Form F MOU explained

Where Form F sits in the sale

A Dubai resale normally uses three RERA forms. Form A is the listing agreement between seller and agent. Form B is the buyer's agreement with their agent. Form F is the contract between buyer and seller, signed once a price is agreed and before the developer NOC and transfer.

The form is standardised, which keeps sales consistent, but the details you write into it are what protect you. Blank or vague fields are where disputes begin. For the wider sequence, read how to sell property in Dubai.

The clauses that matter most

Parties and property

Names must match passports and the title deed exactly. The unit, building, community and plot details should match the title deed. If someone is signing under a power of attorney, attach a copy and check it covers this specific act.

Price and payment

The agreed price, how it is paid (cash, mortgage or both) and whether any part is paid before transfer. In most resales the bulk of the money changes hands at the trustee office by manager's cheque.

Security deposit

The buyer usually provides a deposit cheque on signing. Form F should say who holds it (often the agent), when it is released, and what happens to it if either party defaults.

Transfer deadline

The date by which transfer must happen. A mortgage buyer needs time for valuation and final approval, and the seller may need a liability letter from their own bank. Agree a realistic date, not a hopeful one.

Fees

Who pays the DLD transfer fee of 4% of the price, the trustee fee, the developer NOC fee and each agent's commission. Custom is that the buyer pays the transfer fee and the seller pays the NOC, but write it down either way.

Mortgage and vacant possession conditions

If the buyer is using finance, Form F can include what happens if the bank's valuation comes in below the price or the loan is declined. Without such a condition, a buyer who cannot complete may lose their deposit.

If the property is tenanted, state clearly whether it is sold with the tenant in place or with vacant possession. A seller cannot promise vacant possession unless valid notice has been served under Dubai tenancy law. Our guide to 12-month eviction notice rules explains why.

If the seller has a mortgage, Form F should explain how it will be cleared. See selling a mortgaged property in Dubai.

Additional terms worth adding

Form F has space for additional terms. Use it for anything you would argue about later:

• Furniture, white goods or fittings included in the sale.
• The condition the property will be in at handover, and when keys and access cards are passed over.
• Who pays service charges up to transfer, and how any credit or arrears are settled.
• DEWA and chiller account closure and final bills.
• Any repairs the seller has agreed to make before transfer.

Keep wording short and specific. 'Seller to repair the leaking bathroom tap before transfer' is better than 'property in good condition'.

What happens if someone defaults

Form F sets out the remedies when one side fails to complete by the deadline for reasons within their control. Typically a defaulting buyer risks losing the security deposit, and a defaulting seller may have to compensate the buyer. Disputes that cannot be settled between the parties are handled through the relevant Dubai authorities.

The exact consequences depend on the wording and on current practice, so confirm the current position with RERA/DLD or a qualified lawyer before signing if anything is unusual.

A practical checklist before signing

• Check the title deed and seller's ID against the form.
• Confirm the seller's service charges are paid, or agree how arrears are settled.
• For a mortgage buyer, check the pre-approval is current. Our guide to mortgage pre-approval in Dubai explains what it does and does not guarantee.
• Read the default and deposit clauses twice.
• Make sure every agent involved is RERA-licensed. See how to check a RERA-licensed agent.
• Keep a signed copy, and photographs of the deposit cheque.