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Conveyancing

Conveyancing in Dubai: Fees and Process

You focus on the keys. We’ll take care of everything in between.

From the signed MOU to your new title deed, our conveyancing team handles the checks, paperwork and payments, working with the developer, the bank and the Dubai Land Department on your behalf.

Buying or selling a property is one of the most important transactions you will make. Conveyancing in Dubai is the work that sees it through properly: checking the details, clearing the developer NOC and any mortgage, and registering the sale with the Dubai Land Department (DLD). It is also when most of the money changes hands, which is why it is worth having a professional team on it from the start.

Buying? Come to us before you sign the MOU, and we will check the property, the seller’s right to sell and every cost before your deposit is paid. Selling? We start on your NOC and any mortgage settlement early, so you and your buyer are ready for transfer day.

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A Houzon adviser handing over the keys after a property transfer in Dubai
  • Cash Purchases
  • Mortgage Purchases
  • Sellers with a Mortgage
  • Overseas Buyers and Sellers

Our checks

What We Check Before You Commit

Unpaid Service Charges

The developer issues the NOC once service charges are paid. We check the account early, so any balance is settled in good time for your transfer.

Mortgages on the Property

We confirm whether the property is mortgaged and the exact amount to settle with the bank. The loan is then repaid and released at transfer, so the new title deed is issued free of it.

MOU Terms

We go through the deposit, deadlines and penalty terms in the MOU with you, so you know exactly what you are agreeing to before you sign.

The Right to Sell

We check the title deed and the seller’s identity. If a representative is signing, we check that the power of attorney covers the sale.

Payments Confirmed

Before transfer day, we confirm every manager’s cheque amount and payee, and how each fee will be paid, so you know exactly what is paid to whom.

Every Cost Upfront

You see every fee and who pays it before you commit, so you go into transfer day knowing the full cost.

What We Handle for You

MOU and DocumentsWe prepare the Form F memorandum of understanding (MOU), collect the documents each side needs and keep everyone informed.
Developer NOCWe apply for the no objection certificate (NOC) from the developer and follow it up until it is issued, usually within 2 to 3 working days.
Mortgage SettlementIf the seller has a mortgage, we coordinate the liability letter, the bank payoff and the release, so the property transfers free of the seller’s loan.
Buyer FinanceFor mortgage buyers, we work with the bank on the valuation, the final offer and the transfer booking, alongside our mortgage team.
Transfer DayWe book the registration trustee office, arrange the manager’s cheques, confirm how each fee is paid and attend the transfer with you.
Overseas ClientsBuying or selling from abroad? We can arrange for the transfer to be completed through a power of attorney, and our team attends transfer day for you.

Fees

Conveyancing Fees and Transfer Costs in Dubai

Most of what a transfer costs is official Dubai Land Department fees, which apply whether or not you use a conveyancer. Our conveyancing is quoted upfront for your transaction and covers the checks, paperwork and coordination through to registration. Who pays each cost is agreed in the MOU.

Typical costs of a Dubai property transfer
CostAmountPaid by
DLD transfer feeRegisters the sale with the Dubai Land Department4% of the sale priceBuyer, usually
Title deedIssuing the new title deedAED 250Buyer
Map, knowledge and innovation feesDLD fees for an apartment or villaAED 270Buyer
Registration trustee officeSale price of AED 500,000 or moreAED 4,000 + VATBuyer, usually
Registration trustee officeSale price below AED 500,000AED 2,000 + VATBuyer, usually
Developer NOCConfirms service charges are paidTypically AED 500 to 5,000 + VAT, set by each developerSeller, usually
Mortgage registrationIf the buyer uses a mortgage0.25% of the loan + AED 270 to 520Buyer
Trustee office for the mortgageIf the buyer uses a mortgageAED 4,000 + VAT for a ready property; AED 5,000 + VAT for an off-plan resaleBuyer
Bank valuationIf the buyer uses a mortgageSet by the bankBuyer
Mortgage releaseIf the seller has a mortgageAED 1,290 DLD fee + AED 315 registrar feeSeller
Early settlement feeIf the seller repays a mortgage earlyUp to 1% of the balance or AED 10,000, whichever is less, set by the bankSeller
Agency fee (buyer)If you buy through an agencyUsually 2% of the price + 5% VATBuyer
Agency fee (seller)If agreed with the agency selling the propertyUp to 2% of the price + 5% VATSeller
ConveyancingChecks, coordination and transfer dayTypically AED 6,000 to 10,000 + VAT in Dubai. Ask us for your quoteBuyer, usually

How Payments Are Made on Transfer Day

The sale price is paid by manager’s cheque, issued by the bank itself to a named payee for a fixed amount, so who receives the money and how much is settled before transfer day.

