General FAQs

POA: Power of Attorney, or POA, allows the legal appointment of a person who can work on behalf of the issuer (of the POA) in case of his or her absence. This appointee can sign legally binding documents and make decisions. As per law, a POA requires valid notarization and attestations.

Oqood: The registration process between buyers and developers for off-plan property.

BRN: The BRN, or Broker’s Registration Number, is a number assigned to real estate brokers after they register with RERA.

ORN: The Office Registration Number is a number assigned to real estate agencies after they register with RERA.

Mustaha: Musataha is a real estate agreement that allows you to lease land from owners and construct a property or use it for any other legal purpose for up to 50 years. 

Any construction on land obtained under the Musataha operates similarly to leasehold ownership. When the lease expires, the builders’ rights to the land and property end.

Madmoun: A service accessible through the Trakheesi portal; these are QR codes for each property advertisement. Property seekers can scan these QR codes to access detailed information about the property, such as its price, availability and other specifications.

Trakheesi: An online portal operated by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) that offers a range of smart real estate services, such as permits for advertising, licensing services for real estate agencies and broker e-cards.

Ejari: The Ejari system in Dubai is a RERA initiative under the provisions of Law No. 26 of 2007. It states that all rental contracts for properties in Dubai must be registered online through a portal, to protect the rights of both landlords and tenants in the city.

Al Sa’fat: Al Sa’fat is a system that regulates and promotes sustainable developments in the UAE. Also known as the Dubai Green Building System, the standards and specifications outlined have become mandatory for all new construction projects. It regulates the consumption of resources and encourages renewable energy.

Makani: Makani is a smart navigation system that identifies every public place, building and residence in Dubai using the “Makani number,” a unique 10-digit identification code

BUA: The built-up area, or BUA, is the total construction area on the land. In the case of a building or multiple-storey construction, it is the gross floor space. 

For example, if the construction footprint of a property is 5,000 sq.ft., and the building has four floors. Its BUA would be 20,000 sq. ft.

Rental Index: A statistical indicator that measures the rate of change in rental prices of properties. You can calculate the rental index of properties in Dubai on the Dubai REST app or the Rental Index Calculator provided by the DLD.

Dubai REST app: The Dubai Rest app is an online platform launched by the Dubai Land Department to help investors and tenants perform all types of property transactions and trading services, including title deeds registrations, ‘to whom it may concern’ certificate generation, procedure status enquiries and more. It also offers information about the real estate market, such as the latest transactions by area and procedure fee calculator.

SPA: The Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) is a legal contract that binds a buyer and a seller to sell and purchase a product or service on the agreed-upon terms.

Tenancy Contract: The tenancy contract, or rental agreement, is a legally binding contract that allows the tenant to use a property for a specific purpose and stipulated time period. It includes all the lease terms and the mutually agreed-upon expectations and requirements of both parties.

Leasing Form/agreement: The leasing agreement includes details about the property to be leased, such as its price and other terms and conditions.

Title Deed: A Title Deed is a document recognised and registered by the Dubai Land Department. It shows proof of ownership and registers a particular property with the DLD authorities.

Form I: Form I is an agreement between two agents who work on behalf of the buyer and the seller. Form I ensures a professional relationship between two or more agents. 

This agreement is primarily used when several agents are involved in one joint transaction concerning property sale or lease.

Form F: Form F, or the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), is the purchase agreement between a buyer and a seller. The form is signed once the buyer has agreed on the property and a price has been decided between the two parties.

Form U: When an agent and client want to terminate their previously signed agreements, both parties should sign Form U. The buyer or seller can unilaterally terminate the contract with the broker by signing a copy of Form U. It is the only legally accepted way to end the agreement. 

Under regulations in Form U, the real estate agent must be notified of the agreement termination in written form. The reason for termination and the contract termination date are also required.

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Form B: Form B is an agreement between a property buyer and a real estate agent. Also called the Buyer’s Agent Agreement, it establishes that the agent will only work for the buyer. Typically, the buyer’s agent fills up Form B, and the buyer signs the agreement. Form B also includes the following details: 

• The property type the buyer is interested in 

• The property’s location 

• The buyer’s budget 

• The buyer’s requirements 

It will also have details about the contract termination terms, compensation percentage, and agency commission.

Form A: This RERA form is an agreement between the seller and the listing agent to advertise a property. It includes details of the property, such as service charges, mortgage status and payment schedules. It also has information about how the property will be marketed, such as the portals to be used. 

