The purchase price is only part of what you pay. Here’s a breakdown of the main costs when buying property in Dubai. **At booking** - **Reservation / booking fee** — Often 5,000–50,000 AED or 5–10% of the price. May be part of the down payment or separate. **Before and at SPA** - **Down payment** — Typically 10–20% of the price, per the payment plan. - **Dubai Land Department (DLD) fee** — 4% of the property value (in resale often split 2% buyer, 2% seller; in off-plan structure may vary). - **Registration fee** — Small additional amount at registration. - **Admin fee** — Charged by the developer or agent; varies (e.g. 1,000–10,000+ AED). **Over time** - **Payment plan** — Remaining instalments as per your contract (construction milestones and, if applicable, post-handover). - **Service charge** — Annual fee for building maintenance and common areas. You start paying from handover. Amount is AED per sq ft per year and varies by building. **When selling or mortgaging later** - **NOC (No Objection Certificate)** — Issued by developer or management. There is usually a fee and a processing time. Use our [buying process guide](/guide/deal-steps) for the full checklist and [ROI calculator](/tools/roi-calculator) to model returns. For a personalised cost breakdown, [contact us](/contact).