Selling or renting out a home in Abu Dhabi involves a short list of official costs, each listed by DARI, TAMM or ADGM. Here they are in the order you meet them, for a sale and for a lease, with the official page for each. Amounts can change, so check the figure shown in the application before you pay.
Advertising the home: the Madhmoun permit
A home advertised for sale or rent on a property website is advertised under a Madhmoun permit, which you approve on DARI. DARI's permit service lists the fee per property, plus 5% VAT:
| Permit length | For sale | For rent |
|---|
| 1 month | AED 125 | AED 50 |
| 2 months | AED 250 | AED 100 |
| 3 months | AED 250 | AED 115 |
In DARI's steps the payment comes last: once you and the broker have approved the request, the broker completes the payment and downloads the permit. On Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands the permit is issued by ADGM. More in our advertising permit guide.
Selling: the official costs
| Item | Amount | Listed by |
|---|
| Real estate registration fee | 2% of the contract value | DARI |
| E-services fee | AED 875 | DARI |
| Valuation certificate for a single unit | AED 1,000 | DARI |
| Mortgage release, if the home is mortgaged | AED 900, plus an AED 55 electronic service fee | DARI |
| Developer's administrative fees for the transaction, if any | Up to AED 5,000 | Resolution No. 183 of 2017 |
DARI's selling steps work out the 2% on the valuation or the sale price, whichever is higher. Under the fee schedule of Resolution No. 49 of 2018, published by ADREC, the sale fee is divided equally between seller and buyer unless the two agree otherwise, so write who pays what into the sale agreement. For the papers and the steps of a sale, read the costs of selling a home.
When you need a valuation certificate
DARI asks a seller for a valuation certificate no older than 30 days, a title deed no older than six months, a letter from the developer stating whether the unit is in an investment or development area, and no mortgage, long lease or court order on the unit. A single unit's certificate is listed at AED 1,000. If your title deed is older than six months, issue a new one on DARI first and note the fee it shows. The full list is in our guide to the documents to sell or rent a home.
Renting out: the official costs
| Item | Amount | Listed by |
|---|
| Enrolling a building or villa in Tawtheeq, if not enrolled yet | AED 900, plus AED 5 a unit | TAMM |
| Registering a lease under 4 years | AED 50 a contract | DARI, TAMM |
| Registering a lease of 4 years or more | 1% of a year's rent | DARI, TAMM |
| Renewing a lease | AED 50 | TAMM |
| Municipality fee, tenants who are not UAE nationals | 5% of the yearly rent, at least AED 450 | DARI fee page (January 2024) |
A building or villa is enrolled in Tawtheeq before leases can be issued on it. The DARI lease form asks who pays the municipality fee, the tenant or the landlord, so agree it before you register. The steps are in our guide to registering a lease on Tawtheeq.
Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands
Homes on both islands are inside ADGM, so the sale and the lease are registered on ADGM's AccessRP platform under ADGM's fee rules of October 2024:
- Sale: a transfer fee of 2% of the property value or its fair market value as determined by the Registrar, whichever is greater, paid by the transferor, the seller.
- Lease under four years: a service fee of AED 100 and an authority fee of 5% of the lease value; a renewal costs the same. ADGM's AccessRP lease service puts the registration fee on the landlord.
Check the fees AccessRP shows for your case before you agree terms with a buyer or a tenant.
A short checklist
- Approve the advertising permit on DARI, or on AccessRP for Al Reem and Al Maryah.
- Selling: order the valuation certificate within 30 days of the sale, refresh the title deed if it is older than six months, and agree in writing who pays the 2%.
- Renting out: check that the unit is enrolled in Tawtheeq, and agree who pays the municipality fee.
Official sources
Read on 31 October 2026. Rules and fees can change: check the official page before you act.
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to advertise a home in Abu Dhabi?
A home is advertised under a Madhmoun permit. DARI lists AED 125 for one month of sale advertising and AED 250 for two or three months, and AED 50, AED 100 or AED 115 for rent, plus 5% VAT. In DARI's steps the broker completes the payment after the approvals.
Who pays the 2% registration fee on a sale?
Outside ADGM, Resolution No. 49 of 2018 divides the sale fee equally between seller and buyer unless they agree otherwise. On Al Reem and Al Maryah, ADGM's fee rules put the 2% transfer fee on the transferor, the seller.
Do I need a valuation certificate to sell my home?
Yes. DARI asks a seller for a valuation certificate no older than 30 days, and lists AED 1,000 for a single unit.
What does it cost to register a lease on Tawtheeq?
For a home let for under four years, DARI and TAMM list AED 50 a contract, and 1% of a year's rent for four years or more. TAMM lists AED 50 for a renewal, and AED 900 plus AED 5 a unit to enrol a building that is not yet in Tawtheeq.
Who pays the municipality fee on a lease?
DARI's fee page lists 5% of the yearly rent, at least AED 450, for tenants who are not UAE nationals, and the DARI lease form asks whether the tenant or the landlord pays it. Agree it with your tenant before you register.
Are the costs different on Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands?
Yes. Both islands are in ADGM: a sale pays a 2% transfer fee, paid by the seller, and a lease under four years pays AED 100 plus 5% of the lease value, all through AccessRP.
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