Buying and renting in Dubai
The Dubai Land Department, explained
Most people meet the DLD in the middle of a transaction, usually when a fee or a certificate they have never heard of appears. This page explains what the department does, what you actually pay and which documents matter, in plain language.
Al Ranim Properties is a RERA-registered agency. We are not the Dubai Land Department and this page is not an official government service. For transactions and official records, use dubailand.gov.ae or the Dubai REST app.
What the Dubai Land Department actually does
The Land Department of Dubai, or DLD for short, is the government body that records who owns what in Dubai. Every property sale, mortgage, off plan purchase and tenancy contract passes through the DLD or one of its various departments. So whether you are buying or renting in Dubai, you will eventually encounter the DLD when dealing with your real estate agent.
RERA Dubai and what a registered broker means
Within the DLD is the RERA office. This office is responsible for licensing real estate agencies and brokers, escrow accounts for developers and the Dubai rental index, which dictates the percentage with which a landlord can increase a tenant’s rent. Should a real estate agent state that they are RERA registered, this is the RERA office within the DLD that they are referring to. Each agent will have a card number that can be used to identify their registration with the office.
Your title deed in Dubai
The title deed for the property that you purchase in Dubai is the document that proves that you are the owner of that property. This document is issued to individuals by the DLD after the sale of the property and after the payment of the necessary fees. Should you purchase a property that has already been sold, you can request to view the title deed of the seller prior to the purchase.
DLD fees in Dubai and the Oqood certificate
The fee that is required of buyers from the DLD is around 4% of the purchase price of the home. Additional fees are charged for the issuance of the title deed and registration with the registration trustee. For properties purchased off plan, only an interim register is established with an interim register number, the Oqood certificate. If you are weighing an off plan purchase, our off plan projects in Dubai pages list the payment plan and handover date for each one, and the mortgage calculator will fold the transfer fee into your upfront cost estimate.
Ejari registration in Dubai
Each tenant in Dubai is required to register their tenancy agreement with the government in what is known as Ejari. Without this registration, it is not possible to connect to DEWA, to sponsor a visa for a family member, or to file a case with the government in the case of a future dispute between the tenant and the landlord. While the agent or the owner of the property registers the tenant with Ejari, the tenant is responsible for obtaining the certificate of registration. If you are searching now, our apartments for rent in Dubai listings come straight from our CRM.
The Dubai REST app and the DLD app
The Dubai REST app is the application that is utilized by the DLD. It allows tenants and property owners to view title deeds, verify the license number of a real estate broker, view the construction progress of a registered project, calculate the percentage with which the rent can be increased, and register an Ejari tenancy agreement. Every client is encouraged to download this application, as it allows individuals to verify the information that is provided to them by their real estate agents.
Not sure which fee or form applies to you?
Send us the situation you are in and we will tell you which step of the process you are at, what it costs and what you should have in writing before you go further. No obligation to buy or rent anything through us.
Dubai Land Department FAQ
Questions people ask about the DLD
It is the government body that registers property ownership in Dubai and regulates the real estate sector. It records every sale and mortgage, issues title deeds, runs the Ejari tenancy system and, through RERA, licenses the agencies and brokers you deal with.
The headline figure is the transfer fee, which is around 4% of the purchase price. On top of that sit smaller fixed charges for issuing the title deed and for the registration trustee office that processes the transfer. Ask your agent for a written cost sheet before you sign anything, so the total is clear at the start rather than on completion day.
The quickest route is the Dubai REST app, where you can pull up a title deed and confirm the registered owner, the plot and unit details and whether a mortgage sits against the property. For a resale purchase, look at this before you pay a deposit, not after.
Oqood is the registration used for off plan property. Because the building does not exist yet, the DLD records your purchase on an interim register instead of issuing a full title deed. The title deed follows once the project completes and the unit is handed over to you.
Yes. A tenancy contract in Dubai has to be registered through Ejari, and without it you cannot set up a DEWA account, sponsor a family visa or bring a case if you later fall into dispute with your landlord. The landlord or agent normally files it, but always ask for a copy of the certificate and keep it.
It is the official tool that sets the maximum a landlord may increase your rent at renewal, based on how far your current rent sits below the market rate for that area. If your rent is already within 10% of the market rate, no increase is allowed at all. It protects tenants from arbitrary rises, and you can run it yourself in the Dubai REST app.
View your title deeds, validate a broker's licence, follow a project's construction progress, run the rental increase calculator and register an Ejari contract. We tell every client to install it, because it lets you check what you have been told instead of taking anyone's word for it.
Every licensed broker in Dubai carries a RERA card with a number on it. You can validate that number in the Dubai REST app before you sign a form or hand over a cheque. If an agent is reluctant to show you the card, treat that as your answer.