How to verify a developer and a project in Dubai before you pay

Check a project's Dubai Land Department registration through the Project Status Enquiry service, confirm its escrow account, and ask for the broker's RERA and DET license numbers. These three checks cover most of the risk in an off-plan purchase.

16 September 2026 · By Orven Properties · 3 min read

Verifying a developer and project in Dubai before paying anything comes down to three checks: the project's Dubai Land Department (DLD) registration, its escrow account, and the broker's RERA licence. The DLD's public "Project Status Enquiry" service lets you confirm a project is genuinely registered and see its construction progress independently, rather than relying on what a sales team tells you. Together, these checks cover most of the real risk in buying off-plan from abroad.

Checking the project's DLD registration

Every legitimate off-plan project must be registered with the DLD before a developer can sell units. Ask for the project's DLD registration number and cross-check it through the Project Status Enquiry service, which shows registration status and, in many cases, construction progress. A developer or broker unwilling to provide this number, or a project that does not appear when checked, is a clear reason to pause before paying anything.

Confirming the escrow account

Off-plan payments in Dubai must go into a project-specific escrow account, managed under DLD and RERA oversight, not into the developer's general operating account. Ask your adviser for the exact escrow account details in writing, and confirm the account name matches the project rather than a generic company name. Our guide on how the escrow account works covers where your money sits and how it is released.

Checking the broker or adviser's licence

Any broker or agency selling Dubai property should hold a valid RERA ORN and a Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) trade licence, and should be able to provide both numbers immediately when asked. This licensing is what separates a regulated adviser from an informal intermediary, and it is worth checking independently rather than taking it on trust. Our guide on five questions to ask before signing covers this alongside other pre-signature checks.

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Putting it together before you reserve

Run all three checks, in writing, before paying a reservation fee: DLD registration, escrow account details, and the broker's RERA and DET numbers. None of this should take more than a short exchange with a serious adviser, and none of it should feel like an unusual request.

How Orven handles verification with you

We are licensed through ORVEN REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE L.L.C S.P.C (Economic License No. CN-6800129, ADRA), and we share every project's DLD registration and escrow details before you commit anything. Explore our current selection on find your home, or write to us on WhatsApp at +971 52 776 1939 or at sales@orvenproperties.com and we will verify a specific project with you.

FAQ

Where do I check a project's DLD registration myself? Through the Dubai Land Department's public Project Status Enquiry service, using the project's registration details provided by your adviser.

What does a valid RERA number actually confirm? It confirms the broker or agent is licensed to sell property in Dubai and operates under RERA's regulatory oversight, including rules around escrow handling.

Is it normal to ask a developer directly for escrow account details? Yes. A legitimate developer or adviser provides this information without hesitation; reluctance to share it is a warning sign.

Can I verify a project before it has fully launched? Registration typically happens before sales begin, so a project actively being sold should already be checkable through the DLD's public service.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I check a project's DLD registration myself?

Through the Dubai Land Department's public Project Status Enquiry service, using the project's registration details provided by your adviser.

What does a valid RERA number actually confirm?

It confirms the broker or agent is licensed to sell property in Dubai and operates under RERA's regulatory oversight, including rules around escrow handling.

Is it normal to ask a developer directly for escrow account details?

Yes. A legitimate developer or adviser provides this information without hesitation; reluctance to share it is a warning sign.

Can I verify a project before it has fully launched?

Registration typically happens before sales begin, so a project actively being sold should already be checkable through the DLD's public service.