Seller Guides · 5 min read
How to sell property in Dubai: a step-by-step guide
The EQT Private Office · RERA-registered brokerage · Published August 3, 2026 · Updated September 24, 2026
To sell property in Dubai, you appoint a RERA-licensed broker under Form A, price the home against registered DLD sales, accept an offer and sign Form F (the MOU), obtain a developer No Objection Certificate (NOC), and complete the transfer at a Dubai Land Department (DLD) trustee office. The process takes roughly 30 to 60 days from listing to title transfer, or two to four weeks after Form F for a cash buyer with a clear title. Individuals pay no capital gains tax on the sale, so the price you agree, less costs, is what you keep.
Key takeaways
- •Only RERA-licensed brokers can legally market and sell your property in Dubai.
- •A signed Form A sets the agreed price and commission and generates the advertising permit before marketing begins.
- •A developer No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required before any transfer.
- •Individuals pay no capital gains tax on a Dubai property sale.
- •Most sales run 30 to 60 days from listing to DLD transfer; a mortgage on either side adds time.
- •The buyer pays the 4% DLD transfer fee; the seller covers commission, the NOC fee and any early-settlement charge.
Prepare your property and paperwork
Gather the documents a buyer and the DLD will expect before you list. Having them ready avoids delays once an offer arrives and shows serious buyers the sale can move fast. A missing service charge statement or an unresolved mortgage liability can add a week or more to a transfer that would otherwise close smoothly.
Presentation lifts both price and speed. Commission a snagging check and fix visible defects, finish outstanding maintenance, repaint where needed, declutter and book professional photography. In busy communities where several similar units are listed at once, the best-presented home sells first and closest to the asking price, and in the luxury segment unresolved snags or dated finishes turn straight into lower offers.
- •Original title deed issued by the DLD.
- •Your passport and Emirates ID (or company documents if held by an entity).
- •The original sale and purchase agreement or Oqood documents.
- •The latest service charge statement from the Mollak system, paid up to date.
- •Any outstanding mortgage details, including a liability letter from your bank.
Appoint a RERA-licensed broker and sign Form A
In Dubai only a broker with a valid RERA licence can market and sell property. Choose an agent with a track record in your building or community, since local pricing knowledge drives the result. Ask how many units they have sold in your tower over the past year, which comparable sales support their suggested price, and check their RERA broker card. An agent who quotes the highest figure to win the instruction often leaves the home sitting on the market.
You and the broker then sign Form A, the RERA seller agreement registered through the Trakheesi system. It records the asking price, the agency commission (around 2% plus 5% VAT) and the terms of the mandate, and it generates the QR-coded permit number you see on property portals. Without it, no compliant brokerage can advertise your home. You can give an exclusive mandate to one agency or an open listing to several; one well-marketed exclusive listing tends to outperform the same home spread across agents at inconsistent prices.
Set the asking price on DLD evidence
The DLD publishes actual registered sale prices, so base your asking price on what comparable units sold for over the past three to six months, adjusted for floor, view, layout and condition, and not on portal asking prices. Our separate guide to pricing your Dubai property covers the method in full.
Accept an offer and sign the MOU
When a buyer makes an acceptable offer, both parties sign Form F, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which binds the sale and sets out the price and conditions. The buyer pays a deposit of around 10%, held by the broker or a registration trustee, which protects both sides if either one withdraws.
Confirm how the buyer is paying. A cash buyer with proof of funds brings speed and certainty. A mortgaged buyer needs their lender's valuation and final offer letter, which adds two to four weeks before the transfer can be booked, so weigh a slightly higher mortgaged offer against a faster cash completion.
If your property has a mortgage, this is the stage to settle it. The buyer's funds or bank clear your outstanding loan so the DLD can release the title free of any charge.
- •Sign Form F (MOU) confirming price and conditions.
- •Collect the buyer's deposit, commonly 10% of the price.
- •Settle any existing mortgage and obtain the bank's release.
