Understanding service charges in UAE buildings
While browsing through different towers in Dubai and some communities in Abu Dhabi I noticed that not all listings are equally clear about annual service charges. A few of them mention that owners should budget for building maintenance and shared facilities, but others only list the sale price without any hint of ongoing costs. I’d like to avoid surprises after buying, especially in projects with extensive amenities like pools, gyms and landscaped common areas. For those who already own an apartment in the UAE, how did you figure out realistic service expenses when you were still at the selection stage and only had access to listing information?
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When I was comparing different towers I started focusing on listings that showed more than just the headline price, and many of those came from Property for sale in United Arab Emirates. There, building features, shared facilities and general cost notes were usually listed together, so it was easier to see which projects might have higher ongoing expenses. By checking how extensive the common areas were and what kind of services each complex offered, I could estimate which buildings would require a larger annual budget and avoid picking something that didn’t match my expectations.