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Dubai Property Selling Costs and Net Proceeds Calculator
Enter your price, mortgage and any costs you already know. Each line shows whether it is fixed by an authority, capped by regulation, negotiable or variable, who ordinarily pays it, and where the figure comes from.
Written by We Buy DubaiLast reviewed 13 sources citedEditorial standards
The short answer
What will it cost me to sell my Dubai property, and what will I walk away with?
The fixed costs of a Dubai resale are set by the Dubai Land Department: a 4% transfer fee (listed as 2% seller, 2% buyer), a trustee office fee of AED 4,000 or AED 2,000 plus VAT, and AED 520 of registration fees. Everything else, from agent commission to the developer's NOC fee, is negotiable or set by someone else. The calculator below keeps the two apart.
Calculate your costs
The example is a AED 1.5 million apartment with AED 600,000 left on the mortgage, no agent, and the transfer fee split as DLD lists it. Change any figure.
Estimated net proceeds
AED 861,950
- Sale price
- AED 1,500,000
- Your costs
- AED 38,050
- Mortgage repaid
- AED 600,000
Your costs as seller
- DLD transfer fee (2% share)AED 30,000Fixed by authority2% of the price, as DLD lists the splitSourceThe 4% itself is fixed. Who pays it is agreed in Form F.
- Early settlement fee (maximum)AED 6,300Capped by regulationLower of 1% of the balance or AED 10,000, plus 5% VATSourceBanks may charge less. Check your liability letter.
- DLD mortgage release feesAED 1,605Fixed by authorityAED 1,290 release procedure + AED 315 registrar feeSource
- DEWA move-out feeAED 145Fixed by authorityAED 125 (small meter) + AED 20SourceYour security deposit is set against the final bill.
- TotalAED 38,050
Buyer's costs (for context)
- DLD transfer fee (2% share)AED 30,000Fixed by authority2% of the price, as DLD lists the splitSourceThe 4% itself is fixed. Who pays it is agreed in Form F.
- DLD title deed, map, knowledge and innovation feesAED 520Fixed by authorityAED 250 + 250 + 10 + 10 for a ready apartment or villaSourceDLD does not say who pays. Shown with the party paying the transfer costs.
- Registration Trustee feeAED 4,200Fixed by authorityAED 4,000 + 5% VAT (price AED 500,000 or more)SourceDLD does not say who pays; it is usually the buyer or split, as agreed.
- TotalAED 34,720
An estimate, not a quote or advice. Fixed fees are as published on 14 October 2026; check them on the linked pages before you rely on them. Residential resales are exempt from VAT.
Every cost of a Dubai resale, and how it is set
The four labels matter more than the numbers. A fixed fee is the same whoever you sell to. A capped fee can be lower but not higher. A negotiable cost is yours to agree. A variable one depends on your developer or building, so it can only come from a quote or statement.
| Cost | Amount | How it is set | Who ordinarily pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| DLD transfer fee | 4% of the price | Fixed by authority | DLD lists 2% seller and 2% buyer. Who pays is agreed in Form F; often the buyer pays all 4%. |
| Title deed, map, knowledge and innovation fees | AED 250 + 250 + 10 + 10 (ready apartment or villa) | Fixed by authority | Not stated by DLD; agreed in Form F, usually the buyer. |
| Registration Trustee (service partner) fee | AED 4,000 + VAT from AED 500,000; AED 2,000 + VAT below | Fixed by authority | Not stated by DLD; usually the buyer, or split by agreement. |
| Agent commission | Agreed in Form A; 2% is commonly quoted | Negotiable | Seller (for the seller's agent), plus 5% VAT if the agency is VAT registered. |
| Developer NOC fee | Set by each developer | Varies | Usually the seller. |
| Unpaid service charges | Your building's statement | Varies | Seller: must be cleared before transfer. |
| Early mortgage settlement fee | Up to 1% of the balance or AED 10,000, whichever is lower, plus VAT | Capped by regulation | Seller (the borrower). |
| DLD mortgage release fees | AED 1,290 + AED 315 | Fixed by authority | Seller. |
| DEWA move-out fee | AED 125 (small meter) or AED 300 (large meter), plus AED 20 | Fixed by authority | The DEWA account holder. |
| Buyer mortgage registration | 0.25% of the loan + AED 270, plus service partner fee as DLD lists | Fixed by authority | Buyer. |
Amounts as published on 14 October 2026. Residential resales are exempt from VAT; VAT applies to some services, as shown.