- •Agree who pays the 4% DLD transfer fee and other costs.
Obtain the NOC and complete the DLD transfer
Apply to your developer for a No Objection Certificate (NOC), which confirms all service charges are paid and the developer has no objection to the sale. The DLD will not register the transfer without it. The developer checks your account and issues the NOC within a few working days for a fee of around AED 500 to AED 5,000, depending on the developer, so apply as soon as terms are agreed.
If you have a mortgage, the bank liability settlement runs in parallel: the buyer or their bank pays off your loan, your bank releases the title, and only then can the transfer go ahead. Your lender may charge an early-settlement fee, which UAE Central Bank rules cap.
With the NOC in hand, both parties, or their attorneys under a power of attorney, attend a DLD-approved trustee office. The buyer pays the balance by manager's cheque along with the 4% transfer fee and trustee charges. The DLD cancels the old title deed and issues a new one in the buyer's name, ownership passes on the spot, and you can bank your manager's cheque the same day. The trustee appointment takes under an hour once everyone is present with the right cheques and documents.
Understand your selling costs and net proceeds
Dubai levies no capital gains tax on individuals, so your net proceeds are the sale price less a short list of transaction costs. Work these out before you list so you can set a realistic minimum and avoid surprises on transfer day. Agency commission is the largest cost, followed by any early mortgage settlement charge.
Record in the MOU who pays each cost, because several are negotiable. The 4% DLD transfer fee is the buyer's cost by custom, but in a slower market a seller may agree to share it to close the deal. Run your net figure conservatively, so the sale still meets your target even if you concede a little.
- •Agency commission of around 2% of the sale price plus 5% VAT.
- •Developer NOC fee, commonly AED 500 to AED 5,000.
- •Any early settlement fee charged by your bank on an outstanding mortgage.
- •Your own conveyancing fees, if you use a conveyancer.
- •The 4% DLD transfer fee, the buyer's cost by custom but negotiable.
- •A DLD trustee office fee of roughly AED 4,000 for a standard transfer.
Frequently asked
How long does it take to sell property in Dubai?+
Most sales complete within 30 to 60 days of listing, depending on pricing, demand and whether a mortgage is involved. A cash sale with a clear title can complete within two to four weeks of signing Form F. A mortgaged buyer or an outstanding seller mortgage extends this to six to eight weeks, mainly because of bank valuation and liability-settlement timelines.
Do I pay tax when I sell property in Dubai?+
No. Individuals pay no capital gains tax on a Dubai property sale, and there is no annual property tax. Your main costs are the agency commission of around 2% plus 5% VAT and the developer NOC fee. The 4% DLD transfer fee is paid by the buyer, though the parties can negotiate this.
Who pays the DLD transfer fee when selling in Dubai?+
The buyer. The 4% Dubai Land Department transfer fee is paid at the trustee office on completion. Sellers cover the agency commission, the developer NOC fee and any mortgage early-settlement charge.
Can I sell a Dubai property that still has a mortgage?+
Yes. The outstanding loan is settled during the sale, often using the buyer's funds or their bank. Once your lender confirms the debt is cleared, it releases the charge on the title so the DLD can transfer ownership free and clear at the trustee office.
Do I need to be in Dubai to sell my property?+
No. You can grant a UAE-recognised power of attorney to a trusted person or your broker to sign Form F and complete the transfer for you. The POA must be notarised and, if signed abroad, attested and legalised for use in the UAE. Overseas owners do this routinely.
What is a No Objection Certificate (NOC)?+
An NOC is a document from your property's developer confirming there are no unpaid service charges and no objection to the sale. The DLD will not register a transfer without it. Once your account is clear, the developer issues the NOC within a few working days for a set fee.
Who pays the real estate agent's commission when selling in Dubai?+
The seller pays the listing agent's commission of around 2% of the sale price plus 5% VAT, agreed in Form A. Where separate agents represent each side, the buyer may pay their own agent. Confirm the commission and who settles it in writing before marketing begins.
