Glossary
Dubai property terms, explained plainly.
From DLD and Oqood to the asking-to-achieved gap — the words you'll meet when buying, selling, renting or valuing property in Dubai.
- Dubai Land Department
- The government authority that registers property ownership and transactions in Dubai and issues title deeds.
- Real Estate Regulatory Agency
- The regulatory arm of the DLD. It licenses brokers and valuers, regulates developers and advertising, and publishes the rental index.
- Title deed
- The official DLD document proving ownership of a completed (ready) property.
- Oqood
- The DLD registration of an off-plan purchase, recording the buyer's interest before the property is completed.
- Ejari
- The official registration system for tenancy contracts in Dubai. A registered Ejari is needed for many services, including utility connections.
- RERA rental index
- RERA's reference for average rents by area and property type; it determines how much a landlord may raise rent at renewal.
- Form A
- The agreement between a seller and their broker that allows the property to be marketed.
- Form B
- The agreement between a buyer and their broker.
- Form F (MOU)
- The memorandum of understanding between buyer and seller setting the agreed price and terms before transfer.
- No Objection Certificate
- A certificate from the developer confirming there are no outstanding service charges or objections, required before transfer.
- Real estate trustee office
- A DLD-authorised centre where property transfers are completed.
- DLD transfer fee
- The registration fee paid to the DLD when ownership transfers; check the current rate and who pays it before you agree terms.
- Service charge
- The annual fee owners pay for the upkeep of shared areas and building services, usually quoted per square foot.
- Mollak
- The DLD system for managing owners' associations and service charges.
- Off-plan
- Property bought before construction is complete, usually on a payment plan.
- Handover
- The point at which a completed off-plan property is delivered to the buyer.
- Escrow account
- A regulated account where off-plan payments are held and released to the developer as construction progresses.
- Snagging
- Inspecting a new property for defects before or at handover so the developer can fix them.
- Makani number
- A unique geographic address number used to locate buildings in Dubai.
- Holiday home permit
- The licence required to let a property for short stays in Dubai.
- Loan-to-value (LTV)
- The mortgage amount as a share of the property's value. UAE rules cap LTV depending on buyer type and property price.
- Debt burden ratio (DBR)
- Monthly debt repayments as a share of monthly income; banks use it to set how much you can borrow.
- Gross rental yield
- Annual rent divided by the property price, before costs.
- Net rental yield
- Annual rent after service charges, maintenance, management and vacancy, divided by the property price.
- Asking-to-achieved gap
- How far below the asking price properties actually sell, on average — a measure of negotiation room.
- Days on market
- How long a listing takes to sell; rising days on market means buyers have more time and leverage.
- Comparable sale
- A recent sale of a similar property used as evidence for a valuation, adjusted for differences such as size, floor and time.
- Confidence score
- Truval's measure of how strong the evidence behind a value is; thin or inconsistent evidence lowers it and widens the range.
- Certified valuation
- A valuation signed by a RERA-registered valuer, needed for lending, legal and official purposes. Truval's automated estimates are not certified valuations.
General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm current requirements with the DLD, RERA or your adviser.