Oqood Explained: Registering Your Off-Plan Property in Dubai
When you buy an off-plan unit in Dubai, you do not receive a title deed straight away, because the property does not exist yet. Instead, the sale is registered on Oqood, the Dubai Land Department’s interim register for off-plan properties. Until handover, your Oqood registration is the official record that the unit is yours.
What Oqood is
Oqood is DLD’s system for recording off-plan sales. Once registered, your purchase sits on the government record against a specific unit in a specific project. When the building is completed and handed over, the Oqood registration is converted into a title deed.
Why Oqood matters
- Proof of ownership before completion, recognised by DLD.
- Protection against double selling, because the unit is recorded against your name.
- Needed to resell the unit before handover, since the transfer is recorded on Oqood.
- Needed for financing, as banks lending against off-plan units rely on the registration.
What it costs
Off-plan buyers pay the DLD registration fee of 4% of the purchase price, plus administrative and knowledge fees. Published guidance puts the admin fee at roughly AED 250 to 500 and the knowledge fee at AED 10 to 20. Some developers run promotions that cover part of the DLD fee, so check your sale agreement for who pays what. Our cost of buying guide covers the other fees.
How registration works
- You sign the sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with the developer.
- You pay the down payment and the DLD fee, usually through the developer.
- The developer registers the sale on Oqood.
- You receive the Oqood certificate, which you should keep with your SPA.
Ask the developer for the expected timeframe and follow up if you have not received your certificate. You can also check the registration through DLD’s channels, such as the Dubai REST app.
Oqood and resale before handover
Many developers allow resale before completion once a certain percentage of the price has been paid. The developer issues a no-objection certificate, and the transfer is recorded on Oqood. The new buyer takes over the remaining payment plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is Oqood in Dubai?
Oqood is the Dubai Land Department’s register for off-plan property sales. It records your ownership of a unit before completion and is converted into a title deed at handover.
How much is the Oqood fee?
Buyers pay the DLD registration fee of 4% of the purchase price plus small administrative and knowledge fees. Some developers cover part of the fee as a promotion.
Is an Oqood certificate the same as a title deed?
No. Oqood is an interim registration for off-plan units. Once the property is completed and handed over, it is replaced by a title deed.
Can I sell my property while it is still on Oqood?
Often yes, subject to the developer’s resale policy, which usually requires a minimum percentage of the price to be paid and a developer NOC.
Talk to VVS Estate
We handle registration and transfers for buyers in Dubai and abroad. See our transfer and registration assistance, off-plan properties, or contact VVS Estate.