Dubai real estate agent fees: set by the contract, not by law.
// Short answer
No law fixes a Dubai broker's commission. Under Bylaw No. 85 of 2006 it is whatever the parties agree, and only if the agreement is silent does local custom decide. The rate is written into the RERA smart contract, which has separate fields for the seller's broker and the buyer's broker, and 5% VAT is added.
Where agent commission is capped, who pays it and the VAT, in twenty-one countries side by side: real estate agent fees by country.
Rules and rates as of October 2026.
On this page
How much commission does a Dubai real estate agent charge?
Whatever is agreed. The Dubai Land Department says a broker's commission is set by the agreement, and custom applies only when the agreement does not state it. No official source sets a percentage.
So the number to look at is the one in your own contract, before you sign it, not a figure someone quotes as standard. The other costs at transfer: Dubai property buying costs.
Who pays the agent fee in Dubai, buyer or seller?
It depends on the contracts. Brokers must use RERA smart contracts: Contract A between the seller and the selling brokerage, Contract B between the buyer and the buyer's broker, and Contract F, the sale agreement, which has separate commission fields for the seller's broker and the buyer's broker.
A brokerage contract has to state the parties, the property, the agreed amount and the commission rate. If you are buying through a broker, Contract B is the one that commits you to a fee: read the rate there.
Sources
Is VAT charged on a Dubai agent's commission?
UAE VAT is 5% at the standard rate, in force since 1 January 2018, and a broker's service is charged it on top of the commission.
Taxes once you own: UAE property tax for foreigners.
Dubai agent guide
Choosing a broker in Dubai? The questions to ask first
There is no legal rate: "2%" is a 2016 average, not a rule. How to check a BRN and ORN, the 12 questions, where your deposit must sit, what you owe if the agreement ends, a first-call script and a worksheet in dirhams.
How do I check that a Dubai broker is licensed?
Every RERA-approved broker is listed on the Dubai Land Department website and in the Dubai REST app, and must carry a RERA broker card. Check the name and card before you sign Contract B.
The deed you end up holding: the Dubai title deed and Oqood explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard real estate agent commission in Dubai?
Who pays the real estate agent in Dubai?
Is there VAT on agent fees in Dubai?
How can I verify a Dubai real estate agent?
Header photo: Makalu, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. All credits: image credits.