Sep 9, 2025
One of the first questions people ask when buying or renting property in Dubai is: “How much does the agent take?”
It’s a fair question and an important one. Real estate agent commission in Dubai is standard practice, but the details aren’t always clear until you’re deep in the process. Who pays it? How much is it? Is it fixed, or can it be negotiated? And what’s the difference between real estate agent commission and service fees?
This article breaks it down in plain terms so you know what to expect, what’s fair, and what to look out for.
It’s the fee you pay for having someone guide you through the deal. Whether you’re buying, selling, or renting, real estate agents earn their income through commission. It’s usually a percentage of the property price or, in the case of rentals, a cut of the annual rent.
Some people call it a service fee. Others just call it “the agent’s cut.” Officially, it’s known as the real estate agent commission, and in Dubai, it’s a well-established part of how the market works. Real estate agent fees vary depending on the deal, but one thing is constant: it’s something you should know about from the start.
If you're buying a property on the secondary market, the usual real estate agent commission in Dubai is 2% of the sale price, plus 5% VAT.
Most of the time, that’s paid by the buyer, but there are exceptions. For rentals, agents typically take 5% of the annual rent, or a flat fee, whichever is higher. That means if the rent is low, you’ll still pay something close to AED 5,000.
These real estate agent fees are fairly standard across the market. For off-plan properties, the commission is usually handled by the developer, not the buyer. That fee can range anywhere from 2% to 6%, but you won’t be the one paying it.
In most resale deals, it’s the buyer who pays the real estate agent commission. That’s the norm in Dubai. But it’s not a rule, and sometimes it gets split or negotiated, especially in high-value deals.
With off-plan properties, the developer covers the fee, so the buyer doesn’t pay anything. For rentals, it usually falls on the tenant, though there are rare cases where the landlord picks it up.
The way real estate agent commission in Dubai is handled depends on the type of deal and who’s in the stronger position to negotiate. Bottom line: always ask before you get too far. The number itself matters, but so does knowing who it’s coming from.
There’s no need to guess. The numbers are simple once you know what to look for.
If you’re buying a property, take 2% of the purchase price, then add 5% VAT on that amount. That’s your agent’s fee. So for an AED 2 million home, you’re looking at AED 42,000 total. Renting? It’s usually 5% of the yearly rent. Some agents charge a flat fee instead, often around AED 5,000, whichever is higher.
If you’re unsure, a Dubai real estate commission calculator can help double-check the math. But once you know the formula, you may not need one.
Most people don’t mind paying commission; what they mind is being surprised by it.
Some say they were told 2%, but didn’t realize that VAT comes on top. Others mention being asked for a flat AED 5,000, even on low-rent apartments. A few say they negotiated a better deal.
These kinds of real estate agent fees catch people off guard when they’re not spelled out early. And the one thing that comes up again and again is this: “I wish I had asked earlier.” It’s not just about the amount. It’s about knowing where you stand before things move too far.
Invest Now: properties for sale in Dubai
Not all agents charge the same, and there’s a reason for that. Some deals take more time. Some properties are harder to move. And some agents simply bring more to the table.
A good agent doesn’t just unlock a door; they guide you through the whole thing: the paperwork, the negotiation, the back and forth that most people don’t want to deal with. That’s what the real estate agent commission really covers.
It’s not about the hour they spent showing you the place. It’s about everything they did to get you to the finish line.
Invest Now: off plan properties for sale in Dubai
In Dubai, real estate agents aren’t just freelancers working off instinct. They’re licensed professionals, regulated by the RERA Real Estate Regulatory Agency.
That means there are clear rules around how real estate agent commission in Dubai is handled, how contracts are written, and how agents are expected to operate.
When you agree on a commission, it should appear clearly in the contract, and it should match what’s been said. If something feels off, you can check the agent’s license or file a complaint.
The system is built to protect both sides. But only if you know it’s there.
Mada Properties believes buying or renting a home shouldn’t feel overwhelming or unclear.