Once the Form A is signed, it can be submitted to the DLD’s Trakheesi system to generate a real estate advertisement permit number (Trakheesi permit). Only three Form As can be generated for one property.

• Cash Purchases: Typically completed within 2–4 weeks. In some cases, as quickly as 3–7 working days.
• Mortgage Purchases: Usually take 4–8 weeks due to additional steps like bank approval, valuation, and coordination.

The timeline also depends on:

• Whether the property is ready or off-plan
• Settlement of service charges or mortgages
• Availability of necessary NOCs

Yes, but conditions apply:

• Most developers require that 30–40% of the property value is paid before allowing resale
• An NOC from the developer is mandatory
• A transfer fee may also apply
• Some developers impose restrictions based on the project’s construction stage

DLD charges a 4% registration fee on the property value. Additional fees include:

• AED 580 for ready apartments/offices
• AED 430 for land
• AED 40 for off-plan registrations

In some off-plan deals, developers may cover the DLD fee as part of promotional offers.

Service charges are annual fees paid by property owners for maintenance of shared facilities and services. This includes cleaning, landscaping, security, pools, and common areas.

• Charges typically range from AED 3 to AED 30 per sq. ft. per year
• Rates are regulated and published annually by DLD

You can check a property’s market value using:

• DLD’s official property valuation service
• DLD’s Open Data Transaction Records, which provide public access to past sale prices and comparable listings

These tools help buyers and sellers make informed decisions.

RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Agency) is the regulatory arm of DLD, ensuring transparency and fairness in the property market. RERA:

• Licenses developers and brokers
• Enforces use of escrow accounts for off-plan sales
• Regulates advertising practices
• Offers a formal platform for dispute resolution

This framework protects buyers from fraud and misrepresentation.

An NOC is a document issued by the developer confirming that there are no outstanding payments or service charges on the property. It is mandatory when:

• Transferring ownership in the secondary market
• Reselling an off-plan property before handover

The Oqood certificate is issued to buyers of off-plan properties. It confirms that the property is officially registered in the buyer’s name with the DLD during the construction phase. Once the property is completed and handed over, the Oqood is replaced with a Title Deed.

You can verify a project’s approval status through the DLD’s Project Status Inquiry tool or the Dubai REST app. These platforms also allow you to:

• Check if a project has an active escrow account
• Review developer credentials and licenses
• Track construction progress and completion timelines

1. Research the developer and project status through a trusted real estate agent.
2. Pay a booking fee to reserve your unit.
3. Sign the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) outlining terms and payment schedule.
4. Register the property with DLD and obtain the Oqood certificate.
5. Make installment payments as per the agreed plan.
6. On completion, clear outstanding payments, take handover, and receive your Title Deed.

Buyers can monitor project progress and documents via the Dubai REST app.

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Dubai’s Escrow Law (Law No. 8 of 2007) ensures that buyer payments for off-plan properties are deposited in secured escrow accounts. Developers can only access these funds after meeting verified construction milestones. 

This regulation is designed to protect buyers and ensure funds are used strictly for the intended project.

Yes, investing in property in Dubai can make you eligible for a residency visa, depending on the property’s value:

• 2-Year Renewable Investor Visa:
  Available for ready properties valued at AED 750,000 or more.
  If the property is mortgaged, at least 50% of its value must be paid upfront (e.g., AED 375,000).
  
  
• 10-Year Golden Visa:
  Available for properties worth AED 2 million or more, including ready and off-plan units.
  Buyers can also combine multiple properties to meet the minimum threshold.

Mortgage Clause:

Even if the property is mortgaged, you are eligible for the Golden Visa, provided you can present a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your bank or developer. For off-plan properties, a recent statement of account from the developer is required.

When purchasing a property in Dubai’s secondary market, buyers should be aware of several additional costs beyond the property’s selling price. These include:

• Dubai Land Department (DLD) Fees:
  
  • 4% of the selling price
    
  • AED 580 for Title Deed (apartments/offices)
    
  • AED 430 for Title Deed (land)
    
  • AED 40 for Oqood/Initial Contract (if applicable)
    
• Registration Trustee Fee:
  
  • AED 4,200 if selling price > AED 500,000
    
  • AED 2,100 if selling price ≤ AED 500,000
    (Applicable to both Title Deed and Oqood properties)
    
• Mortgage Registration Fee (if applicable):
  
  • 0.25% of the mortgage value + AED 290
    
• Broker Commission:
  
  • 2% of the selling price + 5% VAT

Note: For off-plan properties, registration is typically managed by the developer or through a trustee office, rather than directly with DLD.