DLD Fee Changes in 2026 and What They Mean for Brokers

In early 2026 the Dubai Land Department introduced several fee adjustments that directly affect how brokers register, transfer and market off-plan and ready properties. This article breaks down the revised Oqood, transfer and trustee charges, shows the impact on typical transactions in Marina, Business Bay and JLT, and explains how brokers can explain the changes clearly to clients using the tools already available on AgentsAI.

Revised Oqood registration fees

From 1 January 2026 the fixed Oqood registration fee moved from AED 5,000 to a tiered structure. Projects under AED 1 million now attract AED 4,000, while units between AED 1 million and AED 3 million are charged AED 7,500. Anything above AED 3 million is calculated at 0.25 percent of the purchase price, capped at AED 25,000. Brokers working in MBR City and Aljada report that the new cap has reduced the cost for large family units by roughly AED 10,000 compared with the previous flat rate.

Transfer fee adjustments and who pays

The standard transfer fee remains at four percent of the sale price, yet the responsibility for payment has shifted in some contract templates. Many master developers in Business Bay now require the buyer to cover two percent while the seller covers the balance, reversing the long-standing seller-paid norm. In Saadiyat Island and Yas Island projects the four-percent split is still negotiable, so agents must check each sale and purchase agreement before marketing. AgentsAI’s clause library lets users insert the correct split wording in under thirty seconds.

Registration trustee charges clarified

DLD-appointed registration trustees increased their service fee from AED 2,000 to AED 2,750 per transaction. The increase applies to all title-deed issuances processed through Etisalat channels or in-person at DLD centres. For a typical AED 2.5 million JLT apartment the added AED 750 is usually absorbed by the buyer, but brokers are advised to state the figure explicitly in every reservation form to avoid last-minute disputes.

How the changes appear on Bayut and Property Finder

Both portals updated their listing templates in February 2026 to include a new “DLD fees” field. Agents entering data for a Marina two-bedroom now see an auto-calculated total that combines the tiered Oqood fee, the four-percent transfer fee and the trustee charge. The same data feeds directly into AgentsAI’s listing-description generator, ensuring the published text matches the numbers shown on the portals and reducing client queries after an offer is accepted.

Practical steps for client conversations

1. Run the property price through AgentsAI’s fee calculator to generate an itemised breakdown in under ten seconds.
2. Send the breakdown as a PDF attachment before the buyer signs any reservation form.
3. Flag any master-developer requirement that the buyer pays part of the transfer fee so the client can adjust their offer price accordingly.
4. Keep a saved template in AgentsAI that references the current DLD circular number so every email uses identical wording.

These steps keep conversations factual and reduce the chance of renegotiation once the memorandum of understanding is signed.

Stop typing. Start closing.

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