Short answer
- The RERA Service Charge Index is a public lookup of approved service fees for jointly owned projects in Dubai, searchable by project, use and year.
- You can open it on the DLD website, where it runs through Mollak, or inside the Dubai REST app; results come back immediately.
- Rates are shown in AED per square foot, so your expected annual charge is roughly the approved rate times your unit area.
- RERA launched the index on 15 October 2014; Mollak is the DLD system that regulates jointly owned properties and monitors service charge payments.
- Under Law No. 6 of 2019, charges cannot be collected without RERA approval, and the DLD says owners need not pay unapproved common charges.
The RERA Service Charge Index is the quickest official way to see what your Dubai building is allowed to charge. It turns an invoice you cannot easily judge into a number you can compare against a published rate.
This guide explains what the index is, how to look up your building, how to read the result and what Mollak adds. It applies to jointly owned buildings in Dubai.
Key terms: RERA, the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, sits within the Dubai Land Department (DLD). Mollak is the DLD e-system covering jointly owned buildings and their service fees. A jointly owned property is a building or community with shared common areas, such as an apartment tower.
What is the RERA Service Charge Index?
The RERA Service Charge Index is a public DLD service that shows the approved service fees for jointly owned projects in Dubai. You can search it by project, by use and by year, and it returns results immediately.
- First published
- 15 Oct 2014
- Source: DLD
- Rate format
- AED per sq ft
- Source: DLD
- Search by
- Project, use, year
- Source: DLD
- Available on
- DLD website, Dubai REST
- Source: DLD
The index exists because of an approval rule. Under Article 27(a) of Law No. 6 of 2019, a management entity must not collect amounts "without first obtaining the relevant approval of RERA". The index is where those approved rates become visible to owners and buyers.
How to check approved service charges in Dubai, step by step
You need your building's project name and your unit area. The lookup itself takes a few minutes on the DLD website or in the Dubai REST app.
Open the index
Go to the Service Charge Index on the DLD website, where it runs through Mollak, or open the Dubai REST app. Dubai REST's version notes say foreign investors log in with UAE PASS or a title deed.Search for your project
Enter or select the project name. Choose the use, such as residential, if the building is mixed-use.Pick the year
Select the year that matches the invoice you are checking. Rates can change from year to year.Note the rate
Record the approved figure in AED per square foot, and take a dated screenshot.Do the arithmetic
Multiply the rate by your unit area from your title deed or SPA. Compare the result with the annual charge on your invoice.
How to read the service charge per sq ft in Dubai
The per-square-foot figure is the approved rate for that project, use and year. Your share is calculated from your unit's area, because Article 25(a) of Law No. 6 of 2019 sets each owner's share of annual service charges by unit area.
Example: take a 1,500 sq ft unit where the index lists AED 10 per sq ft. The expected annual charge is AED 15,000. An invoice for that year showing a different annual figure with no other items explained is the starting point for a written question.
| What you see | What it may mean | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice matches rate × area | Charge appears to follow the approved rate | Keep the screenshot with your records |
| Invoice above rate × area | Extra items, arrears or a different area figure | Ask for a line-by-line breakdown in writing |
| Building not found in the index | Different project name, or no approved rate listed for that year | Ask the management company for the RERA approval reference |
| Year not listed yet | Budget for that year may not be published | Ask whether the budget has been approved |
What does a Mollak service charge check add?
Mollak is the system behind the index. The DLD describes it as an e-system run through RERA to "regulate jointly owned properties, service charge and monitor the payment of service charges".
Management companies upload financial statements and contracts to Mollak, according to the DLD. That makes it the official channel through which a building's finances reach the regulator, not only a rate table.
- Service Charge Index: approved rates by project, use and year
- Financial statements and contracts uploaded by management companies
- Run by the DLD through RERA
- Monitors the payment of service charges
…the earlier service charge would not be able to cover its upkeep
An approved rate in the index reflects two reviews. Article 27(b) of Law No. 6 of 2019 requires a RERA-recognized audit firm to sign off on the budget before RERA itself can approve it.
Why check the index before handover or before buying?
The index helps before you own the unit, not just after. If a building already has approved rates, you can see recent figures for comparison before committing or accepting the keys.
For a new building, the first year's rate may not be published by the time you collect the keys. In that case, ask the developer or management company whether a budget has been submitted for approval, and record the answer.
Service charge checks at handover
Owners get a collective voice later: Article 22 of Law No. 6 of 2019 provides for a RERA-appointed committee of owners, with a maximum of nine members, after 10% of the building's units are in owners' names. Our handover checklist covers the other checks to run at the same time.
If your bill is above the approved rate, our guide to a service charge higher than expected explains what you can challenge and what you must still pay. If the disagreement turns into a wider dispute, see off-plan disputes with a developer. You can also run a check on the building's registry data before raising it with the management company.
Buying from the UK, US, Canada or Australia?
- UK: index lookup questions for UK owners
- US: index lookup steps for US owners
- Canada: index checklist for Canadian owners
- Australia: index decision tree for Australian owners
Who can use the RERA Service Charge Index?
How do I calculate my service charge from the index?
What is the difference between Mollak and the Service Charge Index?
What if my building is not in the Service Charge Index?
Related guides
Sources
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and procedures change; check the official source before acting. Published 12 October 2026, last updated 12 October 2026.