That’s why we take the time to explain everything, including what you’re paying and what you’re getting in return. Whether it’s real estate agent fees, closing costs, or contract details, we make sure there are no surprises.
From the first call to the final signature, they focus on real support, not sales talk. Whether you're new to the market or ready for your next move, Mada helps you make decisions that actually make sense, contact us today.
Commission is part of the process. It shouldn’t feel like a trick, and it shouldn’t catch you off guard.
If you understand how real estate agent commission in Dubai works and ask the right questions early, you’ll know exactly what you’re paying and why.
Whether it’s a percentage or flat real estate agent fees, the only thing that matters in the end is whether the help was worth it.
In real estate, knowledge is everything.Our blog offers timely insights on real estate investment in Dubai, market analysis, legal updates, and tips to guide your property journey.
07 Sep, 2025
The idea of living in Dubai long-term has always appealed to people. But until recently, it felt like something you had to renew, reapply for, or re-explain every few years.
The Dubai Golden Visa through property investment changed that. It gave people a way to stay, not just visit. If you own a qualifying property, you could be eligible for a 10-year renewable visa.
No sponsor. No job requirement. Just a stable investment and a place to call home. It’s not for everyone. But if you’re serious about putting down roots or just want more freedom to come and go, it’s one of the cleanest paths forward to golden visa real estate residency.
The Golden Visa is Dubai’s way of saying, if you're investing here, you're welcome to stay.
It's a long-term residency, five or ten years, depending on how you qualify, that gives you the freedom to live, work, and come and go without the usual sponsor requirements. You can renew it. You can include your family. And you don’t have to be in the country all year to keep it.
For a lot of people, it’s the difference between feeling like a visitor and feeling like a resident. That’s why the golden visa for property owners has become such a popular route and why more golden visa real estate investors are choosing it as a way to commit long-term.
It’s not just a stamp in your passport; it’s a kind of agreement, on both sides.
To qualify for the Dubai Golden Visa through property investment, you need to own property in Dubai worth at least AED 2 million.
It can be a single unit or a group of properties long as the total value hits that number. Off-plan works too, as long as you’ve paid enough of it upfront. Even mortgages are allowed, as long as the bank gives you a no-objection letter.
There are no income requirements, no employment checks. Just the property. That’s what makes the golden visa on property so direct, you’re not proving your potential, just your ownership. For golden visa real estate investors, it’s one of the simplest paths with the fewest conditions.
There’s no ceremony to it. Once you own the property, you take your documents and start the process.
The title deed, a copy of your passport, maybe a letter from the bank saying they’re fine with it, that’s the part people sometimes forget. After that, you apply. You’ll go through a medical test, give your fingerprints, and wait for the residency stamp. Some people do it through the Dubai Land Department, others use a typing center, or apply online. It doesn’t really matter.
If everything’s in place, it moves quickly. If something’s missing, it doesn’t. That’s what makes the golden visa property investment process so approachable; it’s paperwork, not bureaucracy.
People focus on the AED 2 million. And yes, it’s a lot.
But most of the people who go this route aren’t doing it just for the visa. They’re doing it because they already wanted to buy property here. The visa is just what makes it feel like a long-term move instead of a short-term risk. It makes staying feel easier. It takes the pressure off.
And once it’s done, it changes how you see the place. You stop thinking like a visitor and start thinking like someone who made a golden visa real estate commitment. For many, Dubai Golden Visa through property investment isn’t the reason they buy; it’s the reason they stay.
Not every property in Dubai is just an address — some are built with the Golden Visa in mind. Developments like:
A community designed around open green spaces and modern townhomes. Greenway 2 gives buyers an affordable entry into Emaar’s lifestyle while also qualifying for the Golden Visa, making it a smart step for long-term living.
Set between the Marina and Palm Jumeirah, this waterfront address combines views, prestige, and eligibility for the Golden Visa. For investors, it’s as much about owning a landmark as it is about securing residency.
