Dubai Service Charge Index: What Property Owners Should Check
Published 3 months ago
Service charges are a major part of owning property in Dubai, especially in apartment buildings, master communities, and jointly owned properties. Dubai's Service Charge Index helps owners and buyers check approved service fees instead of relying only on informal estimates.
What Is the Service Charge Index?
Dubai Land Department describes the Service Charge Index as a service that allows customers to inquire about approved service fees for jointly owned properties from the Real Estate Regulatory Agency. The service is available through the DLD website, Mollak system, and Dubai REST app, and the service time is listed as immediate.
What Is Mollak?
Mollak is DLD and RERA's system for jointly owned properties. It regulates service charges, monitors payment of service charges, and supports governance for property management companies and owners. The system also supports electronic service charge approvals and invoices.
Why Owners Should Use It
Service charges affect the real cost of ownership. A unit with a lower purchase price can become expensive if annual service charges are high. Buyers should check approved charges before purchase, and owners should compare invoices against approved figures.
How to Check Charges
DLD's FAQ says customers can use the Service Charge Index by selecting the service, entering project details such as main project name, project name, usage, and fiscal year, and then calculating the result. The information can also be accessed through Dubai REST.
Final Note
For owners, service charges are not just an extra bill. They fund building maintenance, shared facilities, security, cleaning, and community operations. Always check official approved figures before buying, selling, budgeting, or disputing an invoice.