Commercial costs · Abu Dhabi
Commercial deals, costed
Buy or lease an office, shop or warehouse: VAT, registration, commission, deposits and the total cost including fees and commission.
Rates as of Nov 2026, indicative, confirm with Beyond.
Commercial · Office, shop, warehouse
Buy or lease, all costs in
Your costs to buy
Itemised costs
- Property price (excl. VAT)1,500,000
- VAT on the sale price (5%)75,000Commercial property is standard-rated. A VAT-registered business can usually recover it. Source: Federal Tax Authority
- Registration fee (2% of the price, paid by the buyer)30,000Sale registration with ADREC on DARI. Source: DARI / ADREC
- DARI e-services and title deed875Electronic services fee on a ready transfer. estimate
- Developer NOC fee (up to 5,250)5,250Charged by the developer on resale and paid by the buyer. Beyond
- Beyond commission (2% of the price)30,000Beyond
- VAT on commission (5%)1,500Source: Federal Tax Authority
Your totals
- Fees and commission142,625
- Total cost including fees and commission1,642,625
- Upfront cash needed1,642,625
- Year-1 total (upfront + 12 months of payments)1,642,625
Rates as of Nov 2026, indicative, confirm with Beyond. Lines marked estimate vary by bank, landlord or provider.
Your costs to lease
Itemised costs
- Annual rent (excl. VAT)200,000
- VAT on rent (5%)10,000Commercial rent is standard-rated; usually recoverable for VAT-registered tenants. Source: Federal Tax Authority
- First rent cheque (1 of 4)52,500Includes VAT on that cheque.
- Security deposit (5% of rent)10,000Paid to the owner, refundable.
- Beyond commission (10% of annual rent)20,000Beyond
- VAT on commission (5%)1,000Source: Federal Tax Authority
- Tawtheeq lease registration50Paid by the tenant. Source: DARI / TAMM
- Property management admin fee2,100Charged by the landlord or management company; varies. estimate
- TAQA (ADDC) water and electricity deposit2,000Refundable when you close the account. estimate
- District cooling (chiller) connection and deposit1,500Only where the building uses district cooling. 1,000 of it is a refundable deposit. estimate
Your totals
- Due at signing (upfront cash)89,150
- Refundable deposits (within that)13,000
- Total cost including fees and commission (year 1)233,650Rent + VAT + all fees and commission; excludes refundable deposits.
- Year-1 cash out incl. refundable deposits246,650
- Monthly equivalent of the year-1 cost19,471
Rates as of Nov 2026, indicative, confirm with Beyond. Lines marked estimate vary by bank, landlord or provider.
How each cost works
Commercial costs, explained
VAT on commercial property
Offices, shops and warehouses are standard-rated for VAT. A purchase carries 5% VAT on the price and a lease carries 5% VAT on the rent. A VAT-registered business can usually reclaim it. Homes are different: residential rent and resale homes are VAT-exempt.
Source: Federal Tax AuthorityRegistration fee: 2%
A commercial purchase is registered on DARI for 2% of the price, paid by the buyer, both on resale and when buying from the developer.
Source: DARI and ADREC fee rulesCommission on commercial deals
Beyond Real Estate charges 2% of the price on a resale purchase and 10% of the annual rent on a commercial lease, each plus 5% VAT. There is no commission when you buy from the developer through Beyond.
Beyond Real EstateDeveloper NOC fee
On a resale, the developer's no-objection certificate usually costs up to 5,250, paid by the buyer.
Beyond Real EstateCommercial mortgages
Commercial property finance sits outside the Central Bank's home-loan rules. Banks set their own limits, commonly up to 50% to 60% of the value.
EstimateCommercial lease costs
A commercial lease under four years is registered on Tawtheeq for 50, and there is no municipality housing fee on commercial leases. Expect a security deposit of 5% to 10% of the rent, a management admin fee (often about 2,100), and refundable utility and district cooling deposits.
Source: DARI; admin and deposits are estimatesFAQ
Questions, answered
Is there VAT on commercial property in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Buying or leasing an office, shop or warehouse carries 5% VAT on the price or the rent. A VAT-registered business can usually reclaim it.
What are the costs of buying an office in Abu Dhabi?
On a resale office: 5% VAT on the price, the 2% registration fee, about 875 in DARI e-services, a developer NOC fee of up to 5,250, and Beyond's 2% commission plus VAT. On an 1,500,000 office paid in cash, that is about 142,625 in VAT, fees and commission.
Do I pay commission when buying a commercial unit from the developer?
No. Buying off-plan or first-hand from the developer through Beyond Real Estate costs you no commission. You still pay the 2% registration fee and VAT.
Is there a municipality fee on a commercial lease?
No. The 5% municipality housing fee applies to residential leases. Commercial and industrial leases have no municipality fee on DARI's fee schedule.
How much is the commission on a commercial lease?
Beyond Real Estate charges a fixed 10% of the annual rent, plus 5% VAT on the commission.
Figures are indicative, based on published fees as of November 2026, and can change. Beyond Real Estate confirms the exact costs for your deal.
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