An NOC, or No Objection Certificate, is the document in which the developer states it does not object to you selling or mortgaging your home and confirms you are up to date with payments. Without it, the DLD will not register the resale of an off-plan unit. Completed homes in freehold areas need one too, issued electronically through the Dubai REST app. Each developer sets its own fee and conditions.
What NOC means
NOC stands for No Objection Certificate. It is a short document in which whoever has a say over the property, almost always the developer, states that it does not object to a specific transaction.
On an off-plan purchase you will mostly hear about it at the end of the story, when you want to sell before the keys. The DLD is clear: an off-plan unit can be resold before it moves to the property register, but only with the developer’s NOC. That resale is recorded in the same Oqood register, which changes the owner.
When you need one
You do not need it to buy. You need it when the home changes hands or when a bank wants to register a mortgage on it:
| Transaction | Issued by |
|---|---|
| Reselling an off-plan home before handover | The developer |
| Selling a completed home in a freehold area | The developer, electronically through Dubai REST |
| Mortgaging a home still registered in Oqood | The developer, electronically through Dubai REST |
| Moving your mortgage to another bank | Your current bank |
In every case the DLD will not register the transaction without it. The step-by-step for a resale is in the guide to selling off-plan before handover.
What the developer checks first
The NOC is how the developer settles accounts with you before a new owner comes in. It usually checks:
- That you have paid what your contract requires. The SPA usually has a resale clause with the minimum share of the price you must have paid before selling, and each developer sets it.
- That you have no overdue instalments or bounced cheques.
- On a completed home, that the service charge is paid.
- The buyer’s details and documents.
If something is missing, the request is rejected with the reason. So read the resale clause before you buy if you already plan to sell, and stay up to date with payments.
What it costs and how long it takes
There is no official NOC fee: each developer sets its own. In the conditions some developers publish, it ranges from AED 500 plus VAT, about €121 or $136, for a completed home requested through the app, to AED 4,000 plus VAT, about €970 or $1,090, for an off-plan resale, with a 6 working day turnaround.
In a completed building, the company that manages the owners association may also need to issue its own e-NOC through Dubai REST. According to the DLD it takes 3 to 5 working days, arrives by email with its validity date and does not replace the developer’s NOC.
The NOC adds to the other costs of a sale: the 4% DLD fee and the trustee office fee. They are all together in the resale guide.
Getting an NOC from abroad
You do not need to travel to request it. It is requested from the developer through its own channels, or through the Dubai REST app where the service is available there, and the answer comes by email. To log in to the app you can use your title deed number or your mobile, as well as an Emirates ID or UAE PASS.
What does have to happen in person is signing the sale at the trustee office. If you will not be in Dubai, you can give a power of attorney to someone you trust. How to legalise it from the UK, the US or elsewhere is in the power of attorney guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is an NOC in Dubai?
The no objection certificate in which the developer accepts that you sell or mortgage your home and confirms you are up to date with payments.
Can I sell off-plan without an NOC?
No. The DLD only registers the resale of an off-plan unit with the developer’s NOC.
How much does an NOC cost?
Each developer sets it. In the conditions some publish, it ranges from AED 500 plus VAT for a completed home to AED 4,000 plus VAT for an off-plan resale.
How long does an NOC take?
It depends on the developer. One publishes 6 working days, and the owners association e-NOC in Dubai REST takes 3 to 5 working days according to the DLD.
Do I need an NOC to get a mortgage?
Yes, if the home is still in Oqood: the DLD requires the developer’s e-NOC to register the mortgage.
Learn more
- Selling off-plan before handover in Dubai
- The Dubai SPA, clause by clause
- Dubai mortgage for non-residents
Other key terms
- What is Oqood in Dubai?
- What is an escrow account in Dubai?
- What is an SPA in Dubai?
- What is a title deed in Dubai?
- What is a service charge in Dubai?
- See the full glossary
· Broker and investor in Dubai
