🇦🇪 Country Hub
UAE (Dubai) property costs and rules: freehold zones, the 4% DLD transfer fee, service charges, and the largest-deposit market on this site.
Last reviewed August 2026 — figures carry named sources
The UAE market — in practice Dubai — is the inverse of the others on this page. There is no annual property tax, which makes the holding cost unusually low once you own. But the entry is expensive: expat buyers need 20–25% down, the Dubai Land Department charges 4% at transfer, and service charges on towers can run to tens of thousands of dirhams a year. Off-plan supply is a constant force on prices.
This hub covers the freehold rules, the fees at purchase, the service-charge reality, and the mortgage market for residents and non-residents.
Dubai is the UAE's freehold market in practice: nearly all foreign purchase activity happens in the emirate's designated zones such as Dubai Marina, Downtown, Business Bay and Palm Jumeirah. Outside those zones you can hold long leaseholds, not freehold title. The figures on this hub use Dubai's 4% DLD transfer fee and typical tower service charges — confirm the zone and the tower's fee statement before you sign the MOU.
I am buying here
The same deal looks different in every country — deposits, taxes and holding costs all move the answer. Compare against the other hubs or the full stamp duty table:
The deposit is only the beginning — these are the costs that actually move your budget. Figures are illustrative country defaults; confirm live rates locally.
| Cost | Typical | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Typical deposit (expat) | 20–25% | some banks lend to 75–80% LTV in freehold zones |
| DLD transfer fee | 4% of price | Dubai Land Department, paid at transfer |
| Registration + agent | ~0.5–2% | registration trustee fee + agent commission |
| Annual property tax | 0% | no annual property tax in most of the UAE |
| Service charges | AED 10–25/sqft / yr | the real holding cost; varies by tower |
| Typical process | 4–8 weeks | offer → MOU → transfer at the DLD |
Turn an asking price into the numbers you can carry:
the EMI on a 20–25% down purchase
the 4% DLD fee and registration in cash-to-close
AED prices against your home currency
service charges, utilities and the true annual cost
comparing towers by AED per sqft
Yes, but only in designated freehold zones such as Dubai Marina, Downtown, and Palm Jumeirah. Outside those areas, foreign buyers can hold long leaseholds rather than full freehold title.
The Dubai Land Department charges 4% of the price at transfer, plus a registration trustee fee of about 0.25% and a small property value certificate. With agent commission, budget roughly 5–6% above the price before you negotiate.
The no-property-tax structure makes holding cheap and gross yields look strong, but service charges on towers and off-plan supply cycles are the real risks. Run the deal through the Rental Yield and Housing Cost calculators before you commit.
Educational content. Figures use illustrative country defaults with named, dated sources and are not legal, tax, or valuation advice. Property rules, fees, and taxes change — confirm every number with a qualified local professional before you commit.
