One of the most common questions we receive from UK and European buyers is: beyond the purchase price, what else do I need to budget for? Dubai is admirably transparent about its transaction costs. Here is a complete breakdown with no surprises.
The Dubai Land Department Transfer Fee
The primary transaction cost is the Dubai Land Department (DLD) transfer fee, set at 4% of the purchase price. On a property purchased for AED 3 million, this amounts to AED 120,000 — approximately £26,000 at current exchange rates.
Despite this fee, Dubai's total transaction cost burden remains significantly lower than UK stamp duty on an equivalent second property, particularly once the surcharge for additional properties is factored in.
Registration Trustee Fee
In addition to the DLD fee, a registration trustee fee is payable — typically AED 4,200 for properties above AED 500,000. This covers administrative processing of the transfer and is a small, fixed cost relative to the overall transaction.
If buying through a real estate agent, their commission is typically 2% of the purchase price, paid by the buyer.
Agency and Broker Fees
Importantly, for new Emaar properties purchased through an authorised channel partner, the developer pays the commission directly — meaning buyers pay no agency fee whatsoever. Expert guidance at zero additional cost.
All Emaar properties are subject to annual service charges covering maintenance of common areas, security, landscaping, and community management.
Ongoing Costs — Service Charges
For villa properties at Dubai Creek Harbour, service charges typically range from AED 10 to AED 20 per square foot per year. On a 3,000 square foot villa, this equates to approximately AED 30,000 to AED 60,000 per year — an important figure to deduct when calculating net rental yield.
Budget an additional 6% to 7% on top of the purchase price to cover all transaction costs cleanly. For a AED 3 million villa, your total acquisition cost including all fees would be approximately AED 3.18 to 3.21 million.
The Total Budget Formula
Despite these transaction costs, the overall cost of property ownership in Dubai over a typical investment horizon remains dramatically more favourable than in the UK or most European markets. Zero income tax, zero capital gains tax, zero inheritance tax — what you earn, you keep.
"Dubai Creek Harbour represents one of the most compelling investment opportunities available to international buyers right now — strong yields, a world-class developer, and genuine long-term upside."