Dubai off-plan advertisements often promote a “4% DLD fee waiver.” It sounds simple, but buyers should first ask what is being covered, who will pay it and where that promise appears in writing.
Quick answer: A DLD fee waiver is normally promotional wording for a developer’s offer to cover a stated registration cost. It does not automatically mean Dubai Land Department has removed its official fee for every off-plan buyer.
What Is the DLD Fee for an Off-Plan Purchase?
Dubai Land Department’s current Request to Register the Initial Sale service applies when a developer registers an off-plan unit in the provisional register through Oqood.
The official service page lists these fees:
| Official fee item | Amount shown by DLD |
|---|---|
| Seller | 2% of the sale value |
| Purchaser | 2% of the sale value |
| Knowledge fee | AED 10 |
| Innovation fee | AED 10 |
| Developer self-registration through Oqood | AED 1,000 |
The two percentage charges total 4% of the sale value. However, the official schedule identifies a 2% seller share and a 2% purchaser share. Buyers should not assume that a marketing headline changes this official fee schedule or decides who bears each cost in their particular deal.
DLD also states that the signed Sale and Purchase Agreement, or SPA, must be registered in the provisional register within 90 days of signing. The buyer then receives a provisional registration e-certificate. You can read how this record works in the guide to Oqood registration for Dubai off-plan property.
What Does a 4% DLD Fee Waiver Mean?
DLD’s initial-sale service does not describe a general “4% waiver.” It continues to show the registration fees above. Therefore, when a project advertisement says “4% DLD fee waiver,” treat it as a developer promotion unless the advertiser provides evidence of a separate official government decision.
In practical terms, the developer may be offering to absorb an amount equal to some or all of the registration fee. The exact arrangement can differ by project, unit and campaign. A buyer should rely on the developer-issued reservation form, cost sheet and SPA-not only a portal title, social-media post or WhatsApp message.
My buyer-side rule is simple: if the saving cannot be matched to a number, an eligible unit and a written term, do not include it in your budget yet.
Full Waiver, Partial Waiver and Discount Compared
These offers are not interchangeable.
| Offer wording | What the buyer should verify |
| Full 4% DLD waiver | Does the developer cover an amount equal to the complete 4%, and are any other fees excluded? |
| Partial DLD waiver | Is the developer covering 2%, another percentage or a fixed amount? |
| DLD fee rebate | Is the amount deducted now or returned later, and what conditions apply? |
| Property-price discount | Does the SPA sale price reduce, or is the “discount” calculated another way? |
| Deferred fee payment | Is this a real saving or only a later payment date? |
A waiver may reduce the cash needed at the start. A deferral only changes timing, while a price discount changes the sale price. Ask the salesperson to show each offer in the same total-cost comparison.
Simple Cost Example
For an off-plan unit with a sale value of AED 1,500,000:
- 2% seller fee: AED 30,000
- 2% purchaser fee: AED 30,000
- Total percentage fees: AED 60,000
If a written promotion covers only an amount equal to 2%, the stated saving would be AED 30,000. If it clearly covers the total 4%, the stated saving would be AED 60,000. This example is only a fee calculation, not a quotation for a current project.
Also check the AED 10 knowledge fee, AED 10 innovation fee and any developer administration charges shown in your cost sheet. The DLD page separately lists the AED 1,000 Oqood self-registration fee for developers; it does not show a second percentage-based “Oqood fee” on top of the two 2% registration charges.
Seven Checks Before You Rely on a Waiver
Before paying an EOI or booking amount, ask for written answers to these questions:
- Which unit qualifies? Confirm the project, unit number, sale value, and property type.
- How much is covered? Request the exact percentage and dirham amount.
- Who pays each share? Match the offer against DLD’s seller and purchaser fee lines.
- When does it apply? Check the booking deadline, payment deadline and any launch-only condition.
- Where is it written? The reservation form, developer cost sheet and SPA should agree.
- What remains payable? Check knowledge, innovation, administration and other applicable charges separately.
- What cancels the benefit? Review late-payment, unit-change, cancellation and resale conditions.
If you are still waiting for a unit allocation, first understand the difference between an EOI, booking form, SPA and Oqood. The document containing the promise matters as much as the headline.
Is a DLD Waiver a Good Reason to Buy?
It can be a useful saving, especially when it reduces the buyer’s immediate cash requirement. It should not turn an unsuitable property into a suitable one.
Compare the net acquisition cost after every incentive, then review the unit layout, location, developer, project registration, escrow details, payment schedule and handover terms. A project with a waiver can still be more expensive than a stronger alternative after differences in price and payment timing are considered.
Use the same cash-flow test when comparing off-plan payment plans in Dubai, and compare current off-plan properties in Dubai using verified unit and commercial details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has DLD removed the 4% fee for off-plan property?
The official initial-sale service reviewed on 9 August 2026 still lists 2% for the seller and 2% for the purchaser. A project’s “waiver” should therefore be checked as a specific promotion, not assumed to be a market-wide DLD exemption.
Is the Oqood fee another 4%?
The official initial-sale page lists the two 2% sale-value fees, plus AED 10 knowledge, AED 10 innovation and AED 1,000 developer self-registration through Oqood. It does not list another 4% Oqood charge.
Does a DLD waiver reduce the property price?
Not necessarily. A fee contribution and a price discount affect different cost lines. Ask for the SPA price and every fee to be shown separately.
Can a waiver change before I book?
Promotional availability and conditions can change. Confirm the live offer for the exact unit and make sure the approved developer documents record it before paying.
Final Buyer Advice
A DLD fee waiver can reduce a real purchase cost, but only the written terms show the true benefit. Start with DLD’s official fee schedule, calculate each party’s listed share and compare it with the developer’s approved documents.
For help checking a current waiver, payment schedule and total cash requirement, contact Realtor Farrukh with the unit quotation and cost sheet. I can help you compare the numbers before you reserve.
This article provides general property information and does not replace legal, tax, or financial advice. Project incentives and contractual terms must be confirmed for the individual unit.
