Valuation & pricing
We set a realistic asking price using recent DLD transaction data and current comparable homes in your community.
Insights · Seller’s Guide
Selling your property.Clearly and in full.
From valuation and Form F to the developer’s NOC and the transfer at the DLD trustee office. Every step, every cost and every timeline, in one place, without surprises.
0%
Capital gains tax for individuals
~2%
Typical agency fee (+ VAT)
Form F
DLD unified sale contract
30-40%
Paid before off-plan resale
Before you sell
Selling in Dubai is manageable.
A good sale comes down to the right price, the right paperwork and the right order.
Dubai’s secondary market is tightly regulated. Every sale of a completed home runs through a DLD unified sale contract (Form F), a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the master developer and a transfer at a DLD-approved registration trustee office. That structure protects buyer and seller alike and makes the process predictable.
For individuals there is no capital gains tax: the gain on your personally-owned property is yours. Seller-side costs are limited: the agency fee, the NOC charge and, where applicable, paying off your mortgage. This guide lays out the steps, costs and timing, including selling off-plan before handover.
From valuation to transfer in six steps.
A sale of a completed home follows a set order. Here is what a smooth process usually looks like. We walk it with you.
List & market
You sign a RERA Form A listing agreement with your broker. The home is presented across portals and DLD-approved channels, with professional photography.
Buyer offer & MOU (Form F) + deposit
Once terms are agreed, both parties sign the DLD Form F (the unified sale contract). The buyer typically pays a ~10% deposit, usually by manager’s cheque.
Developer NOC
You apply to the master developer for a No Objection Certificate. Any outstanding service charges are cleared first; the developer then issues the NOC (AED 500-5,250).
Transfer at the DLD trustee office
Both parties attend a DLD-approved registration trustee office. The buyer pays the balance and the DLD transfer fee (4%); ownership is transferred.
Title transfer & payoff
The buyer receives a new title deed. If you have a mortgage, it is settled from the proceeds and you receive the net balance.
Costs & timing
What does it cost to sell?
Seller-side costs are straightforward. Indicative benchmarks so you can plan realistically; VAT (5%) applies to most service fees.
~2%
Agency fee
Typical brokerage commission on the sale price, plus 5% VAT.
AED 500-5,250
Developer NOC fee
Charged by the master developer; the seller usually pays and must clear service charges first.
If applicable
Mortgage discharge
Any outstanding loan is settled from the proceeds; the bank issues a liability letter and clearance.
0%
Capital gains tax
No tax on the gain for individuals selling personally-owned property in the UAE.
4-6 weeks
Typical timeline
From a signed Form F to title transfer, once the NOC and any mortgage clearance are in place.
AED 250 + admin
DLD title & admin
Title deed issuance and knowledge/innovation fees at transfer; the 4% DLD transfer fee is customarily the buyer’s.
Amounts are indicative and set by developers, the DLD and the market; they can change. We help you build a realistic cost estimate for your sale.
Selling before handover
Selling off-plan before handover.
You can often sell an off-plan home before it completes, through an "assignment" of the purchase contract. Two things decide whether you can, and what it costs.
When you can resell
Assignment of contract before handover.
- Most developers allow resale once you have paid a threshold, commonly 30-40% of the price (it varies by developer and project).
- A developer No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required to approve the assignment.
- The unit is transferred via an Oqood/assignment at the DLD, not a standard title transfer.
What it costs
Fees on top of the agency commission.
- A developer assignment or transfer fee, typically ~2-5% of the price (it varies by developer).
- DLD Oqood registration and trustee fees apply.
- The new buyer assumes the remaining payment plan under the SPA.
The numbers at a glance
Selling, in four figures.
The key benchmarks for a sale in Dubai. Keep them to hand as the starting point for your own maths.
~2%
Agency fee (+ VAT)
The typical brokerage commission a seller pays.
AED 500-5,250
Developer NOC
The fee to release the No Objection Certificate.
30-40%
Paid for off-plan resale
The common developer threshold before an assignment.
0%
Capital gains tax
On the gain for individuals in the UAE.
Figures are indicative and set by developers, the DLD and the market; they can change. VAT (5%) applies to most service fees.
Honest answers up front.
Can I sell my Dubai property whenever I want?
Yes. There is no minimum holding period for a completed, titled home. You do need the master developer’s NOC (confirming service charges are clear) and, if there is a mortgage, a bank liability letter to settle the loan at transfer.
Do I pay tax on the profit when I sell?
For individuals, the UAE levies no capital gains tax on personally-owned property: the gain is yours. Since 2025, UAE corporate tax may apply to companies and legal entities holding property; personal ownership is unaffected. We suggest confirming your home-country position with a tax adviser.
What is an NOC and who pays for it?
A No Objection Certificate is issued by the master developer confirming there are no outstanding service charges and that it has no objection to the transfer. It is mandatory for every secondary-market sale; the seller normally pays the fee (AED 500-5,250) and clears any service-charge balance first.
Can I sell an off-plan property before completion?
Usually yes, once you have paid the developer’s threshold (commonly 30-40%). The sale is an "assignment of contract": you need a developer NOC, pay an assignment fee (~2-5%), and the unit is transferred via Oqood at the DLD.
What does it cost to sell?
Budget roughly ~2% agency commission (+ VAT), the developer NOC fee (AED 500-5,250), mortgage discharge if applicable, and small DLD title/admin fees. The 4% DLD transfer fee is customarily paid by the buyer.
Sources & transparency
What this page is based on.
The amounts, fees, thresholds and taxes mentioned are indicative and are set by the master developers, the Dubai Land Department and the market; they can change and VAT may apply. This page is informational and does not constitute legal or tax advice. De Dam coordinates your sale with RERA-licensed brokers and, where needed, legal and tax partners.
- Expatriates buying and selling a property in the UAE, on u.ae (Official UAE Government Platform)
- Buying property in Dubai (u.ae)
- Dubai Land Department (DLD): official portal
- All real estate services (registration, transfer & trustee offices): DLD
- Real estate legislation (RERA framework): DLD
- United Arab Emirates, individual taxes (no capital gains tax): PwC Tax Summaries
Thinking of selling?
Tell us about your property and your timing. We will give you a realistic valuation, a clear cost breakdown and a plan to sell, with no obligation.