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How to sell property in Dubai in 2026: pricing, Form A, your costs, selling with a tenant or a mortgage, the timeline and selling from abroad.
Written and reviewed by Live Dubai’s Marketing Team · Last reviewed
In short
Dubai is cooling after a record 2025. In Q3 2026 about 34,000 homes sold for AED 72.6bn. Value was down 47% and volume down 38% on Q3 2025.
Off-plan sales still make up about 72% of transactions. Resale sellers compete with developers offering payment plans, and secondary sales fell faster than developer sales in Q2.
For you, this means buyers have choice and negotiate. Homes priced at yesterday’s peak sit unsold. Priced to current evidence, good homes still sell.
Start with comparables: recent sales of similar units in your building, same bedrooms, floor, view and condition. Asking prices are not sold prices, so ignore them as evidence.
The DLD’s Dubai REST app lets owners see sale and rental indices, current price information and request a property valuation. Use it as a cross-check.
An agent’s valuation reflects what buyers are paying now and what is on the market. A bank valuation is a formal figure a lender uses to set a loan, and it can come in below the agreed price. If your buyer is using a mortgage, a low valuation can reopen negotiation.
Ask your agent to show the sales behind their number. Be wary of any figure far above the evidence.
Fix the small things first: leaks, marks, tired grouting, broken fittings. Buyers discount heavily for visible defects.
Declutter, deep clean and photograph in daylight. Good photos decide who books a viewing.
Renovation pays when it removes an obvious objection, such as an outdated kitchen or bathroom. Large projects rarely return their full cost. See our property renovations service and ask for a costed scope before you commit.
Form A is the RERA listing agreement between you and a licensed brokerage. It sets the price, commission, duration and whether the listing is exclusive. All joint owners must sign. Insist the commission is written on the form.
Every advert needs a valid advertising permit (Trakheesi) from the DLD, which the agent obtains. Adverts carry the permit number and a QR code buyers can scan to check it.
| Exclusive | Open | |
|---|---|---|
| Brokers | One | Up to three, each with their own Form A |
| Commission | To your agent | Only to the broker who introduces the buyer |
| Typical term | 90 to 180 days* | About 90 days* |
| Best for | Focused marketing and one point of contact | Wider exposure |
RERA sets no standard term, so check for auto-renewal wording. To end an agreement early you serve Form U, usually with about seven days’ notice*. Commission can still be due if the buyer was introduced during the term.
A sale does not end a tenancy. The buyer takes the property subject to the tenant’s rights, provided the lease has a fixed date.
If you want vacant possession, Dubai law allows eviction at lease expiry where the owner wishes to sell. You must give at least 12 months’ notice, served through a notary public or by registered mail.
Many owners instead sell to an investor with the tenant in place. That avoids the notice period. Rental history and a clean tenancy contract help the price. Take legal advice before serving notice, as mistakes can be challenged at the Rental Disputes Centre.
Ask your bank for a liability letter. It states the full settlement figure, including any early settlement fee, and is usually valid for 7 to 15 days. It takes about 5 to 7 working days to issue.
At the trustee office the property is blocked while the buyer’s manager’s cheques are presented: one to your bank, one to you, one to the DLD. The bank then closes the loan and releases the original title deed, usually within one to two weeks.
The UAE Central Bank caps the early settlement fee for individuals at 1% of the outstanding balance or AED 10,000, whichever is lower*. If your sale price is below your loan balance, you need bank consent and must cover the shortfall.
| Cost | Typical amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Agency commission | About 2% of price plus 5% VAT | Seller |
| Developer NOC | AED 500 to 5,000 plus VAT | Usually seller |
| Service charges | Clear all arrears before the NOC | Seller |
| DEWA final bill | Settle and close or transfer the account | Seller |
| Mortgage liability letter | About AED 50 to 150 | Seller |
| Early settlement fee | Lower of 1% of balance or AED 10,000* | Seller |
| Mortgage release at DLD | About AED 1,290 to 1,875 plus a registrar fee* | Seller |
| Blocking fee | About AED 1,020 to 1,545 | Agreed in Form F |
| DLD registration fee | 4% of price | Usually buyer (can be split) |
| Trustee office fee | AED 4,000 plus VAT from AED 500,000 | Usually buyer |
Costs vary by developer and lender. Agree in writing who pays each item when you sign Form F. On an AED 1.5m sale with an AED 800,000 mortgage balance, mortgage-related costs can come to roughly AED 13,000 to 18,000*.
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Liability letter | 5 to 14 working days |
| Developer NOC | 3 to 7 working days (up to two weeks) |
| Cash buyer, documents ready | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Offer to transfer, overall | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Bank-to-bank sale | 6 to 10 weeks |
These are typical ranges, not guarantees. Delays usually come from missing documents or bank timing.
You can sell an Oqood-registered off-plan unit before completion, but only with the developer’s NOC. Most developers issue it once 30% to 40% of the price is paid, some at 50%, and some impose a lock-in. Developers may add an assignment fee, commonly 2% to 5% of the original price. Resale units have been trading 10% to 15% below launch prices. For buying and selling off-plan, see our off-plan page.
You can sell without flying in, using a special power of attorney (POA) that names the property and lets your representative sign Form F, request the NOC and attend the trustee office. Do not use the selling agent as your attorney.
Typical steps: sign before a notary, authenticate with your foreign ministry, attest at the UAE embassy, then provide a certified Arabic translation. The exact route depends on the country where you sign*. Start early, because this chain takes time. A transaction POA is reported valid for two years*. Proceeds normally go to the registered owner. Read our guide to selling from the UK.
Dubai charges no capital gains tax on individuals selling property. Gains made through a business may be treated differently under UAE corporate tax, so take advice from a tax adviser.
UK residents may owe UK Capital Gains Tax. We do not give tax advice. Read our UK tax pointers and speak to a qualified adviser.
Typically 4 to 8 weeks from accepted offer to transfer, once documents are ready. Finding the buyer takes extra time and depends on price and market.
The buyer normally pays the 4% DLD registration fee. The split can be negotiated and should be written into Form F.
Yes. Your bank issues a liability letter, the buyer’s payment settles the loan at the trustee office, and the bank releases your title deed.
Yes, with a properly attested special POA. Choose a trusted representative who is not your agent.
Not in the UAE as an individual. Your home country may tax the gain, so check before you sell.
Live Dubai International is a family-run firm, established in 2003, with offices in Barsha Heights, Dubai and London. We let and manage homes all over Dubai, so we know what tenants and buyers pay. See our sell your property service, property management and Dubai area guides.
Request a free valuation within one working day: call +971 4 432 3920, WhatsApp +971 52 653 7538, or use our valuation form.
* Figures marked with an asterisk vary between providers or may change. Please check the current position with us, or with the relevant authority, before relying on them.
Written by Live Dubai International, family-run estate agents and property managers in Dubai since 2003, with an office in London (licence 601049 · RERA ORN 1219). General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change, so check the sources or ask us before you act.
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