Financial advice for buying property in Dubai
Cash or mortgage, which payment plan, how to move funds to the UAE and how to structure the purchase — we go through it before you commit.
What we do
- Cash against a mortgage for your case
- A comparison of payment plans
- How to bring the money to the UAE
- The full cost of the purchase with all fees
The process step by step
What a ready purchase costs on top of the price
| Item | Amount | Who it goes to |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee | 4% of the price | Dubai Land Department. Officially split between the two sides; in practice the buyer usually pays it — the contract says who |
| Trustee office and title deed | AED 4,200 + 580 | The trustee office that registers the transfer |
| Our fee | 2% + VAT | Seafront Properties |
| Mortgage registration, if you borrow | 0.25% of the loan | Dubai Land Department; the bank has its own fees |
Government fees as published by the Dubai Land Department; we give you the exact total for your property before you sign.
Cash or mortgage
| Cash | Mortgage | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed of the deal | Fast — no bank in the process | Longer — the bank approves the buyer and the property |
| What you can buy | Any property | What the bank accepts; get the pre-approval first |
| Your position with a seller | The strongest offer | Strong with a pre-approval in hand |
| Off-plan | By the developer's payment plan | Usually the payment plan is used instead |
What you need to prepare
- Passport copy
- Where the funds come from — for the bank
Good to know
- On the secondary market the payment is made by manager's cheques; developers accept different methods — we confirm with each
- Buyers from abroad are advised to open a bank account in Dubai first
What you get with us
Questions and answers
How much money do I need on the first day?
For a ready property: the price or your down payment, plus the 4% registration fee, the trustee fees and our 2% + VAT. For off-plan: the booking amount and the 4% fee, then the instalments by the plan.
Do I need a bank account in the UAE?
We recommend opening one first: you transfer the money to your own account and issue manager's cheques from it. We help with the account.
How do developers accept payments?
It differs: cheques, bank transfers, and some accept cash or crypto. Every payment for an off-plan unit must go to the project's escrow account — we confirm the method with each developer.
What are the yearly costs of owning?
The service charge of the building, utilities and insurance; if you rent the property out — also the management fee.
See also
Related services
All services
Seafront Properties is a RERA-licensed brokerage in Dubai (ORN 32533). Rules, fees and conditions change — the figures on this page are a guide; we confirm them for your case before you decide. Sources: Dubai Land Department (dubailand.gov.ae), Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007.
Financial advice — let's talk
Write to us on WhatsApp — we answer the same day, check the availability and send the floor plans and the payment plan.
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