What DLD fees do I pay when buying property in Dubai?

The Dubai Land Department (DLD) charges several fees when you buy property in Dubai. Here is the complete breakdown:

DLD Transfer Fee: 4% of purchase price This is the main cost. Payable to the DLD at transfer. By convention, often split 50/50 between buyer and seller - but legally the buyer pays. Always clarify the split in your MOU before signing.

DLD Admin Fee: ~AED 5,250 (for properties above AED 500,000) A fixed administrative processing fee. Approximately AED 4,200 for properties at AED 500K or under.

Title Deed Issuance Fee: AED 250 The nominal fee for the actual title deed document.

Trustee Office Fee: ~AED 4,000-5,250 Dubai transfers are processed at registered trustee offices (not DLD head office). The trustee charges a facilitation fee - approximately AED 4,000 for cash purchases and AED 5,250 for mortgage purchases.

Mortgage Registration Fee: 0.25% of loan amount + AED 290 Only applicable if buying with a mortgage. Registers the bank’s charge on the title.

Agent Commission: 2% of purchase price (separate from DLD fees) Paid to the buyer’s real estate agent. RERA-regulated standard rate.

Example on AED 2,000,000 cash purchase (buyer pays full 4% DLD):

Fee	Amount
DLD Transfer Fee	AED 80,000
DLD Admin Fee	AED 5,250
Title Deed	AED 250
Trustee Office	AED 4,000
Agent Commission	AED 40,000
Total	~AED 129,500

The rule of thumb: Budget 6-7% of purchase price on top for a cash purchase. Budget 7-8% with a mortgage.

This is the most important number to know before you negotiate - because you need this cash available at transfer, on top of the purchase price. Message me if you want a precise breakdown for a specific transaction.