Valuation
A valuation is a professional assessment of a property's market value, most often commissioned by a bank to decide how much it will lend.
What Valuation means for a buyer
When you apply for a mortgage, the bank instructs a valuer from its approved panel to inspect the property and report its market value. The borrower pays, typically around AED 2,500 to AED 3,500 plus VAT depending on the bank and the property, and the fee is not refunded if the purchase falls through.
The valuation matters because the bank applies its LTV to the lower of the agreed price and the valuer's figure. If you agree AED 2 million and the valuation comes in at AED 1.9 million, the loan is calculated on AED 1.9 million and you fund the difference in cash, renegotiate, or withdraw. This is why a mortgage buyer should make Form F conditional on the valuation where possible.
Valuers work from recent registered transactions. In a falling or thinly traded market, as parts of Dubai were during 2026, valuations tend to trail asking prices, and unusual properties are harder to support.
There are other kinds of valuation. Land departments issue valuation certificates, which can be requested when the price on an older title deed no longer reflects the property's worth, for example in connection with a Golden Visa application. Independent valuations are also used for wills, disputes and company accounts.
A valuation is not a survey. It estimates price; it does not check the condition of the building. For that, commission snagging or a technical inspection.
Guides that use this term
Where Valuation comes up in practice, with the costs, rules and steps around it.
Questions about the buying process?
An adviser can explain how this applies to the property you're considering.
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- One salaried adviser, not on commission, from first call to handover
