Short answer
- A service charge higher than expected in Dubai, seen from Canada, is lawful only if RERA approved that year's budget (Law No. 6 of 2019, Art. 27(a)).
- The DLD FAQ says owners do not have to pay common service charges RERA has not approved.
- Approved rates are public in the DLD Service Charge Index, in AED per square foot.
- Once approved, the charge must be paid (Art. 28); an unpaid balance becomes a lien on the unit.
- Ottawa's UAE travel advice warns of exit bans over unpaid debts, so answer every bill in writing.
Service charge higher than expected? Dubai from Canada, in order
The approved annual budget, not the sales brochure, sets what a Dubai owner pays. Under Law No. 6 of 2019 on jointly owned property, RERA (the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, the regulatory arm of the Dubai Land Department) must approve the budget before the management company collects a dirham.
Your share follows your unit's area (Art. 25(a)); the developer covers unsold units.
From building budget to your invoice
Dubai service charges too high? Canada investors: verify three numbers first
The approved rate, your unit's area and the period billed decide most disagreements. Confirm all three before you complain.
Phase 1: rebuild the bill yourself
…our service charges seem to increase almost every year.
A yearly rise is not proof of a problem. Each budget is approved separately, so the rate can move from one year to the next and still be lawful.
Service charge increase: Dubai buyers in Canada can contest which items?
An increase is open to challenge when RERA has not approved it, or when the invoice uses the wrong area or period. Once a rate is approved, Art. 28 says an owner may not refuse to pay it.
| What you find | Rule | Next move |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice rate equals the index | Payment is due (Art. 28) | Pay; query only area or period errors |
| Rate missing from the index | Collection needs approval (Art. 27(a)) | Request the approval reference by email |
| Many unsold units | Developer pays their share (Art. 25(a)) | Ask how unsold units are billed |
| You leave it unpaid | Lien; no sale until cleared (Art. 32) | Keep a written dispute on record |
Phase 2: put the challenge on paper
Once 10% of units are owner-registered, RERA appoints an owners committee of up to nine members (Art. 22), often the most reachable contact for an owner in Calgary or Halifax.
How does owning from Canada change the picture?
Dubai rules apply to an owner in Toronto exactly as to one living in the building. Distance only changes how, and when, problems reach you.
Phase 3: handle it across time zones
Next reads: the Canadian walkthrough of the RERA Service Charge Index, where a Dubai developer dispute goes, the handover checklist for Canadian buyers, the global guide to rising service charges and the Canadian buyers' hub. You can also check any Dubai project's public record.
Do I have to pay a Dubai service charge RERA has not approved?
Why did my Dubai service charge rise again this year?
What if I simply stop paying service charges from Canada?
Will the Canadian consulate in Dubai step in on a service charge?
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.