Dubai property glossary

The registration number of an individual broker licensed by RERA. With the brokerage's ORN, it must appear in property adverts. Dubai property buying facts

The certificate a planning authority issues when a building is complete: the Dubai Development Authority, Trakhees or Dubai Municipality, depending on the area. It starts the developer's ten-year liability for structural defects. Handover and snagging: taking the keys to a new Dubai home

The share of income that goes on debt repayments. All monthly debt repayments together, a mortgage included, may not exceed 50% of income. Mortgages in Dubai: what a bank will lend and what it costs

The Dubai government department that registers property sales, mortgages and leases and keeps the property register. Its regulatory arm is RERA.

The Dubai Land Department's real estate app: service charges, lease registration, rental and sales indices, off-plan project tracking, broker checks and the developer's e-NOC for a sale.

The system for registering tenancy contracts with RERA. Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 requires every lease to be registered. How to rent out your Dubai property

The bank account of a development project into which off-plan buyers' payments are made. Under Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007 the money may be used only to build that project. Buying off-plan in Dubai: how it works and what to check

The Dubai Land Department's standard contract between a seller and the broker marketing the property.

The Dubai Land Department's standard contract between a buyer and the broker acting for them.

The Dubai Land Department's standard sale contract between buyer and seller, recording the price, the deposit and the transfer date. By custom the buyer pays a 10% deposit when it is signed. Buying a home in Dubai: the process from start to keys

Outright ownership with no time limit. Under Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006, non-UAE nationals can own freehold property in the areas designated for it.

A long-term UAE residence visa. Property investors in Dubai can apply with property worth AED 2 million or more. The Golden Visa through property in Dubai

The delivery of a completed home to its buyer. It starts the developer's one-year liability for defective installations. Handover and snagging: taking the keys to a new Dubai home

The right to use and benefit from property for a fixed term. Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 allows non-UAE nationals to hold it for up to 99 years in designated areas.

A mortgage as a share of the property's price. The Central Bank of the UAE caps it at 80% for an expatriate's first home up to AED 5 million, down to 50% for an off-plan home. Mortgages in Dubai: what a bank will lend and what it costs

The QR code issued with each Trakheesi advertising permit, which lets anyone confirm a property advert is approved. It has been required on printed and video adverts since 24 April 2023.

The company that manages a jointly owned building or community and collects service charges under Dubai Law No. 6 of 2019. Owners are represented by an owners committee. Service charges in Dubai, explained for owners and buyers

RERA's system for regulating jointly owned property: service charge budgets, owners' invoices and oversight of management companies. Service charges in Dubai, explained for owners and buyers

The developer's certificate that it does not object to a resale. For a sale in a freehold area DLD requires the electronic version, the e-NOC, issued through Dubai REST.

A home bought from the developer before it is built, paid in stages under a payment plan. Buying off-plan in Dubai: how it works and what to check

The Dubai Land Department's interim register for off-plan homes, which records the buyer before a title deed exists. Registration costs 4% of the price plus AED 20. Buying off-plan in Dubai: how it works and what to check

A brokerage's registration number with RERA. It must appear in the brokerage's property adverts. Dubai property buying facts

The schedule of payments for an off-plan home: a first payment on booking, instalments during construction and a balance at or after handover.

A DLD-approved centre that registers property sales and mortgages. Its fee on a sale is AED 4,000 plus VAT, or AED 2,000 plus VAT under AED 500,000. The cost of buying property in Dubai, fee by fee

The regulatory arm of the Dubai Land Department. It approves service charges, registers leases through Ejari and regulates brokers and property advertising.

The Dubai Land Department's service for looking up the service charges RERA has approved for a jointly owned property, on the DLD website or in Dubai REST.

The annual charges owners pay to manage, operate, maintain and repair jointly owned property. RERA must approve them. Service charges in Dubai, explained for owners and buyers

The Dubai Land Department's rent index since January 2025, which classifies buildings by specification, finishes, location and facilities. Rent increases at renewal depend on how far a rent sits below its average. How to rent out your Dubai property

Inspecting a new home before accepting it and listing defects and unfinished work for the developer to fix. It is an industry practice, not a legal procedure. Handover and snagging: taking the keys to a new Dubai home

The developer's sale contract for an off-plan home, setting out the price, the payment plan and the completion terms. Every off-plan sale must be entered in DLD's interim register.

The Dubai Land Department's certificate of ownership, issued when a sale is registered in the property register. The issuance fee is AED 250.

The Dubai Land Department's system for issuing property advertising permits. Every property advert must show its Trakheesi permit number.