UAE: selling property
The full process in 4 steps: the taxes you pay, what each stage costs and how long it takes (~30 days on average). Free guide, no account needed.
Process steps
1
Sign MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)
⏱ 1 day · 💰 10% deposit held
2
Apply for No Objection Certificate
⏱ 3-7 days · 💰 AED 500-5,000
3
Settle any outstanding mortgage
⏱ 1-2 weeks · 💰 varies
4
Transfer at Dubai Land Department
⏱ 1 day · 💰 4% DLD fee
Taxes & fees
capital gains
none for individuals
dld transfer fee
4% + AED 4,500-5,500 admin
agent fee
2%
noc fee
AED 500-5,000, set by the developer
⚠️ What costs you money if you miss it
The developer, not the Land Department, decides when you can sell. The No Objection Certificate is issued only once every service charge is settled — and without it nothing transfers. The fee is AED 500-5,000 and the developer sets it.
No tax on the gain, no tax on the rent — but the transaction is not free. An individual pays nothing on the profit or on rental income in the UAE. What you do pay is the 4% Land Department fee plus roughly AED 4,500-5,500 in administrative charges, and 2% to the agent.
Your building’s service charge is public — the buyer will look it up. The approved figure per square foot sits in the Land Department’s Mollak index. Know it before you set the price, because a high charge is negotiated out of your side.
⚠️ Informational purposes only. Always consult a licensed local lawyer.
Check what a property here is actually worthOpen the free valuation