Buyer Guides · 5 min read
What Is Oqood in Dubai? Title Deed vs Oqood Explained
The EQT Private Office · RERA-registered brokerage · Published August 3, 2026 · Updated September 24, 2026
An Oqood is the interim certificate that records your ownership interest in an off-plan Dubai property before it is built; the developer registers it on the Dubai Land Department (DLD) system. A title deed is the DLD document that proves you legally own a completed property. Off-plan buyers start with an Oqood and receive a full title deed once the project is finished and handed over. The DLD issues both, and new buyers mix them up often, so here is what each one does and when it appears.
Key takeaways
- •A title deed is the DLD's final proof of ownership for a completed property.
- •An Oqood is the interim registration for off-plan units before handover.
- •Foreigners can own freehold outright in designated areas, with title held at the DLD.
- •The 4% DLD transfer fee applies when you register ownership.
- •Verify both documents directly with the Dubai Land Department.
- •Your Oqood converts into a title deed once the developer completes the project.
What is a Dubai title deed?
A title deed is the official Dubai Land Department document that confirms who legally owns a property. It records the owner's name, the location, the plot and unit details, the size in square metres and the type of ownership, such as freehold. In Dubai's designated freehold areas, foreign buyers can own property outright with their own name on the title deed, with no lease or nominee in between.
The title deed is the strongest proof of ownership you can hold. If you sell, mortgage or gift the property, the DLD records that transaction against the deed. Deeds are now issued electronically with a barcode or QR code that anyone can scan to confirm authenticity, and they show details such as the procedure number, the transaction date and the property usage. Because Dubai registers ownership centrally, the title deed is the single record of who controls a home, one reason the market rates as transparent by international standards.
What is an Oqood and when do you get one?
Oqood means contract in Arabic. It is the DLD's system for registering off-plan property still under construction. When you buy an unbuilt unit, the developer registers your sale and purchase agreement on the Oqood platform. That creates an interim record that protects your interest in a specific unit number while you pay through the construction period.
An Oqood certificate is not a full title deed, but it is a formal DLD registration that ties you to the property. Once the project is completed, inspected and ready for handover, the Oqood converts into a title deed in your name. Until then it is your main evidence of the purchase: a bank will ask for it if you arrange finance, and a buyer will check it if you sell the contract before completion. Keep it with your payment receipts and the signed agreement.
Title deed vs Oqood: the key differences
The difference is timing. An Oqood belongs to the off-plan stage and a title deed to the completed stage. Both are DLD records with different rights attached. An Oqood confirms a contractual interest in a unit that does not physically exist yet; a title deed confirms outright ownership of a finished property you can inspect.
- •Stage: Oqood for off-plan units, title deed for completed property.
- •Status: Oqood is interim registration, title deed is final proof of ownership.
- •Purpose: Oqood secures your unit during construction, title deed confirms full ownership.
- •Conversion: the Oqood becomes a title deed at handover once fees are settled.
- •The Dubai Land Department holds and verifies both.
How registration and fees work
Registering ownership in Dubai carries a DLD transfer fee of 4% of the property value, so budget for it from the start. On a property priced at AED 1,500,000, that fee is AED 60,000. For off-plan purchases, this and other registration steps go through the Oqood process, and any remaining charges are settled when the unit converts to a title deed at handover. Add agency commission of around 2% plus 5% VAT, and smaller administrative and trustee charges.
A RERA-registered broker and, where useful, a conveyancer make sure the paperwork is filed correctly and each fee reaches the right party at the right time. Dubai has no annual property tax, no capital gains tax and no tax on rental income, so registration costs are the main charges to plan for. The path from off-plan reservation to title deed runs like this:
- •Sign the sale and purchase agreement with the developer.
- •The developer registers the unit on the Oqood platform with the DLD.
- •Pay the DLD registration and transfer fees due at this stage.
- •Make payments in line with the construction schedule.
- •At handover, inspect the unit and settle any outstanding amounts.
- •The DLD issues a full title deed in your name.
What the title deed and Oqood contain
The details on each document are how you confirm a purchase is legitimate. A title deed lists the owner or owners, the community and building name, the unit or plot number, the built-up area, the ownership type and a unique procedure or transaction reference. It also notes any registered mortgage, so a buyer can see at a glance whether a charge needs clearing before sale.
An Oqood certificate carries much of the same information for the off-plan stage: the developer, the project, the specific unit and the buyer's details. The DLD generates both, so the data should match the official record exactly. If the name spelling, unit reference or size differs from the DLD record, stop and find out why before any money moves.
- •Owner name or names, exactly as registered with the DLD.
- •Community, building and the specific unit or plot number.
- •Built-up area in square metres and the ownership type.
- •A unique procedure, transaction or Oqood reference number.
- •Any registered mortgage or charge against the property.
How to verify your documents
You can confirm both documents through official Dubai Land Department channels, including its verification services and the Dubai REST app. Checking protects you from forged paperwork and confirms the details match the property you agreed to buy, which matters most when you buy from overseas and cannot inspect everything in person.
Before you transfer any money, check the owner or developer name, the unit reference and the property size against official records. If a seller or agent resists verification with the DLD, treat it as a serious warning sign and pause until you have independent confirmation. A short delay costs far less than chasing funds lost to a fraudulent deal.
Frequently asked
Is an Oqood the same as a title deed in Dubai?+
No. An Oqood is an interim registration for off-plan property under construction; a title deed is the final proof of ownership for a completed unit. The Oqood secures your interest during the build and converts into a DLD title deed at handover.
Can foreigners have a Dubai title deed in their own name?+
Yes. In Dubai's designated freehold areas, foreign buyers can own property outright with their name on the title deed at the Dubai Land Department. It is full ownership, not a lease, and you can sell, mortgage or pass on the property subject to the standard rules and fees.
How do I get a title deed after buying off-plan?+
The DLD first records your purchase as an Oqood. Once the developer completes and hands over the project, and you have made your payments and settled any outstanding fees, the Oqood converts into a title deed in your name.
How can I check if a Dubai title deed is genuine?+
Verify it through official Dubai Land Department channels, including its online verification services. Confirm the owner or developer name, the unit reference and the property size before paying. If a seller resists verification, pause until you have independent confirmation.
Does an Oqood let me sell my off-plan property before handover?+
Often, yes, subject to the developer's rules. Selling before completion is called an assignment: your Oqood-registered contract transfers to a new buyer. Developers require a minimum percentage of the price to be paid first and charge a transfer fee, so check the conditions in your sale and purchase agreement.
