Service charges on off-plan property: what to expect
By Dubainary Research · Updated 2026-09-05 · Buying off-plan
Service charges are annual fees, billed per square foot, that cover maintenance of common areas, security, amenities and building management. They start at handover, are set by the owners association or managing company, and are published per project where released.
What they cover
Service charges pay for cleaning and maintenance of lobbies, lifts, pools and gyms, security, landscaping, utilities for common areas, insurance of the building structure, and management fees. More amenities generally mean a higher charge.
Typical ranges
Charges in the UAE are quoted in AED per sqft per year and vary widely by community and amenity level. Mid-market apartment communities commonly sit in the low-to-mid teens per sqft; high-amenity or branded residences can be several times that. Treat any figure as indicative until confirmed with the managing company.
When they start
You start paying service charges at handover, whether or not you live in or rent out the unit. On a post-handover payment plan, service charges run alongside your remaining instalments.
How to check before buying
Where a developer has released the projected service charge, it is shown on the project page in this directory. For a firmer figure, ask the developer for the projected budget and check the land department's published service charge index for comparable completed buildings in the same district.