Title Deed and Oqood in Dubai Explained

A title deed proves you own a completed property in Dubai. Oqood is the interim registration for a property still under construction. Both are issued by Dubai Land Department, and they are not the same thing.

The difference

Why Oqood matters when buying off-plan

Oqood registration puts your purchase on the Dubai Land Department record. Without it, your claim to the unit rests on a contract with the developer and nothing more. Confirm registration has happened rather than assuming it: it is the single most important protection an off-plan buyer has.

Payments on off-plan projects should go into the project's escrow account, not to the developer directly. Check the account details against what the developer has registered.

Getting your title deed

On completion, the Oqood is converted to a title deed at handover, once the final payment and fees are settled. You will need the sale contract, your passport and Emirates ID, and confirmation that service charges are clear.

Check the details on the deed the day you receive it: name spelling, unit number, plot number and size. Corrections are simple immediately and tedious years later when you sell.

Selling before completion

You can normally sell an off-plan unit before handover, but the developer must consent and will usually require a percentage of the price to have been paid first. There will be an administrative fee. Read the assignment clause in your contract before assuming it is straightforward.

Losing the document

Title deeds are electronic records rather than paper certificates in the modern system, so a lost printout is not a crisis. A replacement can be requested from Dubai Land Department.

Related reading

Our guide to Dubai Land Department fees covers every charge at transfer, and payment plans explains how off-plan instalments work.

Speak to a RERA-licensed adviser if you are unsure what stage your purchase is at.