What It Actually Costs to Buy
The purchase price is not the purchase cost. Budget for the difference before you commit.
The purchase price is not the purchase cost. Budget for the difference before you commit, not after.
Typical costs on a purchase
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Land Department transfer fee | A percentage of the transaction value; the largest single add-on |
| Registration trustee fee | Fixed-band fee depending on value |
| Agency commission | Commonly a percentage of price plus VAT |
| Mortgage registration | If financing, a percentage of the loan amount |
| Bank arrangement and valuation fees | If financing |
| Developer NOC | On resale, to confirm no outstanding dues |
| Service charge apportionment | Settled to the transfer date |
Rates change
Fee percentages and bands are set by the authorities and revised periodically. Confirm current rates with the Land Department or your conveyancer rather than relying on any published figure, including this page.
On exit
Selling carries its own costs — agency commission, developer NOC, early-settlement charges on a mortgage. A holding period long enough to absorb both entry and exit costs is what turns a paper gain into a real one.
Why this matters for yield
A gross yield quoted against the purchase price ignores everything above. Net yield after acquisition costs, service charges and vacancy is a materially different number — and it is the only one worth deciding on.
Sources
- 1Sarmat — UAE Golden Visa real estate investor 2026: AED 2 million rules and ICP process. sarmat.ae/resources/uae-real-estate-golden-visa-2-mi…
- 2Astra Terra — UAE Golden Visa property investment threshold 2026. www.astraterra.ae/blogs/uae-golden-visa-property-inv…
- 3Dubai Land Department — Open data and services. dubailand.gov.ae/en/open-data/real-estate-data/…
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