How each payment is made
PaymentHow it is paid
Sale priceTo the seller, and to the seller’s bank or developer if there is a mortgage or outstanding balanceAlways by manager’s cheque
DLD fees and agency feesManager’s cheque or card
Other trustee office feesCard or cash

Your deposit, usually a 10% security cheque given when the MOU is signed, is held by the real estate agency, not by the seller.

Official fees checked against Dubai Land Department service pages on 4 November 2026. VAT is 5%. Since 1 February 2025, banks no longer finance the 4% transfer fee, so mortgage buyers pay it from their own funds. We confirm your full costs before you commit.

What a Dubai Property Transfer Costs: A Worked Example

Here is what a buyer typically pays on an apartment priced at AED 2,000,000, bought ready: the official fees, the agency fee and conveyancing. Your deposit and down payment are part of the price, so they are not listed as costs. Selling? See the seller example below.

What a cash buyer pays on top of the price

Worked example: AED 2,000,000 ready apartment · cash buyer · no seller mortgage

Share of total costs, with conveyancing at the AED 8,400 midpoint including VAT (total AED 135,120).

DLD transfer fee (4% of price)59%AED 80,000
Agency fee (2% + 5% VAT)31%AED 42,000
Conveyancing (typical range, incl. VAT)6%AED 6,300–10,500
Registration trustee office (incl. VAT)3%AED 4,200
Title deed, map and knowledge fees<1%AED 520
Of which official feesAED 84,720

Total for a cash buyer, about

AED 133,020–137,220

About 6.7% to 6.9% of the purchase price, on top of the price itself.

Houzon conveyancing

Quoted for your transaction

So you know our fee from the start.

Developer NOC (typically AED 500–5,000 + VAT) is usually paid by the seller. Official fees checked against Dubai Land Department service pages, 4 November 2026.

Cash buyer

DLD transfer fee (4% of AED 2,000,000)AED 80,000
Title deedAED 250
Map, knowledge and innovation fees (AED 250 + 10 + 10)AED 270
Registration trustee office (AED 4,000 + 5% VAT)AED 4,200
Developer NOCUsually paid by the seller
Agency fee (2% of the price + 5% VAT)AED 42,000
Conveyancing (typical Dubai range of AED 6,000 to 10,000 + 5% VAT)AED 6,300 to 10,500
Total for a cash buyerAbout AED 133,020 to 137,220 (about 6.7% to 6.9% of the price), of which AED 84,720 is official fees

Mortgage buyer (loan of AED 1,500,000)

Cash buyer costs aboveAbout AED 133,020 to 137,220
Mortgage registration (0.25% of AED 1,500,000)AED 3,750
Mortgage title deed, knowledge and innovation fees, plus a map fee that may apply (AED 250 + 10 + 10, + up to 250)AED 270 to 520
Trustee fee for the mortgage (AED 4,000 + 5% VAT)AED 4,200
Bank valuation and bank feesSet by the bank
Total for a mortgage buyerAbout AED 141,240 to 145,690 (about 7.1% to 7.3% of the price), plus the bank’s own fees

Seller (with a mortgage of AED 1,000,000)

Developer NOC (typically AED 500 to 5,000 + 5% VAT, set by each developer)AED 525 to 5,250
Outstanding service chargesPaid to the developer before the NOC; amount varies
Mortgage release (AED 1,290 DLD fee + AED 315 registrar fee)AED 1,605
Bank early settlement fee (up to 1% of the AED 1,000,000 balance, or AED 10,000 if less)Up to AED 10,000
Liability letter and other bank feesSet by your bank
Agency fee, if agreed with the agency (up to 2% of AED 2,000,000 + 5% VAT)Up to AED 42,000
Conveyancing, if you appoint your own (typically AED 6,000 to 10,000 + 5% VAT)AED 6,300 to 10,500
DLD transfer fee (4%; the DLD schedule splits it 2% each)Usually paid by the buyer, as agreed in the MOU
Costs for this seller, including agency fee and conveyancingAbout AED 69,355 at the top of each range (about 3.5% of the price), plus any service charges and bank fees

