TryBeforeDubaiOqood, explained
Buying off-plan in Dubai? Oqood is the interim registration that records your purchase before the building is complete. Here's what it means.
Oqood (Arabic for 'contracts') is the Dubai Land Department system used to register off-plan property purchases — homes bought from a developer before completion. It records your interest in a unit that doesn't physically exist yet, protecting you until you can take full title on handover.
How off-plan registration works
- 1Reserve and sign the SPA
You sign the Sale and Purchase Agreement with the developer and pay the initial deposit (often 10–20%).
- 2Register on Oqood
The developer registers the sale on the DLD's Oqood system, recording you as the buyer of that unit.
- 3Pay the registration fee
An Oqood/DLD registration fee applies (commonly around 4% of the price, similar to the resale transfer fee — confirm current rates).
- 4Pay by the payment plan
You pay the balance via the developer's milestone or time-based plan during construction.
- 5Take title on handover
On completion, the property is registered to you and a full title deed is issued.
Oqood links your name to a specific unit in the official register and ties into escrow-account rules that govern how developers can use your payments — reducing the risk of paying for a home that never materialises.
What to check before buying off-plan
- The developer's track record and whether the project escrow account is registered.
- The payment plan and any post-handover instalments.
- Fees: Oqood/DLD registration, admin and any developer charges.
- Expected handover date — and the realistic one.
Off-plan fees and procedures change. Confirm with the DLD and a licensed conveyancer before transacting.
Frequently asked
Oqood is the DLD's registration system for off-plan property — it records your purchase of an under-construction unit before the full title deed is issued at handover.
Typically around 4% of the purchase price plus admin, similar to the resale transfer fee — but confirm current rates with the DLD.
Keep reading
If you're buying property in Dubai, the DLD transfer fee is the big upfront government charge. Here's what it is, the headline 4%, and the other costs that come with a purchase.
Read guideIf you're buying in Dubai, freehold vs leasehold decides what you actually own and for how long. Here's the difference and why it matters for expats.
Read guideThe Golden Visa offers long-term UAE residency without a local sponsor. Here's the property route, the thresholds, and who else qualifies.
Read guideSee how this applies to your move.
The free area match scores every Dubai community against your budget, schools and commute — then the Landing Plan turns it into a verified, decision-ready report.