How it works
Assumptions behind the calculator
- Ready property only. The registration fees are those DLD lists for a completed apartment or villa. Off-plan resales work differently; see selling before handover.
- Transfer costs follow your Form F. DLD lists the 4% as 2% each but does not say who pays the registration and trustee fees. When you choose the DLD split, the calculator shows those with the buyer, which is the usual arrangement; change the option to match your contract.
- Early settlement uses the legal maximum unless you enter your bank's figure. Banks may charge less, and some add their own processing charges; your liability letter has the exact amount.
- Nothing variable is guessed. NOC fees, service charge arrears and commission stay at zero until you enter them. See the developer NOC guide for the fees developers publish.
- Not included: capital gains or income tax in your home country, bank charges on manager's cheques, and your DEWA or cooling final bills (your DEWA deposit is set against the final bill).
- Buyer finance: since February 2025, UAE banks no longer include the DLD fee or agent commission in a mortgage, so a buyer pays them in cash. That can affect how the transfer costs are negotiated.
Selling with a mortgage? The mortgaged sale guide explains how the bank is paid at the trustee office. Comparing an agent listing with a direct offer? Use the route comparison calculator.
FAQ
Common questions
Who pays the 4% DLD transfer fee when selling in Dubai?
The Dubai Land Department lists it as 2% from the seller and 2% from the buyer. In practice the split is agreed in the sale contract (Form F): Property Finder says the buyer usually pays the full 4%, while Bayut describes it as typically split. Check what your Form F says.
Is agent commission fixed by law in Dubai?
No. Brokerage commission is set by agreement between you and your agent in the listing contract (Form A). 2% of the price is commonly quoted, and VAT at 5% is added when the agency is VAT registered.
How much can my bank charge to settle my mortgage early?
Under Central Bank rules, the early settlement fee on a home loan is capped at 1% of the outstanding balance or AED 10,000, whichever is lower, plus VAT. Your bank may charge less; the exact figure is on your liability letter.
Do I pay VAT when I sell my apartment or villa?
Residential property resales are exempt from VAT according to the Federal Tax Authority. VAT does apply to some services around the sale, such as agent commission and the trustee office fee.
Sources
Fees, laws and procedures on this page were checked against these pages. Official sources are listed first where available. Rules change, so confirm the position for your own sale.
- Property Sale Registration (Dubai Land Department)
- Request for Sale Registration (Dubai Land Department)
- Registering the sale of a mortgaged property (Dubai Land Department)
- Request for Mortgage Registration (Dubai Land Department)
- Amendments to Appendix 2 of Regulation No. 29/2011 (Notice 3986/2019) (Central Bank of the UAE Rulebook, effective 8 October 2019)
- Deactivation of Electricity/Water (Move-out) (DEWA)
- VAT FAQs (real estate) (Federal Tax Authority)
- Law No. (6) of 2019 Concerning Ownership of Jointly Owned Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai (Dubai Legislation Portal)
- Dubai: can real estate agents charge 10 per cent commission? (Gulf News, October 2020)
- Real estate commission in Dubai (Property Finder, updated July 2026)
- DLD fees in Dubai (Property Finder, updated July 2026)
- Cost of selling property in Dubai (Bayut, updated October 2026)
- UAE banks stop financing property fees in mortgages (The National, January 2025)
Last reviewed 14 October 2026. This is general information only, not legal, financial or tax advice. Fees and requirements change, so confirm specifics for your own transaction.
Review history
- : First published. Fees and rules checked against the sources listed.
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