Dubai seller-agent commission
There is no magic commission percentage hiding in a rulebook.
The important number is the one written in the brokerage agreement—along with the service, payer and payment trigger. Memory is not a contract, even when everyone remembers confidently.
Quick answer
Article 27 of Dubai's brokerage bylaw says broker fees are determined by agreement; if there is no agreement, prevailing custom applies. So the practical answer is not one universal percentage: put the fee and its conditions in writing before appointing the seller's agent.
Reviewed: 16 July 2026
Is there a standard seller's-agent commission in Dubai?
DLD legislation does not state one mandatory percentage for every sale. The fee is agreed between the relevant parties, and the written brokerage agreement is the first place to look.
This page deliberately gives no market percentage. A quoted custom is not a substitute for the agreement you will actually sign.
Put these points in writing
- Exact fee and who pays it
- Work covered by the fee
- Whether tax or other charges are separate
- When the fee becomes payable
- Cancellation, expiry and introduced-buyer terms
- Invoice and receipt details
When may the fee become due?
Article 28 links entitlement to a concluded transaction and says the fee is due on signing and DLD registration unless the brokerage agreement says otherwise. Conditional transactions depend on the agreed condition being fulfilled.
- 1Read the payment trigger
- 2Check every condition
- 3Confirm the liable party
- 4Keep the signed agreement, invoice and receipt
Pause before accepting
- Fee added after the appointment
- Scope described only by voice note
- Payer or tax treatment unclear
- Long tail after termination is not understood
If a signed agreement or fee dispute is unclear, obtain independent legal advice on that document.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard commission for a seller's agent in Dubai?
Dubai's brokerage bylaw does not prescribe one universal percentage. Article 27 says fees are determined by agreement; prevailing custom is relevant only if there is no agreement.
Who pays the real estate broker?
Article 33 says the broker receives fees from the party who engaged the broker. If both parties engage the broker, each is responsible for their share, subject to the agreement.
When is commission payable on a Dubai sale?
Article 28 links the fee to a concluded contract and, unless the brokerage agreement provides otherwise, to signing the sale contract and registering it with DLD.
Can a seller negotiate the commission?
The bylaw makes agreement central. Negotiate the fee, scope, payment trigger and termination terms before signing, then keep the final written version.
Official sources and references
Procedures and fees can change. Confirm the latest position with the official source before a transaction.