Mollak is the Dubai Land Department’s system for jointly owned buildings and communities. If you own a flat or a townhouse in a Dubai building with shared areas, your service-charge budget is approved, invoiced and tracked through Mollak. This guide explains what it does, how to check your building’s approved charges and what happens if they go unpaid.
What is Mollak?
Mollak (Arabic for “owners”) is an electronic system run by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) through the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). DLD describes it as the system that regulates jointly owned properties in Dubai, including service charges and their payment, in line with Law No. 6 of 2019 on jointly owned property.
Mollak registers:
- Jointly owned properties and owners associations
- Management companies, their staff and their management contracts
- Auditors and the banks that hold service-charge accounts
- Service-charge budgets, financial records and audit reports
What do service charges pay for?
- Cleaning, security and upkeep of lobbies, corridors, lifts, car parks, pools, gyms and landscaping
- Electricity, water and cooling for the common areas
- A reserve fund for large, infrequent costs such as replacing lifts or fire systems
How the budget is set and billed
- The management company prepares a budget for each building or property group and submits it to Mollak.
- An audit firm reviews it, and DLD gives the final approval in Mollak.
- Owners are invoiced, usually quarterly, based on the approved budget.
- Payments go into a regulated bank account that DLD approves for that building, so service-charge money stays separate from the management company’s own funds.
How to check your building’s approved charges
DLD’s free Service Charge Index shows the approved service charges for any jointly owned project:
- Open the DLD website (Mollak) or the Dubai REST app.
- Choose “Service Charge Index”.
- Select the project name, its use (residential, commercial and so on) and the year.
Compare the approved rate with your invoice. If they differ, ask your management company in writing.
What if service charges go unpaid?
- Every owner must pay the approved charges to the building’s management entity.
- Late payments lead to penalties and formal notices from the management company.
- Unpaid charges can block a sale, because the no-objection certificate needed for the transfer won’t be issued while charges are outstanding.
- If you rent the unit out, the owner stays liable for service charges unless the lease says otherwise.
Where BAB fits
Mollak handles the money side: budgets, invoices and service-charge accounts. BAB works alongside it for the day-to-day life of the community. BAB isn’t connected to Mollak and doesn’t bill or collect service charges in the UAE.
- Gate: QR visitor passes and a time-stamped entry log. Visitor management
- Maintenance: residents report problems with photos and confirm the fix. Maintenance requests
- Communication: announcements, messages addressed by role, a calendar and amenity booking. Community
- Leases: lease dates, renewal reminders, move-in and move-out. Leases and tenants
See how BAB works alongside Mollak. Want to try BAB in your Dubai community? Email hello@getbab.com or message us on WhatsApp @GetBAB.
FAQ
What is Mollak in Dubai?
Mollak is the Dubai Land Department’s electronic system for jointly owned properties. It registers owners associations and management companies, approves service-charge budgets and tracks service-charge accounts.
How do I check my building’s service charges?
Use DLD’s Service Charge Index on the DLD website (Mollak) or the Dubai REST app, and select your project, its use and the year.
How often are service charges billed?
Usually quarterly, based on the budget DLD approved for your building.
Who approves the service-charge budget?
The management company prepares it, an audit firm reviews it, and DLD approves it in Mollak.
Does BAB replace Mollak?
No. Mollak handles budgets and service charges; BAB handles the gate, maintenance, communication and leases inside the community. BAB isn’t connected to Mollak.
Sources
- Dubai Land Department: About Mollak: mollak.dubailand.gov.ae
- Dubai Land Department: Service Charge Index: dubailand.gov.ae
- Bayut: the Mollak system in Dubai (updated February 2026): bayut.com
- haus & haus: Dubai service charges explained: hausandhaus.com
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal advice. BAB isn’t affiliated with the Dubai Land Department, RERA or Mollak. Check your invoice and DLD’s official services, and ask a qualified adviser about a dispute. Last updated: October 2026.