Title Deed in Dubai Explained
What the title deed is, how to verify one in two minutes, and what happens to it when there's a mortgage.
Title deed at a glance
What is a title deed?
The title deed is the official certificate of ownership issued by the Dubai Land Department. It records the owner, the property's plot and area details, and any mortgage registered against it. Since Dubai moved to digital e-titles, your "deed" is a QR-coded electronic document — downloadable and verifiable anytime through the Dubai REST app.
How to verify a title deed (before you pay anyone)
Open Dubai REST → Services → Title Deed Verification, enter the deed number and details, and the DLD confirms in seconds whether it's genuine, who owns the property, and whether it carries a mortgage. Free, no login gymnastics. Do this before signing any MOU or handing over a cheque — it kills the classic scams (fake deeds, non-owners "selling", undisclosed mortgages) instantly.
Title deeds and mortgages
When you buy with financing, the bank's mortgage is registered on the title deed (0.25% of the loan) at transfer — you own the property; the bank holds a registered charge. When the loan is settled — at the end of the term or in a buyout — the mortgage is released (AED 1,290) and the deed is updated. Selling a mortgaged property means settling the loan first, usually via the buyer's bank; that sequencing is standard and we manage it weekly.
Oqood vs title deed (off-plan buyers)
Buying off-plan? You won't get a title deed until handover. Your purchase is registered in Oqood, the DLD's interim register — proof of your contractual rights during construction. At completion, the developer processes the conversion and your title deed is issued (that's also when handover financing lands).
Lost, or need a copy?
With e-titles there's nothing physical to lose — re-download from Dubai REST anytime. Older paper deeds can be replaced through the DLD for a fee; the digital record is what actually governs.
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