Understanding Property Service Charges in Dubai: 2026 Update

What the RERA Service Charge Index Does

What Owners Actually Pay, by Area

Why the Range Is So Wide

What to Check Before You Buy

Talk to Banke

Dubai Real Estate Insights · Ownership Costs Understanding Property Service Charges in Dubai: 2026 Update Service charges can swing a Dubai unit's true holding cost by tens of thousands of dirhams a year, and they vary enormously between communities and building types. This Banke guide breaks down what owners actually pay across different areas. Browse Banke’s property management services if you need help managing yours.

What the RERA Service Charge Index Does Every service charge budget in Dubai must be validated through the Mollak system before an owners' association or facility manager can apply it, which is what stops arbitrary year-on-year increases. The RERA Service Charge Index standardises this process across developers and buildings, and it's audited annually. What Owners Actually Pay, by Area Burj Khalifa: around AED 67.88 per

sq ft annually — the highest in the market, reflecting the building's iconic-tower amenities and maintenance demands. The Address Downtown: around AED 60.00 per sq ft. Dubai Marina: around AED 16.10 per sq ft. JBR: around AED 15.40 per sq ft. Business Bay: around AED 14.75 per sq ft. JLT: around AED 13.65 per sq ft. Villa communities such as Arabian Ranches 2 (around AED

2.44 per sq ft) and Dubai Hills Estate (around AED 3.50 per sq ft) sit far lower, since villas don't share the same lift, lobby and shared-amenity maintenance load as towers. Why the Range Is So Wide Luxury towers with pools, gyms, concierge services and extensive common areas naturally carry higher per-square-foot charges than a standard mid-rise apartment or a villa with no shared facilities.

Age of the building matters too — older towers sometimes carry higher charges to fund catch-up maintenance, while newer developments can start lower before charges normalise once full occupancy is reached. What to Check Before You Buy Ask for the specific building's current Mollak-approved service charge rate, not just a community average — rates vary tower-by-tower even within the same neighbourhood. Factor the annual service

charge into your net yield calculation, not just the purchase price and expected rent. Check whether the charge includes chiller/district cooling costs separately, since some buildings bill this on top of the base service charge. Talk to Banke Get in touch with Banke for a clear read on service charges for any specific building you’re considering.