26.4% drop in fees for property owners and investors in Abu Dhabi during 2020-21

Fees for services for property owners and investors in development projects were reduced by 26.4% during 2020 and 2021. According to the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), service charges were reduced by 18.1% in 2020, and another reduction of 8.3% was introduced in 2021.

Reduced maintenance fees have resulted in property owners and investors saving more than 200 million dirhams in 2020-2021.

Adeeb Al Afifi, executive director of real estate sector at DMT, stressed that the implementation of the budget and service fee approval program in 2021 had a significant impact on servicing and protecting the interests of investors and owners.

DMT has also implemented a comprehensive mechanism for monitoring and regulating residential maintenance fees in 2020. Regulation supports the steady growth of the real estate market and protects both owners and developers by setting a clear framework for how fees will be assessed.