The words of buying in Dubai, explained simply.
The acronyms, contracts and authorities you will meet from booking to handover. Every definition points to its official source.
- BRNBroker Registration Number
The personal number on a RERA-licensed broker's card. It must appear on their adverts; it can be checked in Trakheesi or the Dubai REST app.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- DBRDebt burden ratio
The share of monthly income spent repaying all debts. Central Bank regulation limits it to 50% of gross salary and regular income.
Source : Banque centrale des Émirats (CBUAE)
- DETDepartment of Economy and Tourism
The Dubai authority that issues, among others, the “Holiday Home” permit required to let a home by the night or week.
Source : Department of Economy and Tourism
- DEWADubai Electricity and Water Authority
The public water and electricity provider. The meter is put in the occupant's name with a deposit; the Ejari lease or the title deed is required.
Source : DEWA
- DLDDubai Land Department
Dubai's land administration. It registers sales, mortgages and leases, and publishes the transaction data used on this page.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Dubai RESTDLD official app
The DLD's app for property services: check a deed, a project or a broker, view one's properties and leases.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- EIBOREmirates Interbank Offered Rate
The reference rate at which UAE banks lend to each other, published by the Central Bank. Variable-rate loans use it as a base, plus a margin.
Source : Banque centrale des Émirats (CBUAE)
- EjariLease registration
Dubai's lease registration system, run by the DLD. The rents quoted on this site come from the contracts registered in it.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Emirates ID
The identity card of every UAE resident, issued with the residence visa. It is required for an Ejari lease, a DEWA meter or a resident bank account.
Source : ICP
- EscrowEscrow account
An account specific to each off-plan project, held by an approved bank, into which buyers' payments are made. The funds can only be used to build that project (Law No. 8 of 2007).
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Form ASeller agreement
The RERA contract between the owner and the agency marketing their property: term, asking price, commission. It is required to publish the advert.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Form BBuyer agreement
The RERA contract between the buyer and the agency representing them: the property sought, the term, the commission.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Form FSale MOU
The RERA contract signed between the buyer and seller of a resale property: price, deposit (often 10%), transfer date and conditions. It is the secondary market's “MOU”.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Form IAgent-to-agent agreement
The RERA contract between two agencies working together on one sale: it sets how the commission is shared.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Freehold
Full ownership of a property, with no time limit. A foreigner can acquire it in the areas designated by the emirate (Law No. 7 of 2006 on real property registration); elsewhere, ownership is reserved for UAE and GCC nationals.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- GDRFAGeneral Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs
The Dubai authority that issues residence visas, including the Golden Visa obtained through property.
Source : GDRFA Dubaï
- Golden VisaLong-term residence
Long-term residence available through property: properties worth at least AED 2,000,000 (≈ EUR 493,000) in total. GDRFA Dubai states 10 years, the federal u.ae portal 5 years; for an off-plan property, have it confirmed before buying.
Source : GDRFA Dubaï
- Handover
Delivery of the completed property to the buyer, once the completion certificate is issued and the sums due are paid. The developer's announced date can slip; the contract sets what happens then.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Holiday HomeShort-term letting
Furnished letting by the night or week. It requires a DET permit, in the name of the owner or a licensed operator, and the building's consent.
Source : Department of Economy and Tourism
- ICPFederal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security
The federal authority for identity and visas in the UAE; it issues the Emirates ID. In Dubai, residence visas go through the GDRFA.
Source : ICP
- KYCKnow your customer
The identity and source-of-funds checks that the agency, the bank and the developer must carry out before a transaction, under anti-money-laundering rules.
Source : u.ae, portail officiel des Émirats
- Leasehold
A registered right of use for a long term (up to 99 years), without ownership of the land. To be told apart from freehold before buying.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- LTVLoan-to-value
The share of the price (or appraised value) a bank can lend. The Central Bank caps it: 80%, 70%, 60% or 50% depending on the property and borrower, 50% for any off-plan property.
Source : Banque centrale des Émirats (CBUAE)
- MadmounListing verification
The DLD's listing verification service: a QR code on the advert lets you check that the property, its owner and the advertising permit are genuine.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Master community
A large development laid out by a master developer (roads, parks, services), in which other developers build. Its common charges come on top of the building's.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Mortgage registration
Registration at the DLD of the bank's mortgage over the financed property, at fees set by the DLD scale. Mortgages are never counted as sales on this site.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- MOUMemorandum of understanding
The written agreement that sets the terms of a sale before the transfer at the DLD. On resale, it takes the form of RERA's Form F.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- NOCNo objection certificate
The developer's written consent, required in particular to assign an off-plan property or register a mortgage on it. Its conditions and fees are set by the developer and the contract.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Off-plan / Ready
Off-plan: a property sold before or during construction, paid in instalments and entered in Oqood. Ready: a completed property, sold with its title deed; this is also the resale market.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- OqoodInterim register
The DLD's interim register for off-plan sales (Law No. 13 of 2008). The developer registers the sale there, which produces a provisional registration e-certificate.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- ORNOffice Registration Number
The number that identifies a real estate agency registered with RERA. It can be checked on the DLD website; SwissPro360's is ORN 53525.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Payment plan
The schedule of payments for an off-plan purchase, set in the contract: booking, instalments tied to construction progress, balance at handover or after.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- RERAReal Estate Regulatory Agency
The DLD's regulatory arm. It licenses agencies and brokers, and oversees developers and escrow accounts. SwissPro360 is registered under ORN 53525.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Service charges
Annual charges for the upkeep of common areas, calculated per unit area. The DLD publishes an index of these charges by project. They reduce the gross yield.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Snagging
Inspecting the property before taking the keys: the defects found are listed in writing for the developer to fix. The post-handover warranty depends on the contract.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- SPASale and purchase agreement
The contract signed with the developer or seller. It sets the price, the payment schedule, the handover date, late-payment penalties and resale conditions.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Title DeedTitle deed
The deed issued by the DLD when the property is entered in your name in the land register: on buying a ready property, or after completion for an off-plan one, usually once the price is paid in full.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- TrakheesiLicences and permits
The DLD's licence and advertising permit system: it lets you check that a broker is licensed and that an advert is authorised.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Transfer feeDLD transfer fee
The fee for registering a sale with the DLD: 4% of the price, plus fixed charges. The dated detail is in the purchase costs guide.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Trustee officeRegistration trustee
A DLD-approved centre where the transfer of ownership takes place: document checks, payment of fees, issue of the deed. Its fees follow a set scale.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- Valuation
The appraisal of the property by a licensed valuer, required by the bank before a loan. The loan is based on the lower of price and appraised value.
Source : Dubai Land Department
- VATUAE VAT
The UAE value added tax, at 5%. It applies in particular on top of agency fees; the sale of a new or existing home has its own rules.
Source : Federal Tax Authority
These definitions are general: they replace neither the official text, nor the contract, nor a professional's advice on your situation.