What is an assignment fee on off-plan resale?

An assignment fee, sometimes called a transfer fee, is the cost charged when you sell, or assign, an off-plan unit to a new buyer before the project is handed over. It is separate from the original purchase price and from the Dubai Land Department's 4% registration fee you paid when you first bought the unit. The exact amount is set by the developer and the Dubai Land Department together, and it is precised in your contract rather than something a guide like this can quote as a fixed percentage.

Why a resale before handover needs its own fee

When a unit has not yet been handed over, you do not hold a completed title deed; your interest is registered through Oqood. Assigning that interest to a new buyer means the developer and the Dubai Land Department both need to update their records to reflect the change in ownership before completion, and the assignment fee covers that administrative step. This is different from reselling a completed property with a title deed, which follows its own separate process.

The No Objection Certificate comes first

Before an assignment fee is even relevant, the developer typically needs to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) confirming it has no objection to the resale, often conditional on your payments being up to date on the instalment schedule. Our guide on NOC from the developer to resell an off-plan property in Dubai walks through this requirement in more detail, and it is worth starting that conversation with the developer well before you have a buyer lined up.

What determines the amount

The assignment fee is not a figure Orven can publish as a flat percentage across every project, since developers set their own policy and it can also depend on how much of the price has been paid at the point of resale. Your sale agreement for the specific unit sets out, or references, how this fee is calculated, which is why reading that clause before you reserve, or asking your adviser to walk you through it before you sell, matters more than any general figure.

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How this fits into reselling before handover

An assignment fee is one part of a broader process. Our guide on can you resell an off-plan property before handover in Dubai sets out the other steps, including developer approval and how the remaining instalments are handled between the original buyer and the new one.

Talk to your adviser before you plan a resale

If you are considering reselling an off-plan unit before handover, confirm the assignment fee, the NOC requirement and the current demand for the project with Orven before you commit to a timeline. Message us on WhatsApp at +971 52 776 1939 or by email at sales@orvenproperties.com.

FAQ

Is the assignment fee the same as the DLD registration fee? No. The DLD's 4% registration fee applies to the original purchase. The assignment fee is a separate cost tied specifically to transferring an off-plan unit to a new buyer before handover.

Who sets the assignment fee amount? The developer and the Dubai Land Department together, with the specific figure precised in your contract rather than published as one fixed rate across all projects.

Do I need the developer's approval before I can assign my unit? Yes, typically through a No Objection Certificate confirming your payments are in order and the developer has no objection to the resale.

Where can I find the exact assignment fee for my unit? Your sale agreement is the primary source, and your adviser can walk through the clause with you before you commit to reselling.

Frequently asked questions

Is the assignment fee the same as the DLD registration fee?

No. The DLD's 4% registration fee applies to the original purchase. The assignment fee is a separate cost tied specifically to transferring an off-plan unit to a new buyer before handover.

Who sets the assignment fee amount?

The developer and the Dubai Land Department together, with the specific figure precised in your contract rather than published as one fixed rate across all projects.

Do I need the developer's approval before I can assign my unit?

Yes, typically through a No Objection Certificate confirming your payments are in order and the developer has no objection to the resale.

Where can I find the exact assignment fee for my unit?

Your sale agreement is the primary source, and your adviser can walk through the clause with you before you commit to reselling.