How much cash do you need to buy property in Dubai?
The price is not the whole story. These are the two official rules that decide how much cash you need, with an example worked out step by step.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-04
Rule 1: the 4% registration fee
When a sale is registered in Dubai, the buyer pays the Dubai Land Department 4% of the property value. Plan for it in cash.
Rule 2: the loan-to-value cap for an expatriate's first home
Under UAE Central Bank rules, the loan can be at most 80% of the value up to AED 5M and 70% above it — so the down payment is at least 20% or 30%.
Rules can differ for UAE nationals, second homes and off-plan purchases; ask the bank in writing.
Example: a AED 1,500,000 home (an example, not an offer)
Estimates calculated with the two rules above only:
Cash purchase: price + DLD feeEstimatedAED 1,560,000
With a mortgage: down paymentEstimatedAED 300,000
With a mortgage: DLD feeEstimatedAED 60,000
With a mortgage: cash before other feesEstimatedAED 360,000
The other way round: you have AED 400,000 in cash
With 80% financing and only the DLD fee, that cash covers a price of up to about AED 1,666,667. Any other fee lowers this figure.
What is not included
Agency commission, mortgage registration, valuation, registration trustee and bank fees, and service charges. These are agreed or quoted to you — get them in writing, then enter them in the calculator.
Official sources
- Dubai Land Department — property sale registration Verified · last checked 2026-10-01
- UAE Central Bank rulebook — important ratios (mortgages) Verified · last checked 2026-10-01