• Home

New to Dubai? Here are some fees you should know

Dubai - Know what you are paying for.

Read more...

If you have recently moved to Dubai, you may be surprised by certain fees that the government charges for services. These fees help the government make the services more efficient, and enhance user experience. After all, world-class service should come at a cost.
Khaleej Times breaks these fees down for you. So the next time you receive a bill or receipt, you know where your money is being used.

Municipality fees

The municipality fee can be found on your Dewa bill, a bill that you will become extremely familiar with as soon as you move into your own accommodation. According to the Dewa website, you pay 5 per cent of your annual rent to Dubai Municipality as housing fee, spread over a period of 12 months.

Knowledge fee

The knowledge fee is a Dh10 charge that goes to Dubai Executive Council to support social and cultural development activities. It was announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Innovation fee

Apart from the knowledge fee, the Innovation Dirham Fee is a new fee that was introduced only this year. It aims to support innovation-related projects and involve the public in supporting innovation. As per law, Dubai government entities will levy the Dh10 fee on all transactions. The revenue will be allocated to the Dubai Future Foundation.

SMS parking fee

You can pay for your car parking in Dubai via SMS. The catch is that it comes with a small transaction fee. A little price to pay for a vital convenience especially during summertime. A Dh2 parking fee paid via SMS attracts a small fee of 30 fils.