Mollak Dubai: What It Is and How to Check and Pay Service Charges
Mollak is the Dubai Land Department's online system for service charges in jointly owned property such as apartment buildings and master communities. Through RERA, the regulator, each building's service charge budget is reviewed by an audit firm, approved and then invoiced to owners, and the money is held in a regulated escrow account. You can check your building's approved charge on the DLD Service Charge Index. You pay by transfer to the escrow account on your invoice, through your management company, or through the noqodi payment platform (as of October 2026). Unpaid charges can lead to court enforcement.
This page covers the Mollak system. For service charge levels by area, see our general guide, Dubai service charges 2026.
What Is Mollak?
The Dubai Land Department, through RERA, describes Mollak (Arabic for "owners") as an e-system that regulates jointly owned properties and service charges and monitors their payment in Dubai. It reflects Law No. 6 of 2019 on ownership of jointly owned real property (Mollak site; Law No. 6 of 2019 on the Dubai Legislation Portal, as of October 2026). The law was issued in Dubai on 4 September 2019.
The Mollak site says RERA requires registered management companies to upload their financial statements and copies of maintenance, service and supplier contracts for common areas, and that owners receive service charge invoices through the system.
How the Service Charge Process Works
The Mollak process page sets out nine steps, summarised below as of October 2026.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | The management company registers on Mollak, each project is registered as a property group after a compliance and approval process, and management is assigned through an online agreement. |
| 4 | A regulated bank account approved by DLD is set up for each property group to hold service charges. |
| 5 and 6 | The company uploads the service charge budget and an appointed audit firm reviews it against the financial requirements and DLD regulations. |
| 7 | The audit firm submits the final budget to DLD for approval. The approved rates are available for public view on the Mollak website. |
| 8 | DLD sends an approval notice for the full budget period to all owners through Mollak. Invoices are issued every quarter based on the approved budget. |
| 9 | Owners pay through the payment options described below. |
The law backs this order. Article 27 says a management entity must not charge or collect any amount for common parts without RERA's approval, and RERA may approve a budget only if a certified audit firm recognised by RERA has approved it (Law No. 6 of 2019 on the Dubai Legislation Portal).
Where Your Money Goes: Escrow and Reserve Fund
Under Article 30 of the law, the management entity must open a service charges account for each jointly owned property with a bank recognised by RERA, and deposit what it collects within seven working days. Creditors of the management entity cannot attach the funds, and the law limits their use to listed purposes such as cleaning, security, maintenance and repair of common parts, insurance, audit fees and management company fees. The same article provides for a cash reserve for emergencies or replacing equipment in common parts, held in a separate account and usable without RERA's approval only in critical emergencies.
What Owners Can See and Do on Mollak
- Check the approved service charge. The Service Charge Index shows the rate RERA approved for a building (next section).
- Receive and understand invoices. Owners receive the approval notice and quarterly invoices through the system.
- Pay. Three payment options are listed below.
- Look up approved companies. The Mollak site lists approved management and auditor companies.
- Request an eNOC for a sale. For some ready properties, DLD offers an electronic no objection certificate, covered under buying and selling below.
How to Check Your Building's Approved Service Charge
The DLD Service Charge Index page says the service lets you inquire about the approved service fees for jointly owned property from RERA. It lists three channels: the Land Department website through the Mollak system, the Land Department website, and the Dubai REST app. The service time is shown as immediate and the service is open to all residency statuses (as of October 2026).
The online Service Charge Index tool offers three ways in. You can search by title deed details (certificate number, certificate year, property type and budget year), by project (project, usage and year), or by selecting an area on a map. The result shows the project, usage, year, start and end dates and who manages the building. The tool carries a note that the service charge shown does not include arrears.
Use it before you buy and when an invoice looks different from what you expected: compare the invoice with the index for the same building, usage and year, and ask the management company to explain any difference in writing. Our service charges guide explains how charges are built up.
How to Pay Service Charges
The Mollak payment page lists three ways to pay, as of October 2026. Your invoice shows the details that apply to your building.
| Option | How it works |
|---|---|
| Escrow account transfer | Pay into the escrow account printed on your invoice, then send the payment slip to your management company by email or in person. |
| Management company | Pay through the management company's online portal, if it has one, or at its office. |
| noqodi | Pay online with the noqodi platform using a wallet, credit card or net banking. |
Keep the confirmation for every payment as proof.