Overlooking the iconic Ain Dubai, Bluewaters Bay balances resort living with city convenience. Buying here doesn’t just give you a lifestyle on the water — it also places you within reach of the Golden Visa’s long-term benefits.
It’s usually the people who were going to buy anyway. Not for the visa, just for themselves. Maybe they’ve lived here for years. Maybe they’re ready to stop renting.
The visa just makes it easier to stay without having to explain yourself every two years. Some do it for their kids. Some just want to know they can come and go without thinking about expiry dates.
It’s not about the passport. It’s about feeling settled, and that’s why the golden visa for property owners has become such a quiet favorite. It turns a home into something more permanent.
Mada Properties helps people make sense of the real estate world without the noise.
Whether you’re buying for a visa or just looking for the right place to land, we keep things simple, clear, and grounded.
From finding the right home to navigating the Dubai Golden Visa through property investment, our team gives you the support you need to make a decision you’ll feel good about. No hype. Just real help.
The visa is the headline, but it’s not the whole story.
What you’re really getting is the freedom to stay and the space to plan without rushing. For some, that’s worth more than the property itself.
And for those who qualify through the Dubai Golden Visa through property investment, that freedom feels a little more real. A little more permanent.
28 Aug, 2025
Everyone has an opinion about Dubai. Some say it’s expensive. Others say it’s manageable if you plan it right.
The truth is somewhere in between. The cost of living in Dubai depends on how you live, where you live, and what you’re willing to spend on comfort.
This guide won’t give you one perfect number, but it will provide you with a real picture. What it costs to get by. What it takes to live well. And how does the cost of living in Dubai per month change if you’re coming here on your own or with a family?
If you’re living alone in Dubai, you can expect to spend somewhere between AED 7,000 and 12,000 a month. That covers rent, food, transport, and basic bills, nothing fancy, but nothing too tight either.
If you’re more frugal, it can go lower. If you eat out often or live alone in a bigger place, it’ll go higher. This is the typical Dubai living cost per month for one person.
For families, it’s a different scale. A couple with two children will typically spend AED 20,000 to 35,000 per month, depending on their location, the children's school, and the level of assistance required at home.
The Dubai living cost for a family comes with more layers but also more stability. There’s no single answer, but if you’re trying to plan for living expenses in Dubai for a single person or a household, this is the range most people fall into.
Most people don’t realize how fast the basics add up until they get here.
Rent is usually the biggest piece that can take anywhere from a third to half of your monthly income, depending on where you live. A studio in an outer area might cost AED 3,000 to 5,000, while a two-bedroom in a central spot can easily hit AED 10,000 or more.
Then there’s utilities, electricity, water, and cooling, usually between AED 500 and 1,200, depending on the season. Internet costs around AED 300 a month.
Living expenses in Dubai, like groceries, can vary too: AED 800 to 1,200 for one person, and closer to AED 3,000 to 4,000 for a family.
Transport depends on your setup you’re using the metro, it’s affordable. If you’re driving, expect fuel, parking, and maintenance.
The cost of living in Dubai isn’t always dramatic, but it adds up quietly. Not painfully steadily.
If you’re on your own, you can keep things simple. A small flat. Groceries for one. A MetroCard. You make the choices, and you live with them. Some months cost more, some less, but it’s manageable.
That’s why the average cost of living in Dubai for a single person often stays within reach. With a family, it’s different. You don’t just spend more, you have fewer shortcuts. Rent gets higher. School fees come in. Groceries double, sometimes triple. And even if you’re careful, the living expenses in Dubai for a family add up fast.
That doesn’t mean it’s not doable. It just means the numbers shift because life does, too.
It depends on what “comfortable” means to you.
Some people feel fine spending AED 8,000 a month in a studio, cooking at home, taking the metro, and living simply. Others won’t feel settled without a spare room, a car, a school nearby, and a bit of help at home.
If you're alone, AED 15,000 gives you room to breathe. If you're a couple, AED 25,000 covers most things without stress. For a family, AED 35,000 is where comfort starts to feel real.
