Title deed and Oqood explained

The title deed

A title deed is DLD's official record that a named person or entity owns a specific property. It shows the owner, the property (community, plot or building, unit number), its area and any registered mortgage. Since DLD moved to digital issuance, deeds are issued electronically and can be viewed and verified through DLD channels such as the Dubai REST app. For resale purchases, the new deed is issued in the buyer's name when the trustee office completes the transfer.

Oqood: the interim register

When you buy off-plan, there is no completed unit to hold a deed against yet. DLD's Oqood system records your sale and purchase agreement against the project instead. The developer registers the contract and the DLD fee becomes payable at this stage (see DLD transfer fee explained). The Oqood certificate protects you by placing your purchase on an official register, and it is the document checked if you later sell or assign before handover.

From Oqood to title deed

1. The developer completes construction and obtains the building completion certificate. 2. The developer registers the completed units with DLD. 3. You pay the final instalment and any handover charges, and complete snagging. 4. The Oqood registration is converted and a title deed is issued in your name.

If you used bank finance, the mortgage is registered on the deed. Our handover checklist for new owners covers the practical side.

How to verify documents

Never rely on a photo or PDF alone. Ask the seller or developer for the deed or Oqood number and verify it through the Dubai REST app or DLD's official channels, or ask your agent or trustee office to do so. Check that:

• the owner's name matches the seller's passport exactly
• the unit number, building and area match what you are buying
• any mortgage is shown, so you know a bank must be paid off
• for off-plan, the project and developer are registered (see how to verify a developer on Dubai REST)

Common mistakes

• Accepting a forwarded image of a deed without verification
• Not noticing a registered mortgage on the seller's deed
• Treating a developer's reservation form or receipt as if it were Oqood registration
• Buying from someone named on Oqood without checking developer consent for assignment

Who issues and checks what

DLD maintains both the title-deed register and the Oqood register. The developer registers off-plan contracts on Oqood and, at completion, registers the finished units. For resales, the trustee office submits the transfer and DLD issues the new deed. Your agent should verify the seller's deed before Form F, and your bank checks it before lending. When you later sell, the buyer's side will verify your deed in the same way, so keep the details accessible.

Joint names and changes

If you are buying with a partner, both names are recorded on the deed or Oqood, and the share each holds can be specified — see joint ownership of Dubai property. Adding or removing a name later is a registered transaction with its own fees and process, so get the ownership structure right at purchase. Also consider how the property would pass on death; our guide to wills and inheritance explains why this matters.