What is a title deed in Dubai and when do you receive one?

A title deed is the Dubai Land Department's proof of ownership, issued in your name once your unit is complete and handed over. Before that, your off-plan purchase is recorded through Oqood, a different registration that comes earlier in the process.

16 September 2026 · By Orven Properties · 3 min read

A title deed is the official document the Dubai Land Department issues to confirm you own a specific property, registered in your name in the public land registry. For an off-plan purchase, you do not receive it at the moment you sign your sale agreement or make your first payment; it is issued after the building is complete, all payments due at that stage are settled, and the developer has handed over the unit to you. Before that point, your purchase is recorded through a different registration, Oqood, which confirms your rights to the future unit while it is still under construction.

Why the sequence matters

The distinction matters because Oqood and the title deed serve different purposes at different stages. Oqood registers your sale agreement with the Dubai Land Department during construction, so your interest in that specific unit is on the public record from an early point, even though the building does not exist yet. The title deed replaces that registration once the unit is complete, at which point it becomes the definitive proof of ownership you would use to sell, mortgage, or pass on the property. For the full path from one to the other, see our guide on from reservation to title deed.

What you need to do to receive it

Receiving your title deed follows completing handover: settling any remaining balance under your payment schedule, clearing the developer's snagging process, and finalising the paperwork the developer submits to the Dubai Land Department on your behalf. Registration fees, separate from the purchase price itself, apply as part of this process, on top of the general Dubai Land Department registration costs charged on a completed sale.

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What Orven checks once your title deed is issued

We confirm that the details on your title deed, your name, the unit number, and the registered price, match your sale agreement exactly, and we flag any discrepancy to the developer immediately rather than let it sit unresolved. This is also the point where, for owners planning to rent out the unit, we help set up management and the Ejari registration for a future lease.

Write to us on WhatsApp at +971 52 776 1939 or at sales@orvenproperties.com as your handover date approaches, and we walk you through what happens between snagging and receiving your title deed.

FAQ

Is Oqood the same as a title deed? No. Oqood registers your off-plan sale agreement during construction; the title deed is issued separately once the unit is complete and handed over.

Do I need to be in Dubai to receive my title deed? The document is issued in your name once handover requirements are met; a representative can handle much of this coordination on your behalf if you cannot attend personally.

What fees apply when the title deed is issued? Dubai Land Department registration costs apply as part of this stage, confirmed in your sale agreement and contract rather than a single figure that applies to every purchase.

Can I sell my unit before the title deed is issued? Yes, subject to the developer's own resale process and NOC requirements while the unit is still registered under Oqood rather than a title deed.

Frequently asked questions

Is Oqood the same as a title deed?

No. Oqood registers your off-plan sale agreement during construction; the title deed is issued separately once the unit is complete and handed over.

Do I need to be in Dubai to receive my title deed?

The document is issued in your name once handover requirements are met; a representative can handle much of this coordination on your behalf if you cannot attend personally.

What fees apply when the title deed is issued?

Dubai Land Department registration costs apply as part of this stage, confirmed in your sale agreement and contract rather than a single figure that applies to every purchase.

Can I sell my unit before the title deed is issued?

Yes, subject to the developer's own resale process and NOC requirements while the unit is still registered under Oqood rather than a title deed.