Mollak Invoice Explained: A Line-by-Line Breakdown of a Real Dubai Service Charge

1. The header — what to check first

• Unit number and area (sq ft) — must match your title deed exactly.
• OA name and RERA-licensed OA management company.
• Billing period — usually H1 (Jan–Jun) or H2 (Jul–Dec), sometimes annual.
• Payment due date — usually 30 days from issue.

2. General Fund — the biggest line

This is your unit's share of the OA's annual operating budget: security, cleaning, landscaping, insurance, minor maintenance, and the OA management fee. On a Downtown 1-bed of 750 sq ft, the general fund typically runs AED 18–24/sq ft, so about AED 13,500–18,000 per year.

3. Master Community Fee — for large developments

If your building is inside a master community (Downtown, Marina, JLT, Palm, Business Bay), you pay an additional master fee for community-level services: main roads, public landscaping, marina walkway, community security. Typically AED 3–7/sq ft — so about AED 2,250–5,250 on a 750 sq ft unit.

4. Reserve Fund contribution

The ring-fenced capital pool for long-term works. On a standard tower, AED 2–4/sq ft. On premium towers with lots of amenities and older buildings, AED 5–8/sq ft. Non-negotiable under JOP Law.

5. Chiller / DEWA sub-metering (some invoices)

Some OAs bundle a share of central utility costs into the invoice. Read carefully — if you already pay Empower / Emicool / Tabreed / DEWA directly, this line should be zero. Double-billing is one of the most common Mollak objections.

6. 5% VAT

Service charges are subject to 5% VAT. It applies to the general fund and OA management fee but NOT to the reserve fund contribution (which is treated as a capital pool, not a service). Watch this — some invoices mistakenly VAT the reserve line.

7. DLD administrative fee

A small fixed AED-per-unit line covering RERA's administration of Mollak. Usually AED 5–15 per year.

8. Real example — Downtown Dubai 1-bed, 750 sq ft

9. How to spot an overcharge

• Cross-check the AED/sq ft against the DLD service-charge index in the Dubai REST app.
• Confirm unit area matches your title deed — a 30 sq ft error can cost AED 900+ per year.
• Check VAT is not applied to the reserve line.
• Confirm you are not being double-billed for utilities you already pay directly.
• Check the OA management fee is a percentage of budget, not a flat AED per unit (whichever is lower is fair).

10. Filing a Mollak objection

If a line is wrong, file an objection in Mollak within 30 days of invoice. Attach evidence (title deed area, DLD index screenshot, DEWA bill). The OA has 30 days to respond, and RERA arbitrates if the parties can't agree.

11. How TowerDesk owners see the invoice

TowerDesk buildings surface the Mollak invoice inside the owner app with each line linked to the underlying budget item — click the general fund line, see the exact cost breakdown behind it. Objections file with one tap.