With a loan of AED 1,500,000, the remaining AED 500,000 of the price is your down payment, paid on top of these costs. The agency fee shown is the usual 2% + 5% VAT paid by a buyer. If the seller also agrees an agency fee, the seller pays it, and it does not change the buyer’s costs. Our guide to buying a property in Dubai walks through the full process.

For the seller: on transfer day, the sale price is paid in manager’s cheques, one to your bank for the amount in its liability letter and one to you for the rest. In this example, after the mortgage and the costs above, you would keep about AED 930,645, less any service charges and bank fees, and more if some costs are lower or do not apply. Our guide to selling a property in Dubai walks through the full process.

The process

How a Dubai Property Transfer Works

  1. Agree the Sale

    Buyer and seller sign the Form F MOU, usually with a 10% deposit cheque, held by the real estate agency as security.

  2. Arrange Any Mortgages

    If the seller has a mortgage, their bank issues a liability letter confirming the amount to settle. If the buyer has a mortgage, their bank values the property and issues the final offer.

  3. Get the Developer NOC

    The developer confirms that service charges are paid and issues the NOC, usually within 2 to 3 working days.

  4. Prepare the Payments

    Manager’s cheques are prepared for the seller and any bank payoff, and the DLD fees are paid by manager’s cheque or card. We check every amount and payee.

  5. Transfer at the Trustee Office

    Both parties, or their representatives, attend the registration trustee office. The sale, and any new mortgage, is registered with the DLD.

  6. Receive the Title Deed

    The new title deed is issued in the buyer’s name, usually by email.

Why Houzon

Why Choose Houzon for Conveyancing

In-house teams, clear costs and a RERA-registered brokerage behind every step of your transfer.

One Team Throughout

Our in-house conveyancing team works alongside our mortgage team, so if you are buying with a mortgage, one Houzon team looks after both the loan and the transfer.

Costs Confirmed Upfront

We set out every cost and who pays it, our own fee included, at the start of your transaction.

Registered with RERA

Houzon is registered with RERA, Dubai’s real estate regulator, under ORN 37501.

Trusted by Our Clients

Rated 4.9 on Google from 280+ client reviews.

Get in touch

Request a Conveyancing Quote

Tell us a little about your sale or purchase and where you are in it. We will talk you through the checks, the documents and the costs, including our fee.

Call us+971 4 452 3345 MessageWhatsApp us Emailinfo@houzon.com

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does conveyancing cost in Dubai?

Conveyancing in Dubai typically costs between AED 6,000 and AED 10,000 + VAT. Ask us for a quote for your transaction: we confirm our fee and what it covers before you commit. Most of what a buyer pays is official fees, such as the 4% DLD transfer fee and the trustee office fee. Buying through an agency adds the agency fee, usually 2% of the price + 5% VAT.

Why use a conveyancer if the trustee office registers the sale?

The trustee office registers the transfer, but it does not prepare or manage the sale for either side. A conveyancer does that work: checking the service charges, any mortgage and the MOU terms, coordinating the developer and the banks, and confirming every payment before transfer day. It means the whole sale is handled professionally, from the MOU to transfer day. A lawyer is not required for a standard resale, but for a dispute or a complex legal question you should speak to one.

What are the total transfer costs on a Dubai property?

For a ready property, official costs are about 4% of the price plus around AED 4,720 in fixed fees (AED 2,620 below AED 500,000). On an apartment priced at AED 2,000,000 and bought with cash, that is AED 84,720: the AED 80,000 transfer fee, AED 250 title deed, AED 270 in DLD fees and AED 4,200 for the trustee office. A mortgage adds 0.25% of the loan plus AED 270 to 520, a further AED 4,000 + VAT trustee fee, and the bank’s own fees. Buying through an agency adds the agency fee, usually 2% of the price + 5% VAT (AED 42,000 on AED 2,000,000), and conveyancing typically costs AED 6,000 to 10,000 + VAT.

