Dubai property, explained simply.
The process, the paperwork and the jargon — a plain-English guide for buyers, tenants and investors.
Buying a home
A typical resale purchase from first conversation to title deed.
Set your budget
Decide your budget and, if you need finance, get a mortgage pre-approval so you know exactly what you can afford.
Shortlist & view
Compare communities and properties, then view your favourites in person or by video.
Offer & MOU
Agree the price, sign the sale MOU (Form F) with the seller and pay the agreed deposit.
Transfer
Obtain the developer NOC, then complete the transfer at a Dubai Land Department trustee office and receive your title deed.
Renting a home
Most Dubai residential rentals are yearly contracts. Here’s how it usually goes.
Define your needs
Budget, community, bedrooms and commute. We’ll turn this into a focused shortlist.
View & offer
View the best options, then submit an offer and agree terms with the landlord.
Contract & Ejari
Sign the tenancy contract, pay the security deposit and register the lease on Ejari.
Move in
Connect utilities, complete the handover inspection and settle in.
Buying off-plan
Buying from a developer before completion, usually with a staged payment plan.
Choose the project
Compare developers, locations, unit types, handover dates and payment plans.
Reserve a unit
Pay a reservation amount and review the sale and purchase agreement carefully.
Register & pay
The sale is registered with the Dubai Land Department (Oqood) and instalments go into the project’s escrow account.
Handover
Complete the final payment, inspect the unit (snagging) and receive your keys.
Dubai property jargon, decoded.
The government body that registers property transactions and issues title deeds in Dubai.
The regulatory arm of the DLD. It oversees brokers, developers and project escrow accounts.
Dubai’s system for registering rental contracts, making your lease officially recognised.
The DLD registration of an off-plan sale contract, recording your purchase with the developer.
A developer’s confirmation that a resale can proceed, typically once service charges are settled.
The agreement between buyer and seller setting out the price, deposit and terms before transfer.
Mortgage calculator
Adjust the price, deposit, rate and term to see indicative monthly payments and the 4% DLD transfer fee.
Your questions, answered.
Straight answers to the questions we hear most from buyers, tenants and investors.
Let’s turn the plan into your next move.
Speak to an advisor for a personal, no-obligation walkthrough of your options.