NOC
A No Objection Certificate is the developer's written confirmation that it does not object to a property being sold, usually because all charges on it are paid.
What NOC means for a buyer
In a Dubai resale, the Dubai Land Department will not register the transfer of a property in a freehold area without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the developer or master developer. The NOC confirms that service charges are paid up and that the developer has no outstanding claim on the unit. It is now issued electronically as an e-NOC through the Dubai REST app.
The seller normally applies and pays. Fees vary by developer, from a few hundred to a few thousand dirhams, and the certificate is valid only for a short period, so it is obtained shortly before the appointment at the trustee office.
NOCs matter more in two situations:
- Selling off-plan before handover. The developer will only issue an NOC for an assignment once you have paid a minimum share of the price. The threshold is set in the SPA and varies widely.
- Mortgaged property. The lending bank must also consent before a mortgaged unit can be sold, or before an owner applies for a property-linked visa.
The term is used well beyond property in the UAE: employers, banks and landlords all issue "NOCs". When someone asks for one, establish who must issue it and what exactly it needs to say.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
Where NOC comes up in practice, with the costs, rules and steps around it.
Questions about the buying process?
An adviser can explain how this applies to the property you're considering.
- Current price list and availability, direct from the developer
- No fee to you on off-plan purchases: the developer pays us
- One salaried adviser, not on commission, from first call to handover
