Service charges in Dubai in 2026 range from about AED 12.8 per sq ft a year in International City Phase 1 to about AED 21.1 in Dubai Creek Harbour, across the 28 communities below. The median is about AED 16.1 per sq ft. For a typical one-bedroom, that means about AED 9,500 a year in International City Phase 1 up to about AED 21,600 in Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), paid by the owner.
Rates are each community's 2026 median from RERA-approved budgets in the Dubai Land Department (DLD) service charge register, via Dubai Data (CC BY 4.0). Annual costs are our estimates, multiplying the rate by the median size of that unit type sold. Individual buildings can be well above or below their community's median, so always check the exact building.
Service Charges in Dubai by Area, 2026
| Community | Rate per sq ft a year | Studio, about | 1-bed, about | 2-bed, about |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Creek Harbour | AED 21.1 | n/a | AED 16,000 | AED 25,400 |
| Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) | AED 20.1 | n/a | AED 21,600 | AED 28,000 |
| Business Bay | AED 20.0 | AED 9,200 | AED 16,600 | AED 27,800 |
| Meydan | AED 19.1 | AED 6,900 | AED 12,200 | AED 21,900 |
| Downtown Dubai | AED 19.0 | AED 8,800 | AED 16,700 | AED 25,400 |
| Dubai Studio City | AED 18.7 | AED 6,700 | AED 12,800 | AED 21,500 |
| Jumeirah Village Triangle | AED 18.6 | AED 7,200 | AED 14,100 | AED 22,300 |
| Dubai Hills Estate | AED 18.5 | n/a | AED 13,600 | AED 20,600 |
| Sobha Hartland | AED 18.0 | n/a | AED 12,400 | AED 22,300 |
| Dubai South | AED 17.1 | AED 6,900 | AED 13,300 | AED 19,400 |
| Dubai Science Park | AED 16.8 | AED 7,200 | AED 15,900 | AED 26,200 |
| Jumeirah Village Circle | AED 16.6 | AED 6,800 | AED 13,000 | AED 20,600 |
| JLT and DMCC | AED 16.4 | AED 6,800 | AED 13,700 | AED 22,400 |
| Dubai Marina | AED 16.3 | AED 7,600 | AED 13,500 | AED 21,700 |
| Discovery Gardens | AED 16.0 | AED 7,600 | AED 14,700 | AED 22,500 |
| Palm Jumeirah | AED 15.8 | AED 8,300 | AED 17,000 | AED 27,600 |
| Motor City | AED 15.7 | n/a | AED 11,800 | AED 18,500 |
| Arjan | AED 15.7 | AED 6,700 | AED 12,200 | AED 19,200 |
| Dubai Sports City | AED 15.7 | AED 6,800 | AED 12,400 | AED 19,000 |
| Wasl 1 | AED 15.7 | n/a | AED 14,200 | AED 19,000 |
| Town Square | AED 15.4 | AED 5,300 | AED 9,800 | AED 14,900 |
| The Greens | AED 14.9 | n/a | AED 11,600 | AED 19,800 |
| Majan | AED 14.5 | AED 5,800 | AED 11,500 | AED 18,400 |
| Al Furjan | AED 13.9 | AED 5,100 | AED 11,200 | AED 17,900 |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | AED 13.8 | AED 5,900 | AED 10,900 | AED 16,700 |
| International City Phase 3 | AED 13.7 | AED 5,600 | AED 10,200 | AED 15,800 |
| Liwan 1 | AED 12.9 | AED 5,400 | AED 10,300 | AED 17,100 |
| International City Phase 1 | AED 12.8 | AED 6,100 | AED 9,500 | AED 14,200 |
"n/a" means we do not have enough sales of that unit type to estimate a typical size.
Why Service Charges Differ So Much
- Facilities: pools, gyms, concierge and landscaping all add cost.
- Building type: towers need lifts, cooling and facade cleaning, which cost more than low-rise blocks.
- Age: older buildings may need more repairs and a larger reserve fund.
- Community charges: master-planned areas often add charges for shared roads, parks and security.
- Cooling: chiller charges may be billed separately, so check whether they are included.
Read our full guide to what service charges cover and how they are approved.
How Service Charges Affect Your Rental Yield
Service charges can take a large share of rent in cheaper areas. A one-bedroom in International City Phase 1 costs about AED 9,500 a year in service charges, while a one-bedroom in Downtown Dubai costs about AED 16,700. Downtown's charge is higher in dirhams, but its rents are higher too, so compare yields after service charges, not the rate alone.
Our Dubai Rental Yield Index shows the yield left after service charges for each community, and Dubai rental yields by area ranks them.
How to Check a Building's Service Charges
- Use the DLD service charge index for the exact project and year.
- Ask the seller for recent invoices, and confirm there are no arrears.
- Ask what is included, especially cooling and community charges.
- Check the reserve fund, as a low fund can lead to special charges later.
- Look at the trend, because charges that rise every year will erode your return.
Unpaid service charges block the developer's no-objection certificate, so a sale cannot complete until they are cleared. See our guide to real estate transaction services in Dubai.
Who Pays Service Charges in Dubai?
The owner pays, not the tenant. If you let your property, build service charges into your rent and yield calculations. For off-plan purchases, charges normally start from handover.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are average service charges in Dubai?
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Talk to SMS Realty
Comparing buildings? We check service charges, arrears and reserve funds before you commit, and show you the yield left after costs. Contact SMS Realty.
Source: Dubai Data, based on the DLD service charge register (CC BY 4.0). Annual estimates are by SMS Realty. This guide is general information, not investment advice.
Authored By
Sanjit Banerjee
Founder & CEO of SMS Realty, specializing in Dubai's strategic growth corridors and high-yield investment structures.