Dubai Service Charge Calculator
Service charges are quoted per square foot and quietly decide your net yield. Work out the annual and monthly cost.
Rates shown are typical bands, not the figure for a specific building. Actual service charges are approved per building by RERA and published in the service charge index — always confirm the exact rate for the building before purchase.
What you need to know
Service charges in Dubai are levied per square foot of unit area and approved building by building by RERA. The range is wide: villa communities can sit around AED 6 per sqft while branded towers with extensive amenities exceed AED 30.
The reason this matters more than most buyers expect is its effect on net yield. On a 1,100 sqft apartment at AED 22 per sqft, the annual charge is AED 24,200. Against AED 90,000 rent that is 27% of gross income before you have paid for anything else.
A portion of the charge goes to a reserve fund for major works — roof, lifts, façade. That is a legitimate and necessary cost, but it means the figure is not purely operational. Ask for the building's service charge history before buying: a building with deferred maintenance and a thin reserve is likely to raise charges.
Common questions
How much are service charges in Dubai?
Typically AED 6–32 per square foot annually depending on building type. Villa communities are lowest; branded towers with extensive amenities are highest.
Are service charges regulated in Dubai?
Yes. RERA approves the charge for each building and publishes it in the service charge index.
What is the reserve fund?
A portion of the service charge set aside for major capital works such as lifts, roofing and façade repairs.
Want these numbers checked against a real property?
Send us the unit you are looking at and we will run the actual figures — service charge for that building, current market rent, and what comparable units transacted at.