (read 9 October 2026). On that route it lists an AED 30 knowledge fee, an AED 30 innovation fee and an AED 250 villa and apartment map fee (read 9 October 2026). Its service partner fee is AED 1,000 where the value is AED 500,000 or more and AED 500 below that, plus VAT (page read 9 October 2026).
That page limits the route to holders of a UAE ID, to freehold units free of mortgages and restrictions, and to subdivided units such as apartments, offices and townhouses. The sale amount and fees go through an escrow account approved by DLD.
What does an agent charge?
DLD's FAQ does not give a rate. It says that under Law No. (85) of 2006 the broker's commission is set by the agreement, and by prevailing custom where the agreement does not specify it (FAQ read 9 October 2026).
The FAQ says the broker receives the commission after the sale contract is concluded and registered with DLD, unless the brokerage contract says otherwise. It says a broker must be in the brokers registry and hold a broker card from the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). DLD's e-services include a list of brokers licensed by RERA.
What about a mortgage?
DLD's FAQ says a mortgage is not valid unless it is registered with DLD (FAQ read 9 October 2026). It says the mortgagor, the owner who mortgages the property, bears the costs of the mortgage contract unless the parties agree otherwise.
No DLD page read on 9 October 2026 gave a mortgage registration fee, so none is given here.
What is not covered here?
The two sale pages read on 9 October 2026 do not list fees for registering an off-plan purchase, bank fees, valuation fees or service charges. Those are left out of this guide rather than estimated.
Keyva's own pages
Keyva's listing check sets an asking price against 87,185 completed-home sales recorded with Dubai Land Department in the 24 months to 7 October 2026 (page read 9 October 2026). It does not add up purchase fees.
Keyva is independent and is not part of, or endorsed by, the Dubai Land Department.
Prepared 9 October 2026 from pages read that day.