The average cost of living in Dubai shifts based on what you expect from life and what you’re willing to give up. You can spend less. Many people do. But if you want a life that isn’t tight every month, that’s the range most people aim for. Because the cost of living in Dubai isn’t just a number. It’s a decision.
Dubai looks smooth on the surface, but living here comes with pressures that don’t always show up in a budget. Rents go up. Groceries creep higher. And salaries don’t always keep pace.
If you’re in a midlevel job, you might feel squeezed in ways that don’t make sense on paper. Then there’s the lifestyle part. Everyone seems to be spending more on nicer cars, nicer restaurants, and weekend getaways. You don’t have to join in, but it’s hard not to feel it. That’s what makes the cost of living in Dubai tricky.
It’s not just what you pay, it’s what you feel you need to keep up with. And that’s where the average cost of living in Dubai can be misleading. It doesn’t always reflect the pressure people actually feel.
Mada Properties isn’t flashy. We’re not the loudest name in the market and we’re not trying to be.
What we do is simple: we help people figure out where they belong. Whether you’re new to Dubai or just trying to find something that feels right, we take the time to listen, really listen, and walk you through it without pushing. From rent to schools to the cost of living in Dubai, we help you see the full picture before making a move.
We’re the kind of company where you don’t feel like a lead. You feel like someone we actually want to help.
Whether you are looking for a cozy studio, a stylish apartment, or a profitable investment property, Mada Properties offers a wide range of options to match your needs and budget. Explore the best rental and investment opportunities in Dubai with diverse properties designed to suit every lifestyle.
Living in Dubai can be expensive. It can also be manageable.
It all depends on how you live, what you need, and what you’re willing to let go of. No one number fits everyone. But once you understand the cost of living in Dubai, where the money goes, and what kind of life you want, it gets easier to plan for it.
The city moves fast. Prices shift. And living expenses in Dubai can surprise you if you’re not ready. But with the right expectations and the right support, you can make it work on your terms.
27 Aug, 2025
Before you fall in love with a villa view or bookmark a property in Dubai Marina, there’s one number that deserves your full attention: your salary.
More specifically, whether it meets the minimum salary for a mortgage in Dubai. Because no matter how ready you feel to buy, the first thing banks will look at is your monthly income.
Whether you're a resident or an expat, knowing the minimum salary for a home loan helps set realistic expectations from the start.
There’s no universal figure that applies to everyone, but understanding the minimum income for a home loan and how it shifts depending on your background saves you time, stress, and costly surprises.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what banks typically require, how the rules change for expats, and what kind of property you can afford based on your income, even if you're just wondering about the minimum salary to buy a house in the UAE.
A mortgage in Dubai doesn’t begin with the property. It begins with your payslip.
Before any talk of approvals or loan terms, banks want to see one thing: a stable, reliable income. That’s what determines how much they’ll lend and whether they’ll lend at all.
The minimum salary for a mortgage in Dubai plays a central role in that decision. While the minimum salary for a home loan can vary between banks, the logic behind it stays the same. Lenders want to know you can handle monthly payments without stretching yourself too thin.
That’s where your minimum income for a home loan becomes more than a number; it’s a reflection of financial trustworthiness, not in theory, but in practice.
Most banks in Dubai don’t publish one clear rule for who qualifies and who doesn’t. But over time, a pattern starts to show.
If you're earning AED 15,000 a month, you're generally in the range where banks start to take you seriously, especially when it comes to the minimum salary for a mortgage in Dubai.
Some might consider a little less, particularly for UAE nationals, while others could ask for more depending on your job, history, or the property you're eyeing.
That makes the minimum salary for home loan approval less of a fixed number and more of a comfort zone. And if your minimum income for home loan eligibility falls below that range, the process becomes harder, even if it’s not entirely out of reach.
There’s no single rule that applies everywhere, but here’s the honest version: most banks in Dubai want to see at least AED 15,000 coming in every month before they’ll consider a mortgage application.
