RERA Property Registration & Title Deeds 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the difference between a primary and secondary market transaction in Dubai real estate?
- Primary market: buying directly from a developer (new or off-plan); Secondary market: buying from an existing owner (resale) (Correct answer)
- Primary market is for commercial; secondary is for residential properties
- Primary means freehold; secondary means leasehold transactions
- Primary transactions are larger than AED 1 million; secondary are smaller
Correct answer: Primary market: buying directly from a developer (new or off-plan); Secondary market: buying from an existing owner (resale)
Primary market transactions involve buying directly from the developer, often off-plan or at launch. Secondary (resale) market transactions involve buying from an existing owner. Different fees, processes, and documentation apply. Brokers work in both markets but must understand the different procedures.
Question 2: What fee does DLD charge for a property valuation certificate?
- AED 4,000 plus VAT for standard valuation (Correct answer)
- No fee; valuation is a free DLD service
- AED 500 per property
- AED 10,000 for commercial properties only
Correct answer: AED 4,000 plus VAT for standard valuation
DLD charges approximately AED 4,000 (subject to change) for an official valuation certificate. DLD valuations are used for mortgage approvals, divorce settlements, inheritance cases, and other legal purposes where an official government-issued valuation is required.
Question 3: Which DLD service allows parties to verify the authenticity of a title deed online?
- DLD's smart app and website title deed verification service (Correct answer)
- Only through physical visit to DLD office
- Through RERA's Trakheesi system
- Through the Dubai Courts system only
Correct answer: DLD's smart app and website title deed verification service
DLD provides a digital title deed verification service through its Smart App and website (dubailand.gov.ae). Buyers, brokers, and banks can verify that a presented title deed is authentic, current, and free of encumbrances before proceeding with a transaction.
Question 4: What is a 'block registration' in Dubai real estate?
- Registration of all units in a development collectively, commonly used for off-plan bulk sales between developer and a master developer (Correct answer)
- A mortgage that covers multiple properties
- A communal leasehold title for an entire residential community
- A method of registering commercial floors as a single unit
Correct answer: Registration of all units in a development collectively, commonly used for off-plan bulk sales between developer and a master developer
Block registration allows a developer to register multiple units in a single transaction, often used for bulk sales to investors or in master developer relationships. DLD's Oqood system facilitates this for off-plan developments, reducing administrative burden for large transactions.
Question 5: What document does DLD issue for off-plan property purchases before the project is completed?
- Oqood Certificate (Initial Sale Registration Certificate) (Correct answer)
- Title deed (Tabu)
- Ejari certificate
- Completion certificate
Correct answer: Oqood Certificate (Initial Sale Registration Certificate)
When an off-plan property is purchased and registered in the Oqood system, DLD issues an Oqood Certificate (also called the Initial Sale Registration Certificate). This is the buyer's proof of purchase and registration until the project completes and a full title deed is issued.
Question 6: Which party is responsible for paying the DLD transfer fee — buyer or seller?
- By convention, the buyer pays the full 4% DLD fee, though it is negotiable and can be split (Correct answer)
- Always the seller per DLD mandate
- Always shared equally with no option to negotiate
- The developer pays for all new unit transfers
Correct answer: By convention, the buyer pays the full 4% DLD fee, though it is negotiable and can be split
The 4% DLD transfer fee is not prescribed to any single party by law — it is negotiable between buyer and seller. However, market convention in Dubai is that the buyer pays the full 4%. In negotiations, it is sometimes split or absorbed by the seller, particularly in a buyer's market.
RERA Property Registration & Title Deeds 2
What is the difference between a primary and secondary market transaction in Dubai real estate?