How to sell property in Dubai

What should you check before you list?

Start with paperwork, not photographs. Find your title deed (or Oqood if the unit was bought off-plan and has only recently handed over) and confirm the names on it match the people who will sign. If the property is jointly owned, every owner must agree to the sale and sign, or appoint someone under a power of attorney.

Then check three things that commonly delay a sale:

• Mortgage. If a bank holds a charge over the property, it must be cleared at or before transfer. See selling a mortgaged property in Dubai.
• Service charges. The developer or owners' association will not issue a NOC while charges are outstanding. Check your Mollak statement now.
• Tenancy. If a tenant is in place, the sale happens subject to their lease unless you have served valid notice. Read the 12-month eviction notice rules before promising a buyer vacant possession.

How do you set a realistic asking price?

Buyers in Dubai can see a great deal of data. They will compare your asking price with recent registered sales in the same building, and so will their bank's valuer if they are using a mortgage. A price that cannot be supported by evidence tends to sit, collect stale-listing attention and then sell below where it would have sold if priced well at launch.

Use DLD transaction records and comparable listings, adjust honestly for floor, view, layout and condition, and decide in advance where your floor price is. Our guide to pricing your property to sell covers the method in detail, and property valuation in Dubai explains the difference between an agent's opinion and a formal valuation.

Appoint a RERA-licensed agent on Form A

Form A is the RERA agreement between a seller and a listing broker. It records the asking price, the agreed commission, whether the mandate is exclusive, and how long it lasts. Without it, an agent cannot obtain a Trakheesi advertising permit, and every legitimate Dubai listing now carries a Madmoun QR code that buyers can scan to verify it.

Before signing, check the agent's licence and read choosing a listing agent in Dubai. Commission is negotiable and should be written into Form A, not agreed by message.

Marketing, viewings and offers

Good photographs and an accurate floor plan do most of the early work. After that, viewings decide the sale. A clean, neutral, well-lit home with working fixtures removes the small doubts that turn into price reductions. Practical tips are in preparing your home for viewings.

When offers arrive, look beyond the headline number. A cash buyer who can transfer quickly may be worth more to you than a slightly higher mortgage offer with a long timeline and a valuation risk. Ask your agent for proof of funds or a mortgage pre-approval before you accept.

Signing the Form F MOU

Once price and terms are agreed, buyer and seller sign Form F, the RERA memorandum of understanding. It records the price, the deposit, the transfer deadline, who pays which fees and what happens if either side fails to complete. The buyer usually gives a security deposit cheque, typically held by the buyer's or seller's agent until transfer.

Read every clause before you sign. Our Form F MOU explained guide walks through the parts that cause the most disputes.

What is the developer NOC and when do you need it?

Most freehold developments require a No Objection Certificate from the master developer before DLD will register a transfer. The developer checks that service charges and any other dues are paid and issues the NOC for a fee. Processing times and fees vary by developer, so apply as soon as Form F is signed. More detail is in our developer NOC explained guide.

Transfer day at the trustee office

Transfer happens at a DLD-registered trustee office. The buyer brings manager's cheques for the price (and for the bank, if your mortgage is being cleared), and the DLD transfer fee of 4% of the purchase price, which in Dubai is customarily paid by the buyer unless Form F says otherwise. Both parties, or their attorneys, attend with original IDs and documents.

When the transfer is registered, DLD issues a new title deed in the buyer's name and the seller receives the funds. Afterwards, cancel or transfer your DEWA account, close out any chiller account, and settle final service charges as agreed.

Can you sell from overseas?

Many Dubai owners sell without flying in. A properly drafted and attested power of attorney lets a trusted person or your agent sign Form F and attend transfer on your behalf. Arrange the POA early, because attestation outside the UAE takes time. Owners who are letting while they decide whether to sell may find management for overseas landlords useful.