A title deed is the Dubai Land Department document proving you own a property. On an off-plan purchase it is issued at completion, once you have paid in full: the unit moves from the Oqood interim register to the property register. It costs AED 520, about €126 or $142, is issued electronically in about 6 working days and can be verified online.
What a title deed is
The title deed is issued by the DLD, which records every property transaction in Dubai, and it is the document that proves who owns a property.
Foreign buyers can hold full freehold ownership in the areas set by the Dubai Government under Law No. 7 of 2006.
When it is issued on an off-plan purchase
While construction is under way there is no title deed, because the home does not yet exist as a finished property. Your purchase is recorded in Oqood, the interim register.
Once the project has its completion certificate and you have paid the rest of the plan, the developer asks the DLD to move your unit to the property register. The DLD then issues the title deed electronically in about 6 working days. It is one of the steps of handover, covered in the handover and snagging guide.
What it costs
Off-plan, moving from Oqood to title deed costs little, because the 4% DLD fee was paid at Oqood:
| Item | AED | € | $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Title deed | AED 250 | €61 | $68 |
| Unit map | AED 250 | €61 | $68 |
| Fees | AED 20 | €5 | $5 |
| Total | AED 520 | €126 | $142 |
On a resale the title deed is issued when the sale is registered at a trustee office. There you pay the 4% DLD fee, split equally unless agreed otherwise, plus AED 250 for the deed and the centre’s fee: AED 4,000 plus VAT if the price is AED 500,000 or more, about €970 or $1,090, and AED 2,000 plus VAT below that. All costs are in the buying costs guide.
How to verify a title deed
The DLD has a service to check a title deed is valid. It is on its website and in the Dubai REST app: you enter the deed number and year and see the result immediately. You can also check the owner and the property together.
It is useful when you buy a resale, when you rent or when a bank asks you to confirm ownership.
What you use it for
- Selling or renting the finished home.
- Mortgaging it. Registering a mortgage with the DLD costs 0.25% of the loan, plus AED 250 for the deed and AED 20 in fees.
- Applying for the investor Golden Visa. The title deed is one of the documents the DLD asks for, with a value from AED 2,000,000, about €485,000 or $545,000. Off-plan the documents differ; see the Golden Visa guide.
- Connecting electricity and water with DEWA as the owner.
Keep it with your SPA and Oqood certificate. From the UK or the US you receive and check it the same way, electronically.
Frequently asked questions
What is a title deed in Dubai?
It is the property ownership document issued by the DLD. It proves who owns the home.
When do I get the title deed if I buy off-plan?
At completion, once you have paid in full. Until then your purchase is recorded in Oqood.
How much does the title deed cost?
Off-plan, AED 520, about €126 or $142, for the deed, the map and fees. The 4% DLD fee was already paid at Oqood.
How long does the DLD take to issue it?
About 6 working days from the developer’s request with payments complete. It is issued electronically.
How do I check a title deed is valid?
With the DLD verification service, on its website or in the Dubai REST app, by entering the deed number and year.
Learn more
- Handover and snagging: what to check when you get the keys
- Dubai property buying costs
- UAE Golden Visa through property investment
Other key terms
- What is Oqood in Dubai?
- What is an escrow account in Dubai?
- What is an SPA in Dubai?
- What is a service charge in Dubai?
- What is an NOC in Dubai?
- See the full glossary
· Broker and investor in Dubai
