Mollak is the Dubai Land Department system that records, approves and collects service charges for jointly owned properties. It covers apartments and many townhouse communities. For agents, it answers a question every serious buyer asks: what will this unit cost to own each year?
Get that number wrong and the deal suffers. An investor who finds a higher service charge after a viewing loses trust. A seller with unpaid dues can also stall the transfer at the last step.
This guide explains what Mollak is, how to check service charges in minutes and how to calculate the yearly cost. It also gives you a pre-listing checklist that keeps your listings accurate.
Key Takeaways
- Mollak is RERA’s online system for service charges in jointly owned properties in Dubai.
- Approved service charges appear in the DLD Service Charge Index, available on the DLD website and the Dubai REST app.
- Annual service charge equals the approved rate per square foot multiplied by the unit’s chargeable area.
- Owners stay responsible for service charges even if a tenancy contract shifts them to the tenant.
- Checking Mollak before listing protects buyer trust, pricing and the transfer timeline.
What Is Mollak?
Mollak is an online system from the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) that regulates service charges for jointly owned properties in Dubai. It also manages owners association finances. The name comes from the Arabic word for “owners”.
Through Mollak, owners associations register budgets, management contracts and invoices. Owners can see what they owe and pay online.
What Does Mollak Do?
Mollak brings every part of service charge management into one regulated system:
- Approved budgets: each building’s service charge budget goes through RERA approval.
- Invoices: owners association managers issue service charge invoices inside the system.
- Payments: owners pay online through supported channels, including Noqodi.
- Management contracts: contracts between owners associations and management companies are registered.
- Transparency: owners and buyers can compare an invoice with the approved rate.
RERA also requires an approved auditing firm to review each service charge budget before approval. That review is why the approved figure carries weight in any pricing conversation.
Mollak vs Service Charge Index vs Oqood vs Ejari
Dubai has several property systems with similar-sounding roles. Here is how they differ:
| System | What it handles | When an agent uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Mollak | Service charge budgets, invoices and payments for jointly owned properties | Before listing or advising an investor on running costs |
| Service Charge Index | Public lookup of RERA-approved service charges by project | When quoting yearly costs to a buyer |
| Oqood | Registration of off-plan property sales | When selling off-plan units |
| Ejari | Registration of tenancy contracts | When closing a rental deal |
For off-plan deals, see our guide to Oqood registration in Dubai. For rentals, read our guide to the tenancy contract in Dubai.
How to Check Service Charges on Mollak
The quickest route is the DLD Service Charge Index, which pulls approved figures from Mollak. The service is free, open to everyone and gives results instantly.
- Open the Service Charge Index. Use the Dubai Land Department website or the Dubai REST app.
- Select the project. Search for the building or community name.
- Choose the property use. Pick residential, commercial or another use as listed.
- Select the budget year. Approved rates can change each year.
- Note the approved rate. Record the service charge per square foot for that project.
- Save a copy. Keep a screenshot or PDF on the listing record for the buyer.
Always quote the approved figure from the index, not a number from a past invoice or a seller’s memory.
How to Calculate Annual Service Charges
The formula is simple:
Annual service charge = approved rate per sq ft Ć chargeable area (sq ft)
Say a building’s approved rate is AED 15 per sq ft. If the unit’s chargeable area is 1,200 sq ft, the yearly service charge is AED 18,000. The figures here only illustrate the method, so use the real rate from the index.
Check the chargeable area carefully. It can differ slightly from the size on the title deed. Confirm it with the owners association before you quote a final number.
| Unit type | Size (sq ft) | At AED 12 / sq ft | At AED 15 / sq ft | At AED 18 / sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio or 1 BHK apartment | 750 | AED 9,000 a year | AED 11,250 a year | AED 13,500 a year |
| 2 BHK apartment | 1,200 | AED 14,400 a year | AED 18,000 a year | AED 21,600 a year |
| 3 BHK apartment | 1,800 | AED 21,600 a year | AED 27,000 a year | AED 32,400 a year |
Service charges cut into rental yield, so pair this figure with expected rent. Our RERA rental index calculator guide helps you estimate that side of the return.
Why Agents Must Check Mollak Before Listing
- Accurate yield. Investors judge a unit by net return, and service charges are often the biggest yearly cost.
- Buyer trust. A correct figure in the first conversation prevents surprises at the offer stage.
