Dubai property purchase costs: DLD 4%, Oqood and what to budget

The fee that is always there: DLD 4%

Every property sale in Dubai is registered with the Dubai Land Department, and the department charges a registration fee of 4% of the price. It applies whether you buy off-plan from a developer or a completed apartment from a private seller. It is the single largest cost on top of the price, so it is the first line of any budget.

Two practical points. The 4% is calculated on the price written in the contract, not on a valuation. And it is not part of the payment plan: it is due at registration, alongside the reservation stage for an off-plan unit, and not spread over the construction period. When you plan the 20% first payment on a Prestige One project, plan the 4% next to it.

Off-plan: the Oqood registration

For a unit bought before completion, the sale is recorded in the DLD's off-plan register. This registration is called Oqood. It creates an official record of your purchase while the building is under construction and is the step that later converts into a title deed at handover.

Oqood carries a fixed fee, confirmed in your contract. There is no percentage to compute here. Ask your adviser for the exact figure in the sales documents of the unit you choose, and keep the Oqood certificate with your payment receipts.

Completed property: 2% + 2% and the trustee office

On the sale of a completed property, the DLD displays the 4% as 2% payable by the seller and 2% by the buyer, plus additional fees. In practice, who pays what is written in the sale contract between the parties, so read that clause before you sign. The transfer itself takes place at a registration trustee office, which charges its own fee, and the developer may charge a fee to issue the no-objection certificate needed for the transfer. These amounts are confirmed at the time of the transaction.

The full list of items to budget

Here is the complete picture for a buyer from abroad. Where a figure is verified, it is given; elsewhere the amount is confirmed by your adviser or by your own bank.

Item	When it applies	Amount
DLD registration fee	Every purchase	4% of the price
Oqood registration	Off-plan purchase	Fixed fee, confirmed in the contract
Developer's administrative fee	Off-plan purchase	Stated in the sales documents
Registration trustee fee	Completed property	Confirmed at transfer
Developer's no-objection certificate	Completed property (resale)	Confirmed by the developer
Mortgage registration at the DLD	If you finance	A share of the loan amount, confirmed by your bank
Bank valuation and arrangement fees	If you finance	According to your bank
International transfer charges	Every payment from abroad	According to your bank
Brokerage	Depends on the transaction	Confirmed in writing before reservation

Orven gives every buyer an itemised estimate for the unit under consideration before any payment. If a cost is not on that estimate, ask about it before it appears on an invoice.

A habit that saves trouble: add the 4% and the Oqood fee to the 20% first payment from day one, so a single transfer covers the reservation stage. Buyers who budget the price alone and discover the fees at signing end up making two transfers, each with its own bank charges and its own delay.

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Costs that follow the purchase

Owning the apartment brings its own lines, separate from the purchase:

Service charges. An annual amount per square foot set for each building, covering maintenance, security and shared facilities. The rate is published for each project and confirmed at handover.
Utilities. Connection and deposit with the Dubai utility provider when you or your tenant move in.
Property management. If you rent out from abroad, a manager's fee, according to the agreement you sign.

On tax, the rule in the UAE is simple: there is no personal income tax on rental income and no capital gains tax for individuals. Your country of residence may tax that income or that gain under its own rules, so check with an adviser in Lagos, Paris or wherever you file your return.

For the step-by-step sequence of a purchase, see the investor guide.

How Orven helps

Before you reserve, an Orven adviser sends you the price of the unit, the published payment plan, the 4% DLD fee, the Oqood fee from the contract and the developer's administrative fee on one page. Everything is handled remotely. Send your budget on WhatsApp at +971 52 776 1939 or write to sales@orvenproperties.com and you receive the estimate with the matching units.

FAQ

Is the DLD fee included in the payment plan? No. The payment plan splits the price of the unit. The 4% DLD fee is due at registration and is paid separately, as is the Oqood registration.

Does Orven charge the buyer a commission? Brokerage terms are confirmed in writing before you reserve, so you know who pays what. Nothing is added after the fact.

Are there yearly property taxes in Dubai? There is no annual property tax on residential ownership in Dubai. The recurring cost is the building's service charge, plus utilities.

Can I pay the DLD fee from abroad? Yes. Your adviser gives you the payment instructions and the timing. The fee is paid at registration, in dirhams, and your bank handles the conversion.

What if the price changes between reservation and handover? The price is fixed in the sale agreement at reservation. The 4% is calculated on that contract price.