How much money do I actually need saved to buy my first home in Dubai?

For an entry-level AED 1.5M apartment on a mortgage, budget roughly AED 360,000-400,000 cash: about 20% down payment (AED 300,000) plus ~7-8% in fees - 4% DLD transfer, ~2% agency + VAT, mortgage registration, valuation and trustee costs. Keep an emergency buffer on top; banks lend only ~80%, so don't drain every dirham into the deposit. That breakdown assumes a RESALE purchase. Buying off-plan or direct from the developer you pay us no commission at all - the developer covers our fee - so drop the ~2% agency line and budget the 4% DLD fee plus a developer admin fee of roughly AED 1,000-6,000. (Figures as of 2026-08-04 - confirm with your agent.)