Dubai Property Buyer Checklist
Use this checklist before reserving an off-plan home or making an offer on a ready property. It separates the checks that apply to both paths, identifies the documents that differ, and links directly to official Dubai Land Department resources.
Reviewed: 31 July 2026
The short version
Do not begin with a payment link. Begin with the property, the parties, the permit, the contract and a complete cost plan.
- 01
Write down the purpose, budget, financing position, holding period and non-negotiable requirements.
- 02
Verify the brokerage, broker and advertising permit through official channels.
- 03
For off-plan property, verify the developer, project status, escrow details and payment schedule.
- 04
For ready property, verify title, ownership, condition, service charges and the transfer path.
- 05
Read the reservation form, memorandum or sale agreement before sending funds.
- 06
Reconfirm price, availability, fees, payment instructions and beneficiary details immediately before commitment.
1. Define the buyer brief before viewing inventory
A disciplined search starts with the buyer’s intended use. A home, a short holding-period investment and a long-term income property require different locations, layouts, operating assumptions and exit considerations.
Separate the purchase price from the full acquisition budget. Financing, registration, trustee, valuation, legal, agency, furnishing, service-charge and post-handover costs can affect affordability and should be assessed before a reservation.
- Primary use: residence, relocation, rental income, capital preservation or future resale
- Maximum total acquisition budget, not only the advertised price
- Cash or mortgage position and any bank pre-approval
- Target completion or move-in date
- Preferred areas, property type, minimum usable space and privacy requirements
- Expected holding period and likely future buyer or tenant pool
2. Verify the people, company and advertisement
Confirm that the person and company presenting a property are authorised for the activity. Match names and licence details across the proposal, invoice, contract, email domain and official verification result.
A legitimate listing can still become outdated. Ask for the unit identifier, current availability, price, payment schedule and advertising permit to be reconfirmed for the date of your decision.
- Brokerage legal name and trade-licence details
- RERA broker or company information where applicable
- Trakheesi advertising permit for the specific marketing material
- Official company email, phone and payment instructions
- Written confirmation of who represents the buyer, seller or developer
3. Additional checks for an off-plan purchase
Off-plan analysis is not limited to the brochure. Verify the project and developer, study the sale and purchase agreement, understand when each payment becomes due, and test whether the proposed unit still matches the buyer’s objective if handover timing or market conditions change.
Payments should follow the documented project and contract process. Independently verify beneficiary and escrow details before transferring money, especially when instructions arrive through a new email address or messaging account.
- Developer identity and project registration
- Current project status and reported completion progress
- Project escrow information and payment beneficiary
- Unit number, area, plan, view, parking and specifications
- Reservation form and sale and purchase agreement terms
- Payment milestones, estimated completion, grace periods and remedies
- Assignment, resale, cancellation and handover conditions
- Defect reporting and post-handover obligations
4. Additional checks for a ready property
For a completed property, verify that the seller and title information match the proposed transaction. Physical inspection, building operations and recurring ownership costs matter as much as the asking price.
The transfer path can differ when the property is mortgaged, tenanted, company-owned, inherited or subject to a power of attorney. These facts should be identified before signing a memorandum or paying a deposit.
- Title-deed validity and consistency with the seller and property
- Developer no-objection requirements in the relevant freehold area
- Mortgage liability or release process, if applicable
- Tenancy, notice and vacant-possession status
- Inspection of condition, defects, alterations and included items
- Approved service charges and outstanding balances
- Parking, storage, access cards and building-management records
- Transfer trustee, payment instruments and handover sequence
5. Read the contract and control the payment process
Do not rely on a verbal summary of the contract. Check the exact property, parties, price, deposit, deadlines, conditions, default consequences, included items and dispute provisions in the signed document.
Treat any late change to beneficiary, bank account, email domain or urgency level as a reason to pause and verify through a previously confirmed contact channel. Keep copies of the signed documents, payment evidence and official receipts.
- Names and identification of every contracting party
- Exact unit and title or project details
- Deposit holder and release conditions
- Finance, valuation, inspection and no-objection conditions
- Completion dates and consequences of delay or default
- Written inventory of furniture, appliances or upgrades
- Verified beneficiary details and payment reference
- Receipt, title, registration and handover documents
6. Pause when the evidence does not match
A missing document does not automatically prove fraud, but pressure to proceed without verifiable information is a material warning. Resolve inconsistencies before paying or signing.
- The advertised unit, price or permit cannot be reconfirmed
- The contract party differs from the verified owner, developer or authorised representative
- Payment is requested to an unrelated person or unverified account
- The written terms differ materially from the sales presentation
- You are discouraged from reading, translating or independently reviewing the documents
- Urgency is used to prevent normal verification
Build the cost plan from official and transaction-specific figures
Dubai Land Department’s current sale-registration service lists a 2% seller registration fee and a 2% buyer registration fee, plus title, map, knowledge, innovation and service-partner charges. The contract may allocate the total registration cost differently, so confirm the exact allocation in writing.
Sale registration
The official service page lists 2% for the seller and 2% for the buyer. Confirm the contract’s allocation and the figure shown by the trustee or DLD channel.
Registration trustee
The official service page lists AED 4,000 plus VAT for a sale value of AED 500,000 or more, and AED 2,000 plus VAT below AED 500,000.
Title and map documents
The applicable title-deed, unit-map, land-map, knowledge and innovation charges depend on the property and transaction.
Transaction-specific costs
Agency, mortgage, valuation, bank, legal, inspection, developer, furnishing and insurance costs are not identical for every buyer. Obtain written quotations.
Use first-party Dubai Land Department sources
These links lead to DLD services or guidance. A public guide cannot replace review of the exact property, contract and buyer circumstances.
Verify licences and permits
Check real-estate licences and Trakheesi permits issued for Dubai activities.
Verify a title deed
Validate the DLD title-deed information supplied for a ready property.
Check project status
Review registered project details and reported completion information.
Check approved service charges
Use the DLD service-charge index for jointly owned properties.
Review sale-registration fees
Read the official requirements, fees and issued documents for a sale transfer.
Know your investor rights
Read DLD’s investor-rights guide and confirm whether later rules affect the transaction.
Information reviewed on 31 July 2026. Official services, fees, laws and transaction requirements can change. Reconfirm every figure and requirement with DLD, the relevant authority and qualified advisers before commitment.
Dubai property due-diligence FAQs
Can a foreign buyer purchase property in Dubai?
Foreign buyers can purchase eligible property in designated freehold areas, subject to the property, buyer, transaction and current rules. Confirm the title and ownership path for the exact unit.
Is the Dubai Land Department fee always paid entirely by the buyer?
The current DLD sale-registration service lists 2% for the seller and 2% for the buyer. Market contracts may allocate the total cost differently, so the signed agreement and official transaction calculation must be checked.
What should I verify before buying off-plan?
Verify the developer, registered project, current status, escrow and beneficiary details, advertising permit, unit schedule, payment plan and the full sale and purchase agreement.
What should I verify before buying a ready property?
Verify the title deed, seller authority, mortgage or tenancy status, condition, approved service charges, outstanding balances, developer NOC process and transfer documents.
Does this checklist replace legal or financial advice?
No. It is a practical preparation guide. Legal, tax, finance, structuring, immigration and technical advice should come from appropriately qualified advisers for the buyer and transaction.
Turn the checklist into a property-specific review
Share your objective, preferred area, budget and timeline. Royal Abraj Properties can structure the search and identify the documents that should be verified for the selected property.