Dubai service charges explained: what owners pay and what is mandatory

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Every owner of a property in a jointly owned building or community in Dubai is legally required to pay a service charge. There’s no opting out, and it applies even if the unit sits empty. That single fact catches out more buyers than any other ownership cost, because it’s rarely front and centre when a property is first marketed.

This guide explains exactly what service charges cover, how they’re calculated and regulated, what happens if they go unpaid, and, most importantly for investors, how they quietly reshape your actual rental yield. The upfront transaction costs are only part of the picture: once you own the property, service charges become an ongoing cost that shapes your real return every year after that.
 

Do you have to pay service charges in Dubai?

Yes. Service charges are mandatory under Dubai Law No. 6 of 2019 Concerning Ownership of Jointly Owned Real Property, which governs every freehold building or community with shared facilities. Under Article 25 of the Law, each owner is obligated to pay approved charges to the building’s management entity. There’s no legal mechanism to opt out.

Crucially, the obligation sits with the owner, not the tenant. If you rent your property out and the tenant fails to pay a service-charge-related cost passed through in the lease, the owner remains liable under Article 16(b) of the Law, unless the lease agreement explicitly states otherwise. Vacant units aren’t exempt either: an empty apartment still uses shared security, lighting, lifts and landscaping, so the charge continues regardless of occupancy.
 

What is a service charge in Dubai?

A service charge is an annual fee paid by owners in a jointly owned building or community, covering the maintenance, operation and management of shared spaces and infrastructure. It’s set and collected by the building’s Owners’ Association or an appointed Community Management company, and every charge must be approved by RERA before it can be invoiced to owners.