Property valuation in Dubai

Three kinds of valuation

Agent market appraisal

An agent's view of the likely selling price and how quickly it would sell. It should draw on recent transactions and current competition. It is useful for pricing, but it is not a formal valuation and agents may be tempted to quote high to win an instruction.

Formal valuation

A report by a qualified, registered valuer following professional standards. Owners commission these for legal matters, financial reporting, disputes or estate purposes. DLD maintains a register of accredited valuers; confirm the current list with DLD.

Bank valuation

When you apply for a mortgage, the lender appoints its own valuer. The loan is based on that figure, not the agreed price. If the valuation comes in below the price, the buyer must cover the gap or renegotiate. Our mortgage pre-approval guide explains the sequence.

How value is assessed

The core method in Dubai is comparison. A valuer looks at recently registered sales of similar units in the same building or community, then adjusts for differences:

• view and orientation
• floor level and outlook
• size and layout efficiency
• condition and upgrades
• whether it is tenanted, and on what terms
• service-charge level and building quality
• for off-plan, the stage of construction and the payment plan

Transaction data is published by DLD and visible in tools such as the Dubai REST app. Our guide to reading DLD transaction data explains how to interpret it, including why a single unusual sale should not set the price.

Reading a valuation you have been given

Ask for the comparables behind any figure. A credible appraisal names the transactions used, explains the adjustments and states the date. Be wary of a number with no evidence, of comparisons from a different building class, or of asking prices treated as sold prices.

Asking prices on portals are not values. They show what sellers hope for. Registered transactions show what buyers actually paid.

Valuation for sellers

If you plan to sell, start with an evidence-based appraisal and then set a strategy: where to list relative to competition, how much room to leave for negotiation, and when to review. Our guide to pricing your property to sell covers this, and how to sell property in Dubai covers the full process.

Valuation for buyers

Before making an offer, look up recent sales in the same building or community and compare like with like. If you need a mortgage, remember that the bank's valuation will decide how much you can borrow. Agree with the seller in the Form F MOU what happens if the valuation falls short.

For rental value rather than capital value, see our rental valuation service and the DLD rental index guide.