Can I get back some of these mortgage fees?

Fees that are essentially non-recoverable

Once paid, the following are treated as final government or third-party charges and are not refundable through the bank or DLD:

• 4% DLD transfer fee (+ AED 580 admin) — a government charge, not refundable
• Mortgage registration fee (0.25% of loan + AED 290) — paid to DLD, non-refundable
• Trustee office fee (~AED 4,200) — a fixed transaction charge
• Valuation fee (~AED 2,500-3,500) — paid to the valuer regardless of outcome

Fees where there's occasionally room to negotiate

Before you sign, rather than after, some costs are genuinely negotiable:

• Bank arrangement fee (0-1% of the loan) — some banks waive this during promotional periods or for high-value applicants, and it's a common lever brokers use when comparing offers
• Agency commission (~2%) — occasionally negotiable directly with the agent, particularly on higher-value properties

What if the deal falls through?

If a purchase collapses before registration (for example, the seller withdraws or valuation comes in low), fees already paid to the bank for processing — such as the valuation fee — are generally not refunded, since the work was performed. Any deposit paid directly to the seller may be recoverable depending on the terms of your sale agreement, which is a separate legal matter from mortgage fees.

A practical checklist before you commit

1. 1Request a written, itemised fee schedule from each bank you're considering
2. 2Ask explicitly whether the arrangement fee is negotiable or currently being waived
3. 3Confirm valuation and registration fee amounts in writing before the valuer is instructed
4. 4Only proceed once you've compared at least two or three offers

Planning to minimise total cost

Since Lenddoo compares 18+ UAE banks at no cost to you, it's worth checking which lenders are currently waiving arrangement fees before you apply anywhere. See the full fee breakdown to understand exactly what you'll be asked to pay and when.