Oqood is the Dubai Land Department’s interim register for homes bought off-plan. The developer registers your contract within 90 days of signing and the certificate is emailed to you. You pay the 4% DLD fee plus AED 20. With Oqood the purchase is in your name until construction ends and the title deed is issued.
What Oqood means
Oqood means “contracts” in Arabic. It is the DLD register for sales of homes that are still under construction. Dubai Law No. 13 of 2008 makes it compulsory: an off-plan sale that is not recorded in this register is void.
That is why the Oqood certificate matters. It is the official proof that the unit is yours while it is being built, and the document you will need for almost anything before handover.
Who registers it and when
You do not need to visit the DLD. The developer files the registration through its portal with the signed SPA and your passport. The DLD sets two deadlines:
- The contract must be registered within 90 days of signing.
- Once filed, the DLD processes it within one working day.
The certificate is electronic and arrives by email. Check that your name, the unit and the price match the SPA.
How much Oqood costs
The main cost is the DLD fee, 4% of the price, plus AED 20. The rules split the 4% equally between buyer and seller unless agreed otherwise, and off-plan the buyer usually pays it. Some developers cover it as an incentive, in which case it must be written into the SPA.
| Item | AED | € | $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| DLD fee, 4% | AED 40,000 | €9,695 | $10,892 |
| Registration fees | AED 20 | €5 | $5 |
| Total | AED 40,020 | €9,700 | $10,897 |
The DLD also charges the developer AED 1,000, about €240 or $270, to register each sale, and some pass it on. Check your contract. All purchase costs are in the buying costs guide.
What Oqood lets you do
A unit registered in Oqood can be sold, mortgaged or assigned before handover. In practice:
- Resell before the keys, with the developer’s NOC. The DLD changes the owner in the same register.
- Get a mortgage. Off-plan, the Central Bank of the UAE allows lending up to 50% of the value.
- Prove your purchase to your bank, your tax authority or anyone else.
From Oqood to title deed
Oqood lasts as long as construction. When the project is complete and you have paid in full, the developer asks the DLD to move your unit to the property register and your title deed is issued.
That step costs AED 520, about €126 or $142, for the title deed, the map and fees. The 4% is not charged again, as you already paid it at Oqood.
Oqood when you buy from abroad
Buying from the UK, the US or anywhere else changes nothing. You need no residency and no trip: with your passport and the signed SPA, the developer registers the Oqood and the certificate is emailed to you.
Keep it with your SPA and payment receipts. Your bank, your accountant and, later, any buyer will ask for it. The full process is in the Oqood registration guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is Oqood in Dubai?
It is the DLD’s interim register for off-plan purchases. It proves the unit is bought in your name while it is being built.
Who registers Oqood?
The developer, through its DLD portal, with the signed SPA and your passport. You receive the certificate by email.
How long does Oqood take?
The developer has 90 days from signing the SPA to register it, and the DLD processes it within one working day once filed.
How much does Oqood cost?
The 4% DLD fee plus AED 20. On a AED 1,000,000 home that is AED 40,020, about €9,700 or $10,900.
Are Oqood and the title deed the same?
No. Oqood is the interim register during construction. The title deed is issued at completion, once you have paid in full.
Learn more
Other key terms
- 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?
- What is an NOC in Dubai?
- See the full glossary
· Broker and investor in Dubai
