Tool · Reviewed 2026-10-29
Dubai buying costs calculator
See the full cost of buying in Dubai, in pounds and dirhams, before you view a single property.
Buying costs, in dirhams and pounds
Cash needed up front and the monthly payment. Change any number; the link updates so you can share it.
Set the exchange rate to today’s rate: check a live source such as your bank or the Bank of England, because the dirham is pegged to the US dollar and moves against the pound with it.
Illustration only, not an offer, forecast or advice. Fees and lending limits change, so confirm current figures with the Dubai Land Department, your bank and Gemma before committing.
On a resale in Dubai, expect fees and taxes of roughly 6 to 7 percent on top of the price for a cash buyer, a little more with a mortgage. The biggest single item is the 4% Dubai Land Department transfer fee.
Short answerWhat this calculator includes
It adds the Dubai Land Department transfer fee, registration trustee fee and DLD charges, the agent commission, and, if you borrow, the mortgage registration fee, a bank arrangement fee and a valuation. It then shows the cash you need up front and the monthly repayment on a standard repayment mortgage.
| Item | Rate | Paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Land Department transfer fee | 4% of the price | Usually the buyer (negotiable) |
| Registration trustee office fee | AED 4,200 incl. VAT at AED 500,000 and above (AED 2,100 below) | Buyer |
| Title deed, knowledge and innovation fees | About AED 270 in total | Buyer |
| Agent commission (resale) | Market convention 2% + 5% VAT, recorded in the RERA Form B; not set by law | Buyer or as agreed |
| Mortgage registration | 0.25% of the loan + about AED 290 admin | Buyer |
| Bank arrangement fee | Up to about 1% of the loan + VAT; varies by bank | Buyer |
| Valuation | Roughly AED 2,500 to 5,000 + VAT | Buyer |
What it leaves out
- Service charges and utilities after you own the property.
- Off-plan specifics, such as registration of the sales contract and developer payment-plan terms.
- Legal or conveyancing fees if you choose to use a solicitor.
- Tax in your home country on rental income or gains. For UK residents, take advice from a UK adviser.
- Currency transfer costs. Compare the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate.
A worked example
For a AED 2,000,000 resale with 20 percent down at 4.5 percent over 25 years and a rate of AED 4.85 to the pound: the down payment is AED 400,000, the DLD fee AED 80,000, registration trustee fee AED 4,200, title deed and DLD admin about AED 270, the agent fee AED 42,000, and mortgage registration, bank fee and valuation about AED 24,800, giving roughly AED 551,200 up front, or about £113,700. The monthly payment is about AED 8,900. Use the calculator above to try your own numbers.