Using the RERA Service Charge Index as a UK buyer

Most UK owners hear about the index only after a bill arrives. Below: what it holds, how to reach it from Britain, and what its numbers do and do not prove.

What is the RERA Service Charge Index, for UK buyers in plain terms?

It is the Dubai Land Department's public register of service charges that RERA has approved for each jointly owned building. If a charge appears there for your project and year, it has passed the approval step that Dubai law requires before collection.

RERA, the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, is the DLD's regulatory arm. It launched the index at GITEX on 15 October 2014 and expresses every rate in AED per square foot.

The legal hook is Article 27(a) of Dubai Law No. 6 of 2019, which bars management entities from collecting amounts without RERA's prior approval. Article 27(b) requires a RERA-recognised auditor to sign off the budget first.

Where does Mollak come in?

Mollak is the DLD's e-system, operated through RERA, for regulating jointly owned properties and tracking service-charge payments. Management companies upload their financial statements and contracts to it, and the public index is reached through the Mollak area of the DLD website.

Can I use Dubai REST from Britain without living in the UAE?

Probably, once you have UAE PASS. The app's own version history (v7.0.0) says login for foreign investors was restricted to UAE PASS and title-deed options, so an owner still waiting for a title deed will in practice need a UAE PASS account. That conclusion is our reading of the login options; the DLD does not spell it out.

1. Install UAE PASS

   Download the app, create an account and choose the "Visitor" path, then select "Passport".

2. Verify yourself

   Scan your British passport, enter your details (a UK mobile number is accepted for visitors) and complete the face check.

3. Open Dubai REST

   Install it from the UK App Store or Google Play and sign in with UAE PASS or your title deed.

4. Run the search

   Choose the Service Charge Index, then enter your project, the property use and the budget year shown on your invoice.

How do I read the result against my own invoice?

Convert first, then compare. The index gives a rate per square foot, while invoices usually show a lump sum, so divide the annual charge by your unit area before drawing any conclusion.

Example: a hypothetical 1,000 sq ft flat billed AED 20,000 for the year works out at AED 20 per square foot. If the index shows a lower approved rate for the same use and year, ask the management company in writing which approval it relies on.

What if the index shows nothing for my building?

A blank result is a reason to ask, not proof of wrongdoing. The DLD FAQ says owners need not pay common service charges that RERA has not approved, so request the approval reference in writing and keep the reply. The UK page on a service charge above the brochure figure covers what happens next.

Does any UK body oversee Dubai service charges?

No. The FCA states that land investments are not regulated by it, and the FCDO says it cannot intervene in private legal matters abroad. Approval and enforcement sit with RERA in Dubai.

Keep a registry snapshot of your project on file alongside your index screenshots. For the broader picture, read the global guide to the Service Charge Index, our UK handover checklist, and the hub for UK buyers of Dubai off-plan.

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.