Oqood in Dubai: Fees and How to Register Off-Plan Property

Oqood (Arabic for “contracts”) is the Dubai Land Department’s system for recording off-plan property sales on Dubai’s interim real estate register. The developer registers the sale and the purchaser receives a provisional registration e-certificate. This records the purchase while the property is under development; the final title deed is issued through the main property register after completion and the required registration steps.

If you are buying off-plan in a community such as Al Warsan 4, understanding Oqood in Dubai helps you check that your purchase has been officially recorded. Keep the certificate, signed Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) and payment receipts together.

This guide explains registration, fees, documents, certificate checks and resale considerations. Information checked on 26 October 2026.

Oqood at a glance

• Authority: Dubai Land Department (DLD).
• Purpose: Registration of an off-plan sale in the provisional register.
• Applicant: The developer through the Oqood portal.
• Deadline: Within 90 days of signing the SPA.
• Output: A provisional registration e-certificate emailed to the purchaser.
• Sale registration charges: DLD lists 2% for the seller and 2% for the purchaser. Check your SPA for the agreed allocation.

Why Oqood registration matters

Dubai’s interim registration framework creates an official record of an off-plan transaction. Registration allows the buyer’s interest in a specific unit to be recorded with DLD, rather than relying only on a private agreement.

Registration and project escrow checks serve different purposes. An Oqood certificate confirms the registered transaction; the project’s escrow arrangements govern the handling of development payments. Check both before committing to a purchase.

• Confirm the developer, project and unit details.
• Verify the project’s registration and applicable escrow payment instructions.
• Keep evidence of the registered purchase for future transfer, financing enquiries or disputes.

How Oqood registration works step by step

1. Check the project before signing. Verify the developer, project registration, construction status and approved payment instructions through DLD’s official channels. Compare apartments for sale in Al Warsan 4 against your budget and requirements.
2. Review and sign the SPA. Confirm the price, unit details, payment schedule, expected completion date, fee allocation and resale conditions.
3. Provide the documents. DLD lists the signed SPA and a valid UAE ID for individuals, with a valid passport for non-residents. Company purchases and representation require additional documents.
4. The developer submits the application. The developer selects provisional sale registration in Oqood, enters the details, attaches documents and arranges payment.
5. Pay the agreed charges. Request an itemised breakdown and receipts. Establish whether the contract allocates any seller-side charges to you.
6. Receive and verify the certificate. Compare the electronic output with your SPA and request corrections if necessary.
7. Complete final registration. At handover, confirm the final payment and main-register requirements for issuing the title deed. Completion does not make this step automatic.

What Oqood registration costs in 2026

DLD’s initial-sale service currently lists these charges:

• Seller: 2% of the sale value.
• Purchaser: 2% of the sale value.
• Knowledge fee: AED 10.
• Innovation fee: AED 10.
• Developer self-registration fee through the Oqood portal: AED 1,000, listed separately.

Do not assume the buyer must automatically pay every charge. Check your SPA and the transaction arrangements for the agreed allocation. Ask whether and how the separately listed self-registration charge appears on your quotation.

Example for an AED 600,000 apartment

Each 2% charge equals AED 12,000. Together, the seller and purchaser percentage charges total AED 24,000. Adding the knowledge and innovation fees gives AED 24,020 before the separately listed developer charge or other applicable charges. This illustrates the listed sale-related charges; it is not a quotation for the buyer’s personal bill.

If your SPA allocates the full 4% to you, budget AED 24,000 for that percentage component. Obtain the complete written breakdown before paying. A “DLD fee waiver” should state which charges the developer covers and any conditions.

Oqood vs title deed what is the difference

Oqood certificate: Evidence that your purchase has been entered on the provisional register, commonly during construction. It supports your registered interest in the off-plan unit.

Title deed: The final ownership document issued through the main property register after completion and the applicable registration requirements. Verify issuance rather than assuming handover alone replaces the provisional certificate.

Before accepting handover, arrange an appropriate inspection and clarify outstanding payments, defects, service charges and registration steps.

How to verify your Oqood certificate

1. Compare it with the SPA. Check the purchaser’s name, developer, project and unit identifiers, area and recorded transaction details.
2. Use official DLD channels. Use the relevant Dubai REST service or contact DLD to confirm the certificate and registration reference. Follow the service’s identification requirements.
3. Request written confirmation. Ask the developer for the provisional registration reference and issued certificate.
4. Follow up on delays. The SPA must be registered within 90 days of signing. Keep correspondence and contact DLD for the appropriate escalation process if it remains unregistered.

DLD lists a business-day service time. That processing time should not be confused with the 90-day registration deadline or the time needed to resolve missing documents.

Reselling an off-plan property before handover

DLD’s guidance states that an off-plan unit can be resold after obtaining the developer’s No Objection Certificate (NOC). Eligibility, outstanding payments and transfer requirements must be checked for the individual transaction.

1. Review the SPA and developer resale conditions, including any payment milestone.
2. Obtain the NOC and establish its charges and validity period.
3. Agree the assignment or resale terms with the new buyer.
4. Complete the required DLD transfer so the new purchaser is officially recorded.

Registration does not guarantee a buyer, a resale profit or mortgage approval. Financing depends on the lender, purchaser and approved project.

What happens if a project is cancelled or a buyer defaults

Cancellation and buyer default follow different legal procedures. Refunds, termination rights, notices and amounts retained depend on the applicable law, project status and facts of the transaction. Do not assume cancellation produces an immediate or automatic refund.

Keep your SPA, certificate, receipts and correspondence. Contact DLD about the relevant procedure and obtain independent legal advice before stopping payments, accepting a settlement or terminating a contract.

Does Oqood apply in Ajman

Oqood is Dubai-specific. Other emirates use their own registration authorities and procedures. Do not assume Dubai’s fees or deadlines apply in Ajman. Confirm current requirements with Ajman’s Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation.

Before you buy an off-plan property

Check the project registration and payment instructions, review the SPA, obtain an itemised fee breakdown and follow up until provisional registration is confirmed. Keep your certificate and check the final title-deed process at completion.

Considering Park Residency in Al Warsan 4? Ask the Park Properties team for current project documents, available units and a written purchase-cost breakdown before committing.

Frequently asked questions about Oqood in Dubai

What does Oqood mean?

Oqood means “contracts” in Arabic. In Dubai property transactions, it refers to the developer portal used for provisional registration of off-plan sales and commonly describes the resulting certificate.

Who pays the Oqood registration fee?

DLD lists 2% for the seller and 2% for the purchaser. Check your SPA for the agreed allocation, including whether the buyer accepts the full 4% or the developer covers charges under a promotion.

How long does Oqood registration take?

DLD lists a business-day service time once the application meets its requirements. Separately, the signed SPA must be registered within 90 days.

Is Oqood the same as a title deed?

No. Oqood records the provisional registration. The title deed is issued through the main property register after completion and fulfilment of the applicable requirements.

Can I get a mortgage on an Oqood-registered property?

Some lenders finance qualifying off-plan purchases. Eligibility depends on the bank, your finances, the developer and project; registration alone does not guarantee approval.

Can I sell before handover?

Resale may be possible with the developer’s NOC and required DLD transfer. Check your SPA, payment milestones and transaction charges first.

What if the developer has not registered my purchase?

Request written confirmation and the registration reference. Keep evidence and contact DLD about escalation if registration is delayed, especially beyond 90 days.

Does Oqood apply outside Dubai?

No. Confirm requirements with the authority in the emirate where the property is located.