What are the fees for buying property in Abu Dhabi?

Abu Dhabi's DARI platform sets a 2% registration fee on an off-plan sale (1% for musataha), plus a 400 AED electronic fee. A completed-property sale carries the same 2% plus an 875 AED e-services fee.

6 November 2026 · By Orven Properties · 3 min read

Pictured: FAUCHON Résidences, Jumeirah Garden City

The main fee for buying property in Abu Dhabi is a 2% registration fee on the contract value, charged through the DARI platform run by the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC). For a musataha right rather than full freehold, the rate drops to 1%. On top of that percentage, a 400 AED Electronic Administrative Services Allowance applies, before 5% VAT.

Off-plan sales: who registers, and when

For an off-plan unit, the developer registers the sale on DARI, not the buyer directly. If the developer fails to register within 21 days of the sale date, a 10,000 AED penalty applies. An escrow account must also be registered for the project itself. The outcome of a correctly registered sale is a pre-registration certificate, covering either freehold ownership or a musataha or usufruct right.

What 2% looks like on real prices

On Nawayef East's published entry price of AED 6.6 million, the 2% registration fee works out to AED 132,000. On Muheira's entry price of AED 1.6 million, it works out to AED 32,000. On SENSI's published entry price of AED 2.8 million, it works out to AED 56,000. These figures apply to each project's entry price only; a larger unit within the same development carries a different fee.

Completed-property sales carry a similar structure

For a sale of a finished property, DARI sets the same 2% registration fee on the contract value, plus an 875 AED e-services fee. If a mortgage needs to be released, that costs 900 AED plus a 55 AED electronic fee; registering a new mortgage carries a 450 AED electronic fee, though the main mortgage registration fee itself is not published on that page.

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Who actually pays

None of these sources state a default split between buyer and seller. The paying party for the 2% registration fee is whatever is agreed and written into the sale and purchase agreement, a point confirmed on both the developer side (Jubail Island, for example, states this explicitly) and the DARI consumer guidance.

What is not included

Agency commission, service charges, and utility connection fees are not sourced in our records for Abu Dhabi: your adviser confirms these directly as they apply to your specific purchase. Local Abu Dhabi taxes beyond these registration fees are likewise unconfirmed and treated as "to confirm" rather than quoted here.

Next step

Send your target project and budget to your adviser on WhatsApp at +971 52 776 1939 or at sales@orvenproperties.com, and we calculate the exact registration fee for your chosen unit before you reserve. Our Abu Dhabi property buying costs explained guide and our what is DARI in Abu Dhabi answer go into more detail. You can also start at /find-your-home/.

FAQ

What is the main registration fee for buying in Abu Dhabi? 2% of the contract value through DARI for a freehold sale, or 1% for a musataha right.

Is there a fee beyond the 2%? Yes, a 400 AED electronic administrative fee for off-plan sales, or an 875 AED e-services fee for completed-property sales.

Who pays the 2% fee, buyer or seller? Whichever party is agreed in the sale and purchase agreement; there is no default split stated by DARI.

What happens if a developer registers an off-plan sale late? A 10,000 AED penalty applies if registration is not completed within 21 days of the sale date.