The unit price and transfer registration
DLD’s sale-registration page lists 2% of value for the seller and 2% for the buyer, plus additional charges. Check the agreement and final estimate to establish who bears the costs in your transaction.
Request a line-by-line calculation for the unit and transaction type. List registration charges, service-centre costs, documents and other applicable items separately. A single percentage is not a complete budget. Request every quotation in AED, with the fee basis and payment date. If savings are held in euros or sterling, keep currency conversion as a separate budget line and allow for the time needed to move funds. Confirm the beneficiary through a trusted contact before sending a payment.
An arithmetic example only: for a completed apartment priced at AED 2 million, a 2% buyer-side registration charge, if applicable to your transaction, is AED 40,000. That is not the total transaction cost. Ask for an itemised estimate for your contract: who pays each side of the fee under your agreement, which service-centre charges apply and when they fall due. Check the applicable registration procedure separately for an off-plan purchase.
One-off costs before moving in
Add agreed intermediary fees, document review and a technical inspection where needed. Then consider insurance, deposits, connections, furniture and moving. Identify the source for each amount: contract, supplier tariff or your provisional reserve.
For a mortgage, keep bank costs in a separate section. For instalments, schedule payments by date. A refundable deposit, a final service cost and a future mandatory payment affect cash differently, so label them when combining the figures.
- Separate confirmed amounts, estimates and unknown costs.
- Record recipient, purpose, date and refundability for every payment.
- Check the included service scope and applicable taxes.
The first year of ownership
Request current service charges for the actual building and confirm the area used in the calculation. Add utilities, insurance, unit maintenance and transport. For an off-plan building, distinguish estimates from figures supported by actual operation.
If you plan to let the unit, include a vacancy period, management costs and preparation expenses. An advertised gross yield is not the cash remaining after all payments. Assess the decision against your obligations and liquidity needs.
How to compare two properties consistently
Use the same horizon, such as the purchase and first year of ownership. Apply the same cost categories to both units and show the cash required at the transaction date separately. A difference in asking price may disappear after service charges and furnishing.
Connect the estimate with the district map: a different commute can change transport costs, while another school changes the family budget. If the purchase is linked to Golden Visa plans, add the separate application estimate from that guide.
Take a ready apartment and an off-plan one with the same advertised price. For the ready home, list cash due before key handover and documented building charges. For the off-plan home, list instalments, temporary housing until completion and service charges that remain unknown. This shows when pressure on your cash arises without pretending to know a precise final total.
Frequently asked questions
Can I estimate everything as the unit price plus one percentage?
That shortcut does not show the cost breakdown, payment timing or differences between units. A decision needs a line-by-line estimate for the actual transaction.
How should I handle an unknown amount?
Mark it as unconfirmed, identify who will verify it and set a response date. You can allocate your own reserve for planning, clearly separate from a supplier tariff.
How should I budget EUR or GBP transfers for a Dubai purchase?
Record each payment in AED with its due date, transfer fee and the conversion quote. For future instalments, use several clearly labelled exchange-rate assumptions and keep a cash reserve you have chosen for your circumstances.