What Happens If You Do Not Pay
These are the articles of Law No. 6 of 2019 on the Dubai Legislation Portal that matter, as of October 2026.
| Article | What it says |
|---|---|
| Article 25 | An owner pays the management entity his share of the annual service charges, calculated on the area of the unit as recorded in the Real Property Register. A developer pays the share for unsold units, and for sold units where the sale contract or reservation agreement says it will. |
| Article 28 | An owner may not refrain from paying the charges approved by RERA, and may not waive his interest in common parts to avoid paying. |
| Article 32 | The management entity has a lien on every unit for unpaid charges, and a unit may not be disposed of unless they are paid. If an owner fails to pay, the management entity must request payment within 30 days of a written notice approved by RERA. After that the claim is enforceable by the execution judge at the Rental Disputes Settlement Centre. The judge may order the unit sold by public auction where necessary, and the defaulting owner pays court fees, costs and advocates' fees the judge awards. |
| Article 42 | The Rental Disputes Settlement Centre has exclusive jurisdiction over disputes about the rights and obligations in the law. |
| Article 46 | Anyone affected by a decision under the law may submit a written grievance to the Director General within 30 days of being notified. |
These are summaries of the English text, which says the Arabic text prevails where they differ. If you dispute a charge or receive a notice, read the notice carefully, keep every message, and take legal advice for your specific case. Our Rental Dispute Centre guide explains how the centre works.
Owners and Tenants
Article 16 of the law says that unless the lease says otherwise, the owner is liable for the service charges, and the owner is not discharged if the tenant fails to pay. A landlord who passes it on does so by contract, so tenants should read the tenancy contract. Rent rules are separate: see our Ejari guide and RERA rent calculator guide.
Buying or Selling: What to Ask About Service Charges
Article 32 means unpaid charges stay attached to the unit, so they matter in a sale. Before you buy a resale unit, ask for:
- the latest service charge invoice and proof that it is paid, plus the position on earlier invoices;
- the building's approved charge from the Service Charge Index, so you can check the invoice against it;
- confirmation from the management company of whether anything is outstanding;
- for off-plan or newly handed over units, the sale contract wording on who pays service charges and from when (Article 25 lets the contract say that the developer pays for sold units).
Selling. The DLD eNOC guide says an eNOC is for ready properties managed by owners association management companies where the owner receives service charge invoices from Mollak. Processing takes 3 to 5 working days, approval arrives by email with its validity, and it is not a substitute for a developer NOC, though the management company can contact the developer if needed. Owners apply in the Dubai REST app after logging in with Emirates ID, title deed, mobile number or UAE Pass, or through the management company channel. See our guides to the NOC for property sale, selling a property, trustee offices and Dubai REST app, and post-handover costs for first-year costs.
Getting Help
Start with a written query to the management company. The Mollak site lists the DLD call centre on 800 44 88 within the UAE and links to the e.complain service, and under Article 33 RERA considers complaints filed against management entities.
What is Mollak in Dubai?
Mollak is the Dubai Land Department's online system, run through RERA, that regulates service charges in jointly owned property. It covers budget approval, regulated escrow accounts, invoicing owners and payment. The Mollak site says it reflects Law No. 6 of 2019 on jointly owned real property. The name is the Arabic word for owners.
How do I check my building's service charge in Dubai?
Use the Service Charge Index on the DLD website or Dubai REST app. Search by title deed details, by project and usage, or on a map, and choose the year. The result shows the approved charge for that building and its management company. The tool notes that the figure does not include arrears.
Who approves service charges in Dubai?
RERA approves them. Under Article 27 of Law No. 6 of 2019, a management entity may not charge or collect amounts for common parts without RERA's approval, and RERA may approve a budget only after a certified audit firm recognised by RERA has approved it. A temporary budget is possible until then.
How can I pay service charges through Mollak?
The Mollak site lists three options: transfer to the building's escrow account printed on your invoice and send the slip to your management company, pay the management company through its portal or office, or pay through the noqodi platform by wallet, credit card or net banking. Your invoice shows what applies.
What happens if I do not pay service charges in Dubai?
The management entity has a lien on the unit, and the unit cannot be disposed of until charges are paid. After a written notice approved by RERA, the owner has 30 days to pay. Then the claim can be enforced by the execution judge at the Rental Disputes Settlement Centre, which can order a sale by auction. Take legal advice for a specific case.
Do tenants pay service charges in Dubai?
The law makes the owner liable for service charges unless the lease says otherwise, and the owner stays liable if the tenant does not pay. Whether a tenant bears any charge is therefore a matter of the tenancy contract. Read the contract before signing and ask the landlord to confirm in writing what is included.
Do I need a clearance from Mollak to sell my apartment?
DLD offers an eNOC for ready properties run by owners association management companies that invoice through Mollak. It takes 3 to 5 working days and does not replace a developer NOC. The exact documents depend on your property and transaction, so confirm with your management company and a trustee office.