That figure has come to represent the minimum salary for a mortgage in Dubai, especially for expats applying alone.
Some banks might accept a bit less if you’re a UAE national. Others may stretch the rules if you’ve been with the same employer for years or have a strong credit score.
Still, AED 15K is generally the minimum salary for home loan eligibility across the board. Below that, the door doesn’t always shut, but it does get harder to walk through.
Not all banks play by the same rules, but most follow the same logic. Here’s a quick look at what some of the major lenders typically expect regarding the minimum salary for a mortgage in Dubai, especially for expats:
These figures aren’t carved in stone; they shift depending on the property, your job title, and whether you're applying solo or jointly.
But if your minimum salary to buy a house falls short of AED 15K, most of these doors will stay closed or only open halfway.
If you're an expat, the bar is a little higher. Not impossible, just stricter. Most banks will want to see at least AED 15,000 coming in every month.
That’s where the process usually starts. It’s what many consider the minimum salary for home loan in UAE for expats, and it lines up with the broader minimum salary for a mortgage in Dubai.
Below that, you might still qualify-but only with a bigger down payment, tighter terms, or fewer banks willing to play ball.
And if you’re not living in the UAE at all, just investing from abroad-you’ll need even more. A higher minimum income for home loan, a larger upfront payment, and fewer financing options. The offers exist. They’re just harder to reach.
If you’re earning AED 15,000 a month, you’re not priced out of the market, but you won’t have your pick of the city either.
That number is often the minimum salary to buy a house through financing in Dubai. At that level, you’re mostly looking at studios and small one-bedroom apartments, in places like JVC, Liwan, or parts of Dubailand.
If your income climbs to AED 30,000 or more, you can start considering townhouses in newer communities. Villas? That usually takes something closer to AED 40,000 to 50,000 a month-sometimes more, depending on the location.
It’s not just about the property price. It’s about what the bank thinks you can handle, month to month. And that’s the part most people overlook when they start browsing listings.
Even if your salary checks out, there are a few things that can still stop the process.
If you’re already paying off loans or credit cards, the bank will look at how much of your income is left over, and if the math doesn’t work, they’ll say no. It’s not just about hitting the minimum salary for a mortgage in Dubai-it’s about the full picture.
Some banks won’t consider you unless you’ve been with your employer for at least six months. Others want a year.
If you’re self-employed, expect more questions, more paperwork, and sometimes a higher minimum income for home loan approval. It’s not about making it harder. It’s about making sure you can actually afford the loan once it’s yours.
If you ask around, you’ll hear the same thing over and over: AED 15,000 a month is the bare minimum to even be considered. Some people earning less have tried, but most end up turned away or offered deals that don’t make much sense.
A few manage it with help from a co-applicant, or by putting down a huge deposit, but that’s not the norm. The system isn’t built to flex much. And while the ads make it all sound easy, the truth is, most people need to earn a steady, decent income before a mortgage becomes realistic.
Mada Properties helps people make smarter real estate decisions without the pressure and without the noise.
Whether you’re buying your first home or investing from abroad, our team brings real insight to the table, not just listings. They guide you through every step from understanding the minimum salary for a mortgage in Dubai to comparing neighborhoods to navigating bank approvals. They work across ready and off-plan properties in Dubai and stay involved long after the papers are signed.
It’s not just about finding a place to live. It’s about finding the right move for now, and for what’s next.
Contact us today to schedule your free real estate consultation and take the first step toward finding your perfect property.
There’s no official rule carved in stone, but in practice, most people need to earn at least AED 15,000 a month to qualify for financing.
That figure is often seen as the minimum salary for a mortgage in Dubai. Some get approved with less. Others don’t, even when they meet the number. It depends on the bank, the paperwork, and everything else you’ve got on your plate.
That’s why it helps to understand your position early, whether you’re checking your minimum income for home loan eligibility or just wondering if you’ve reached the minimum salary to buy a house. The goal isn’t just to get approved. The goal is to take on something you can actually afford-and feel good about for years to come.