- Faster transfers. Developers usually ask for service charges to be cleared before they issue the NOC for transfer.
- Fair pricing. Two similar units can carry very different running costs in different buildings.
- Fewer disputes. Clear disclosure keeps both buyer and seller aligned.
Keep every listing deal-ready. Leadrat stores service charge notes, documents and buyer conversations on one record, so your team quotes the right numbers every time. Book a free Leadrat demo.
Mollak Login and Payments
Owners reach Mollak services through the Dubai Land Department website and the Dubai REST app. Once registered, they can view invoices, check balances and pay service charges online.
Owners association managers upload invoices, and owners can pay through several methods, including Noqodi. For help, the Dubai Land Department call centre is available on 800 4488.
Who Pays Service Charges: Landlord or Tenant?
The property owner pays service charges in jointly owned buildings. A lease can ask the tenant to cover certain charges. However, the owner stays responsible if the tenant fails to pay.
So when you manage a rental, confirm that service charges are current before you list. Unpaid dues can turn into legal action from the owners association and loss of access to shared facilities.
How to Resolve a Service Charge Dispute
- Check the approved rate in the Service Charge Index for the right project and year.
- Compare it with the invoice and keep a copy of both.
- Raise the issue with the owners association in writing.
- Escalate to RERA if the association does not resolve it.
If the matter moves to a formal case, our guide to the RERA Dispute Centre in Dubai explains the process.
Mollak Checklist for Agents Before Listing
- Approved service charge rate for the current budget year
- Chargeable area confirmed with the owners association
- Yearly service charge calculated and noted on the listing
- Service charges paid up to date by the seller
- Screenshot or PDF of the index result saved to the listing
- Net yield estimate shared with investor buyers
Why Dubai Brokerages Choose Leadrat
Checking Mollak is one step in a long deal. Leadrat keeps every other step organised, from the first portal enquiry to handover.
- Portal leads in one inbox. Bayut, Property Finder, Dubizzle and Skyloov leads arrive automatically.
- Instant lead routing. Rules assign each lead to the right agent in seconds, with SLA-based reassignment.
- Native WhatsApp Business API. Share index screenshots, brochures and payment plans from the CRM.
- Listing and document records. Keep service charge figures, title deeds and NOC notes on each listing.
- Off-plan inventory. Track units, allocations, payment milestones and live availability.
- MyListings sync. Agents never pitch a unit that has already sold.
- Field team tracking. Geo-tracking and site visit logs show which viewings happened.
- Reports and dashboards. 50+ reports show lead sources, agent activity and deal progress.
Compare Leadrat with other options in our guide to the best real estate CRM in Dubai.
Make your Dubai brokerage easier to run. Leadrat captures every portal lead, keeps listing details accurate and helps your agents close faster. Get your free Leadrat demo today.
The Bottom Line
Mollak turns service charges from a guess into a verified number. Check the approved rate, confirm the chargeable area and share the yearly cost before a buyer asks. Agents who do this win trust early and avoid delays at transfer.
In Dubai, the agent with the right numbers usually gets the signed offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mollak in Dubai?
Mollak is RERA’s online system for managing service charges in jointly owned properties. Owners associations register budgets and invoices in it, and owners can view and pay their charges online.
How do I check service charges in Dubai?
Use the DLD Service Charge Index on the Dubai Land Department website or the Dubai REST app. Select the project, property use and budget year to see the approved rate per square foot.
How do I log in to Mollak?
Owners access Mollak through the Dubai Land Department website or the Dubai REST app. There, they can view invoices and pay service charges.
How are service charges calculated in Dubai?
Multiply the approved rate per square foot by the unit’s chargeable area. For example, AED 15 per sq ft on 1,200 sq ft equals AED 18,000 a year.
Who pays service charges in Dubai, the landlord or the tenant?
The owner pays. A lease can pass some charges to the tenant, but the owner remains responsible if the tenant does not pay.
What is the Service Charge Index?
It is the Dubai Land Department’s public lookup of RERA-approved service charges. You can search it by project, property use and budget year.
Can service charges increase every year?
Yes. Service charge budgets are approved for each year, so the rate can rise or fall. Always check the current budget year in the index.
Can I dispute a service charge in Dubai?
Yes. Compare the invoice with the approved rate and raise the issue with the owners association in writing. Escalate to RERA if it stays unresolved.
