What is a service charge in Dubai?

A Dubai service charge is the annual fee unit owners pay the Owners Association to fund building maintenance, security, insurance, chiller plant, swimming pool upkeep, and the Mollak escrow account. RERA approves the budget every year and the fee is billed in AED per square foot of unit area.

How much are service charges in Dubai?

Across 1,500+ Mollak-registered buildings, the median Dubai service charge is around 17 AED per sqft per year. Mid-market towers in JVC and Dubai Sports City sit at 11-15 AED. Branded waterfront on Palm Jumeirah and Downtown often clears 25-35 AED. Ultra-luxury can pass 50 AED.

How is the service charge calculated?

Service charge equals AED per sqft multiplied by the unit suite area as recorded in the title deed. Master community fees and district cooling are billed separately on most freehold plots, so check the Mollak quote rather than relying on the headline number.

Who regulates Dubai service charges?

RERA (the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, a Dubai Land Department arm) approves every Owners Association budget through the Mollak escrow system. Every Mollak-registered building publishes its approved AED/sqft figure, and that disclosure is the source for this calculator.

Why do service charges vary between buildings in the same area?

Service charges reflect the asset, not the postcode. Two towers on the same street can differ by 10 AED/sqft if one has a chiller plant on site and the other buys from Empower, or if one runs a 24/7 concierge and the other does not. Pool count, lift count, glass facade ratio, and developer-vs-third-party operator all move the number.

Does the service charge include DEWA, chiller, or internet?

No. The service charge covers common-area utilities, security, insurance, and maintenance. DEWA (in-unit electricity and water), Empower or district cooling for the unit, and internet are all billed directly to the tenant or owner on top.

Can a Dubai service charge go up?

Yes. The Owners Association proposes a new budget every year and RERA approves it. Year-over-year increases of 3-8% are typical to track inflation, insurance, and chiller costs. A reserve-fund top-up after a 10-year facade or lift overhaul can push the increase higher in a single year.

How do I verify the service charge before I buy?

Request the latest Mollak invoice from the seller or the Owners Association manager. Also request the audited financials and the 10-year reserve study. Then run this calculator with the disclosed AED/sqft number and your title-deed sqft to confirm the annual figure matches the invoice.

What is the most expensive area for service charges in Dubai?

Branded residences and waterfront on Palm Jumeirah top the chart at 25-35 AED/sqft. Downtown supertalls and Dubai Marina superyacht-frontage buildings come next at 20-28 AED. Some ultra-luxury exceptions (One Palm, Bulgari) clear 45-50 AED once master community and beach access are added.

What is the cheapest area for service charges in Dubai?

JVC, Dubai Sports City, International City, and parts of Damac Hills 2 print at 8-13 AED/sqft. These are mid-rise communities with no district cooling on-site and a simpler amenity stack, so the budget per square foot stays low.

Dubai Service Charge Calculator [2026]: 1,500+ Buildings Real Data

Dubai Service Charge Calculator

1,500+ buildings, RERA-disclosed Mollak data.

Building (1,500+ available, top 40 listed)Unit typeUnit size (sqft, from title deed)

Service charge (AED/sqft/year)

47.50 AED/sqft

Annual service charge

AED 45,125

Monthly equivalent

AED 3,760

Percentile vs Dubai market

100th percentile

Higher than 75% of Dubai stock

Dubai market distribution (AED/sqft buckets)

Similar buildings in Palm Jumeirah

Building	Type	AED/sqft/yr
One Palm by Omniyat	apartment	47.50
Atlantis The Royal Residences	apartment	38.00
FIVE Palm Jumeirah Residences	apartment	32.50
Shoreline Apartments	apartment	18.50

Open full version

Building

Type

AED/sqft/yr

One Palm by Omniyat

apartment

47.50

Atlantis The Royal Residences

apartment

38.00

FIVE Palm Jumeirah Residences

apartment

32.50

Shoreline Apartments

apartment

18.50