---
title: "Title deed"
canonical: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/title-deed
markdown: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/md/glossary/title-deed.md
type: glossary-term
description: "A title deed is the land registry's certificate of ownership for a completed property, issued by the Dubai Land Department or, in Abu Dhabi, through ADREC."
publisher: "UAE Property Agents (Omnia)"
language: en-GB
usage: "You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting."
---

# Title deed

> A title deed is the land registry's certificate of ownership for a completed property, issued by the Dubai Land Department or, in Abu Dhabi, through ADREC.

Also known as: Title deed certificate, Mulkiya, Ownership certificate.

## What Title deed means for a buyer

The title deed is the official record that you own a completed property. In Dubai it is issued by the [Dubai Land Department](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/dld), now as an electronic document; in Abu Dhabi it is issued through the [DARI](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/dari) platform under [ADREC](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/adrec). It states the owner or owners and their shares, the plot and unit numbers, the registered area and whether the title is [freehold](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/freehold) or another form of tenure. A mortgage is noted on it.

On a resale the buyer receives a new deed on the day of transfer at the [trustee office](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/trustee-office). With off-plan there is no title deed during construction: your interest is recorded in [Oqood](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/oqood), and the deed follows once the building has its [completion certificate](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/completion-certificate), the developer has registered the project and you have paid in full. On a [post-handover payment plan](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/post-handover-payment-plan) that can mean waiting until the last instalment. The DLD's issuance fee is AED 250, plus small map and administrative charges.

Two things are often misunderstood. The value shown on a deed is the price registered when you bought, not today's market value, which matters for a [Golden Visa](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/golden-visa) application. And a scanned deed sent by a seller or agent proves little on its own: verify it against the register using [Dubai REST](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/dubai-rest) or DARI before paying a deposit.

## Related terms

- [Oqood](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/oqood): Oqood is the Dubai Land Department's interim register for off-plan sales: it records the buyer's rights during construction, before a title deed can be issued.
- [DLD](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/dld): The Dubai Land Department is the government body that registers every property sale, mortgage and long lease in Dubai and issues title deeds.
- [Freehold](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/freehold): Freehold is outright ownership of a property with no time limit; foreign nationals can hold it only in areas each emirate has designated for foreign ownership.
- [Trustee office](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/trustee-office): A trustee office is a private centre licensed by the Dubai Land Department where buyer and seller complete a resale transfer and the new title deed is issued.
- [Dubai REST](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/dubai-rest): Dubai REST is the Dubai Land Department's official app for checking ownership records, brokers and projects and for completing property services online.

## In depth

- [How to buy property in Dubai as a foreigner: the step-by-step guide](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-property-in-dubai)


---

Source page: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/title-deed. Published by UAE Property Agents, Omnia Capital Group. You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting.