Buying & fees
Transfer Fee
A transfer fee is the government charge paid to register a change of property ownership, calculated as a percentage of the sale price.
When a property changes hands, a transfer or registration fee is payable to the authority to record the new owner on the register. In Abu Dhabi this fee has typically been levied at a relatively low percentage of the purchase price, though the exact rate and who bears it can vary and should be confirmed with ADREC or a conveyancer at the time of sale. This is separate from broker commission and any mortgage-registration or service charges.
Related terms
- Service Charge — A service charge is the recurring fee owners pay for the upkeep of shared areas and facilities in a building or community.
- NOC (No Objection Certificate) — An NOC is a developer-issued certificate confirming no outstanding dues on a property, allowing a resale transfer to proceed.
- Mortgage Cap / LTV — The mortgage cap, or loan-to-value limit, is the maximum share of a property's value a bank may lend, capping how much a buyer can finance.
- ADREC (Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre) — ADREC is Abu Dhabi's real-estate regulator, overseeing property registration, brokerage licensing, and the emirate's official transaction data.