The transaction
Seller position
Official fees — advanced settings
Buyer side
Seller side
Want this checked against a real transaction?
Send Ali the property and he will confirm the exact fees for that unit, including the developer's NOC charge and anything specific to the community or the lender.
Reading the two columns
Most fee calculators show only the buyer's side. In practice every negotiation has two, and the number that decides whether a deal closes is often the seller's net — particularly when there is a mortgage to settle.
The buyer's cash at closing
This is the figure that catches people out. It is not the price, and it is not the deposit. It is the down payment plus every fee due on the day: the DLD transfer charge, the trustee office fee with VAT on top, the title deed, the commission, and with a mortgage the registration charge, the bank's arrangement fee and the valuation. On a cash purchase the fees typically add somewhere around six to seven percent to the price.
The seller's net proceeds
A seller looking at the sale price is looking at a number they will never receive. Off it comes the developer's no objection certificate fee, the commission if it sits on their side, and — where the property is mortgaged — the full outstanding balance plus the lender's early settlement charge. Sellers who have not run this calculation are the ones who withdraw late in the process.
Fees are guidance defaults and every one of them is editable. Government charges change and developer NOC fees vary, so confirm the specifics before anything is committed in writing.
Related reading
- The full cost of buying property in Dubai — every fee explained in detail.
- Buying in Dubai as a non-resident — the process end to end.
- Dubai mortgage guide — lending rules, rates and what banks charge.
- Selling property in Dubai — the seller's process and paperwork.
- Rental yield calculator — feed this acquisition cost straight into your yield.
Common questions
How much does it cost to transfer a property in Dubai?
On a standard ready-property purchase the buyer typically pays a DLD transfer fee of 4 percent of the price plus an administrative charge, a trustee office fee with VAT, and a title deed issuance fee. With agency commission and VAT added, total buyer costs commonly land around 6 to 7 percent of the price for a cash purchase, and higher with a mortgage once registration, arrangement and valuation fees are included. Rates change, so confirm current figures with the Dubai Land Department.
Who pays the agency commission in Dubai?
There is no fixed rule. On sales the commission is commonly 2 percent plus VAT and is most often paid by the buyer, but it is negotiable and can be paid by the seller or split between both parties. What matters is that it is agreed in writing before the deal proceeds, because it is one of the larger single line items in the transaction.
What is the trustee office fee in Dubai?
The trustee office is the registration centre that processes the transfer on behalf of the Dubai Land Department. Its fee is tiered by property value, commonly a lower band for properties under 500,000 dirhams and a higher band above that, with VAT added on top. The calculator switches band automatically when you cross the threshold, and the amount remains editable.
What does a seller pay when selling property in Dubai?
A seller typically pays the developer's no objection certificate fee, and the agency commission where it has been agreed on their side. If the property carries a mortgage, the outstanding balance must be settled at transfer and the lender usually charges an early settlement fee calculated as a percentage of the outstanding amount, commonly subject to a cap. What remains after those deductions is the net proceeds.