What service charges actually pay for
Common-area maintenance, security, building reserves, master-community upkeep — typically AED 10–25 per sqft per year.
Service charges fund the upkeep of shared parts of a community: anything that isn't inside the four walls of your unit.
Typical line items
- Master-community charges — roads, parks, street lighting, master-developer infrastructure.
- Building / sub-community charges — security, lobby, lifts, pool, gym, common-area cleaning, exterior maintenance.
- Reserve fund — long-term capital reserve for major works (lifts, paint cycle, roof). Usually 5–10% of the budget.
- Insurance — building insurance for the common areas.
- Management fee — paid to the appointed Owners Association management company.
- Utilities for common areas — DEWA for the lobby / lifts / common AC.
Typical rates
- Apartments in mid-tier Dubai communities: AED 10–18/sqft/year.
- Premium / waterfront apartments: AED 18–25+.
- Townhouses / villas in master-planned communities: AED 4–8/sqft/year (no lifts/common spaces inflate it less).
How to read your statement
Open the Mollak portal — that's RERA's mandated service-charge platform. Every approved budget, breakdown, and your account balance is visible there. If a line on your invoice doesn't appear in Mollak, that's a flag.
Sources: RERA / Mollak, common community budgets.
Related questions
How service-charge rates are set and approved
Management companies prepare a budget, RERA reviews it, and the rate per sqft is published in Mollak. Owners can challenge it.
Disputing your service charge
Pay first to keep your account current, then escalate via the management company → RERA → judicial committee if needed.
Owners Associations and Committees — who runs your community
Under JOPA Law (2019), buildings are managed by a Management Company. Owners can elect a Committee that represents the residents.