How much is the DLD transfer fee?

The Dubai Land Department transfer fee is 4% of the sale price, plus AED 250 for the title deed and AED 270 in map, knowledge and innovation fees for an apartment or villa.

Who pays the 4% DLD transfer fee?

The DLD fee schedule splits it 2% each between buyer and seller, but in practice the buyer usually pays the full 4%. Who pays what is agreed in the MOU before the sale goes ahead.

What does a seller pay when selling property in Dubai?

A seller usually pays the developer NOC fee, typically AED 500 to 5,000 + VAT, after clearing any outstanding service charges. With a mortgage, releasing it costs AED 1,605 in DLD and registrar fees, and the bank’s early settlement fee is capped at 1% of the balance or AED 10,000, whichever is less. If agreed with the agency, there is an agency fee of up to 2% of the price + 5% VAT. The buyer usually pays the 4% DLD fee, as agreed in the MOU.

How much are trustee office fees in Dubai?

The registration trustee office charges AED 4,000 + VAT (AED 4,200) when the sale price is AED 500,000 or more, and AED 2,000 + VAT (AED 2,100) below that. If the buyer has a mortgage, registering it at the trustee office costs a further AED 4,000 + VAT (AED 4,200) for a ready property, or AED 5,000 + VAT (AED 5,250) for an off-plan resale.

How are payments made on transfer day?

The sale price, including any payoff to the seller’s bank, is always paid by manager’s cheque. DLD fees and agency fees can be paid by manager’s cheque or card, and other trustee office fees by card or cash. We confirm every amount and payee beforehand.

When does the seller receive the money?

On transfer day, at the registration trustee office. The sale price is paid by manager’s cheque, issued by the bank to a named payee for a fixed amount, so what you receive is settled before the day. If you have a mortgage, one cheque goes to your bank for the amount in its liability letter and one comes to you for the rest. We confirm every amount and payee with you beforehand.

What is a developer NOC and how much does it cost?

The no objection certificate (NOC) is the developer’s confirmation that service charges are paid and the property can be transferred. The fee is set by each developer, typically AED 500 to 5,000 + VAT, and is usually paid by the seller. We apply for it for you, and it usually takes 2 to 3 working days.

How long does a property transfer take?

A cash transfer can often complete within a few weeks. The developer NOC usually takes 2 to 3 working days, and a mortgage on either side adds time for the liability letter, valuation and bank approval. Our guides to buying a property in Dubai and selling one walk through each stage.

What extra costs come with a mortgage?

A buyer with a mortgage pays 0.25% of the loan to register it, plus AED 270 to 520 in DLD fees, a further AED 4,000 + VAT trustee fee and the bank’s valuation fee. A seller with a mortgage pays AED 1,290 to the DLD and AED 315 in registrar fees to release it once the bank is repaid. Since 1 February 2025, banks no longer finance the 4% transfer fee.

How does selling a mortgaged property work?

In most sales, you do not need to repay the loan before you sell. Your bank issues a liability letter confirming the exact amount to settle. On transfer day, part of the sale price is paid by manager’s cheque to your bank for that amount, and the rest to you. The mortgage release and the sale are registered with the DLD together, so the property transfers free of your loan. We coordinate the letter, the payoff and the release with your bank.

Are buying costs different for an apartment, villa or off-plan property?

For a ready apartment or villa the DLD fees are the same: 4% of the price, AED 250 for the title deed and AED 270 in other DLD fees. Off-plan purchases and resales are registered through the developer in the Oqood register. The 4% DLD fee still applies, but the admin fees differ, and not every off-plan resale can be bought with a mortgage, so check with our mortgage team before you sign. Tell us the project, or browse off-plan projects in Dubai, and we can explain what applies.

Can I complete the transfer from abroad?

Yes. You can appoint a representative through a power of attorney, which must be notarised and attested (and legally translated, if signed abroad) before it is used at the trustee office. We can attend transfer day for you.

What happens if the sale does not go ahead?

It depends on the MOU terms, which set out what happens to your deposit cheque, held by the real estate agency. We go through them with you before you sign.
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Fees are set by the Dubai Land Department, developers and banks and can change. This page is general information, not legal advice.

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