What fees do I pay to the DLD when buying off-plan in Dubai?

The main charge is the DLD registration fee of 4% of the price, paid at SPA/Oqood registration — legally split 2% buyer/2% seller, but buyers typically pay the full 4%. Add a trustee fee (around AED 2,000-4,200) and a developer admin fee of roughly AED 1,000-6,000 depending on which developer you buy from. For an initial purchase, budget about 5% above the price.