Is the 4% DLD fee waiver available on every off-plan property in Dubai?

No. A 4% DLD fee waiver is a developer promotion, not a government scheme. Some developers apply it to every unit in a launch, while others limit it to selected properties, unit types, or booking periods. Buyers should confirm the offer before signing a reservation agreement.

Can overseas buyers receive a DLD fee waiver?

Overseas buyers can receive a DLD fee waiver if the developer extends the promotion to eligible purchasers. Nationality is not normally a deciding factor. Eligibility depends on the project's terms, the booking date, and any conditions attached to the promotional campaign.

Does a DLD fee waiver reduce the property's purchase price?

A DLD fee waiver does not change the agreed sale price of the property. The developer pays the registration fee on the buyer's behalf, which reduces the upfront cash needed to complete the purchase without affecting the property's listed value.

Are resale properties eligible for a DLD fee waiver?

Resale properties do not come with a DLD fee waiver because the promotion is funded by developers to support new project sales. A seller may agree to cover part of the registration fee during negotiations, although that arrangement differs from an official developer incentive.

Does the DLD fee waiver expire after a project launch?

Most promotions are available for a limited period. Some apply only during the launch phase, while others remain active until a developer reaches a sales target or a specific booking deadline. Availability can change without notice, so buyers should confirm the latest offer before proceeding.

Dubai Developers Bring Back 4% DLD Fee Waivers

The 4% DLD waiver is back across Dubai’s new-launch market, as developers compete harder for buyers. Several launches in July and August have promoted full or partial waivers alongside other incentives. Many developers are also combining the incentive with cash discounts and flexible payment plans.

At Binghatti Skyterraces in Motor City, for example, studios start from AED 600,000, with offers including a cash discount, 4% DLD waiver and a 40/60 payment plan.

Developers are using the offer more often to reduce the upfront cost for buyers. Covering the registration fee lowers the amount needed at the start and helps new launches stand out in an off-plan market with a strong pipeline of projects.

Key takeaways

A full 4% DLD fee waiver saves approximately AED 77,645 on the median apartment price and approximately AED 271,655 on the median villa price.
Selected projects by Binghatti, DAMAC, Preston, Imtiaz, and Vision Developments feature DLD fee waiver promotions in 2026.
Off-plan sales represented 76% of residential transactions in Q2 2026, up from 68% in Q1 2026.
Transactions reached 26,338 deals, down 12%, yet the segment attracted the largest share of investment in Q2 2026.

What does the DLD data show right now?

Off-plan properties made up 76% of Dubai's real estate transactions in Q2 2026, up from 68% in Q1, according to Dubai Land Department figures published in betterhomes' Q2 2026 market report. Residential transactions fell 31% year on year to 34,850, and total transaction value dropped 45% to AED 84.9 billion.

The slowdown came mainly from the secondary market. Ready property transactions dropped 59% year on year to 8,512 deals. Off-plan activity held up much better, with 26,338 transactions. That figure marked a 12% decline from both Q2 2025 and Q1 2026.

Transaction value in the ready property market fell 69% year on year. Off-plan transaction value declined 15%, so new developments attracted the largest share of investment during the quarter.

Metric (DLD data, Q2 2026)	Figure	Year-on-year / Trend
Off-plan share of residential transactions	76%	Up from 68% in Q1 2026
Residential transactions	34,850	Down 31%
Residential transaction value	AED 84.9 billion	Down 45%
Off-plan transactions	26,338	Down 12%
Off-plan transaction value	AED 59 billion	Down 15%
Ready property transactions	8,512	Down 59%
Ready property transaction value	Lower share of investment	Down 69%

Why have developers brought the offer back?

The return of DLD waivers is linked to market conditions instead of distress. Off-plan properties still lead Dubai's residential market, representing 76% of all transactions during Q2 2026. Activity eased from the previous quarter, yet buyers still showed a strong preference for new launches.

Competition has shifted as well. Developers no longer rely solely on the listed sale price to attract buyers. Incentives now play a much bigger role in new project launches.

Common offers seen during 2026 are:

4% DLD fee waivers
Reduced booking amounts
Extended post-handover payment plans
Furniture packages on selected launches
Service charge support for a limited period

The objective is simple. Lower the upfront cash requirement without reducing the published property price.

How much does a 4% DLD fee waiver save?

A buyer purchasing a median-priced apartment could save more than AED 77,645 through a full DLD fee waiver. The saving rises above AED 271,655 for a median-priced villa.

Median off-plan property prices	Figure
Median apartment price	AED 1,941,130
Median villa price	AED 6,791,380
4% waiver value, median apartment	AED 77,645
4% waiver value, median villa	AED 271,655

A full DLD waiver reduces the upfront cash needed without changing the property's advertised price. That approach has become more common as developers in Dubai compete for the same pool of buyers. A fixed government fee also gives buyers an immediate saving, unlike promotional discounts that can vary between projects.

Studios for sale in Dubai come with a lower waiver amount because the purchase price is lower, although the percentage remains the same for every qualifying property. Buyers who want to buy a flat in Dubai should ask for the waiver amount in writing instead of assuming it applies automatically.

Which developers are offering DLD fee waivers?

Several developers have reintroduced DLD fee waivers on selected off-plan projects in Dubai, although the offer varies by project and launch period.

Binghatti Developers: A full 4% DLD waiver is available on selected Binghatti Developers off-plan projects, such as Binghatti Skyflame, Binghatti Aquarise, Hillcrest, Hillside, and Skyterraces.

DAMAC Properties: DAMAC Riverside Views, Lagoon Views (DAMAC Lagoons), and Skycrest Collection are a few DAMAC Properties off-plan projects in Dubai that come with a 4% DLD waiver alongside flexible 60/40 payment plans.

Preston Developers: Selected off-plan projects, such as One by Preston, feature a DLD fee waiver together with an Oqood fee waiver and extended payment plans.

Imtiaz Developments and Vision Developments: Selected residential launches, such as Raw District and Soul by Vision, also feature DLD waivers and promotions on qualifying units.

Final thoughts

A 4% DLD fee waiver can reduce the upfront cost of buying an off-plan property in Dubai, but it should never be the only reason to choose a project. Delivery history, payment terms, long-term demand, and resale potential deserve the same level of attention before a reservation is made. Dubai real estate blogs can help buyers keep pace with new launches and changing developer offers. Every project, however, deserves careful evaluation on its own merits before any commitment is made.

Need help comparing the latest off-plan launches? With 40 years of experience, betterhomes, a top real estate agency in Dubai, supports buyers through every stage of the off-plan purchase process.