A service charge is the annual fee every owner in Dubai pays to maintain and run their building. RERA approves the budget, it is shared out by each unit’s area and it is paid through Mollak, the DLD system. In 2026 the Dubai median is about AED 172 per m² a year, roughly €42 or $47, so a 70 m² flat pays around AED 12,000 a year, about €2,900 or $3,300.
What the service charge covers
You pay it in any building or complex with shared areas, what Dubai calls jointly owned property, governed by Law No. 6 of 2019. It covers what it costs to run the building:
- Security and cleaning.
- Maintenance of lifts, pool, gym, gardens and installations.
- Electricity, water and air conditioning in common areas.
- Building management and insurance.
- A reserve fund for major repairs.
Sometimes the master developer’s usage charge is added, for the roads, parks and services of the whole community.
How your charge is calculated
The building’s management company prepares an annual budget, RERA approves and audits it, and the total is split between owners by each unit’s area. That is why the charge is published as a rate per area, usually AED per square foot. One square metre is 10.76 square feet.
The maths is simple: rate per square metre times your home’s size. At the 2026 JVC median of about AED 184 per m², a 70 m² flat pays about AED 12,869 a year, roughly €3,119 or $3,504, or AED 1,072 a month.
The approved rate of every completed building is in the DLD service charge index, on its website and in the Dubai REST app. Area medians are in the service charges by area guide.
How it is paid
Invoices are issued through Mollak, the DLD system that oversees owners associations. They show the amount and are paid through official channels, including the Dubai REST app, from abroad too. Keep the receipts.
If you rent the home out, the service charge is still the owner’s, so include it in your numbers from the start.
Service charges on an off-plan purchase
A building that does not exist yet has no approved budget. RERA approves it once the building is complete and the management company starts work. Until then, the guide is the developer’s estimate and what similar buildings in the same area pay.
You start paying from the date set in your SPA, and from handover the charge is yours like any other owner’s. How each developer estimates it and when payments start varies, and we confirm it for each project before you book.
How much it takes off your yield
The gross yield in adverts is rent divided by price, before costs. The service charge is the largest fixed cost, so it is the first thing to subtract to reach the net yield. On a AED 1,000,000, 70 m² home it takes off between 1 and 1.6 points depending on the area.
A slightly higher charge has an upside: a well-kept building rents better and holds its value. See rents by area in the rent estimator and the rental yields by area guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is a service charge in Dubai?
The annual fee every owner pays to maintain and run their building. RERA approves the budget.
How much is the service charge in Dubai?
In 2026 the median is about AED 172 per m² a year, roughly €42 or $47. A 70 m² flat pays around AED 12,000 a year.
How is the service charge calculated?
The building’s approved budget is split between owners according to each unit’s area.
How do I pay the service charge?
Through Mollak, the DLD system. The invoice comes through Mollak and is paid through official channels, from abroad too.
When do I start paying it if I buy off-plan?
From the date set in your SPA. It depends on the developer and we confirm it for each project.
Learn more
- Dubai service charges by area
- Dubai rental yields by area
- Handover and snagging: what to check when you get the keys
Other key terms
- What is Oqood in Dubai?
- What is an escrow account in Dubai?
- What is an SPA in Dubai?
- What is a title deed in Dubai?
- What is an NOC in Dubai?
- See the full glossary
· Broker and investor in Dubai
