Glossary
10 Dubai property terms, in plain words.
- DLD (Dubai Land Department)
- Government body that registers property rights and publishes transaction evidence used in AiGentsRealty market rollups. Closed-sale data is not the same as portal asking prices.
- Escrow account
- Project-linked account that holds buyer payments for off-plan developments under regulatory rules. Escrow does not eliminate delivery or quality risk; it structures how funds are released.
- Freehold
- Ownership interest allowing non-UAE nationals to hold title in designated areas, subject to DLD registration. Always confirm the exact interest type on the title deed.
- LTV (loan-to-value)
- Bank mortgage amount as a share of property value. Caps and criteria differ by residency, bank, and ready vs off-plan product. Guides are educational — not live bank offers.
- Off-plan
- Purchase before or during construction, typically with staged payments. Carries delivery timeline and construction risk; underwrite escrow, SPA, and community liquidity.
- Oqood
- DLD system used to register off-plan sales contracts before title transfer at completion. Timing and fees depend on project path — confirm with the developer trustee process.
- RERA
- Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Dubai Land Department). Regulates real estate brokerage, developer registration, and related consumer protections. Educational shorthand only — verify current rules on official DLD/RERA channels.
- Service charges
- Ongoing building/community fees for maintenance and shared services. They affect net holding cost and should be modelled with purchase fees — not ignored when comparing payment plans.
- SPA (Sale and Purchase Agreement)
- Binding contract for the unit. Payment schedule, default remedies, assignment rights, and handover conditions live here — not in brochure PDFs alone.
- Title deed
- DLD-issued ownership document after transfer/registration. For off-plan, title typically follows completion and registration steps after Oqood-stage contracts.
More about Dubai property terms
Plain-language definitions for freehold, off-plan, DLD, SPA, escrow, service charges, PSF, Oqood, and related Dubai property terms. Educational — not legal advice.
What does freehold mean in Dubai property?
Freehold generally means the buyer can own the property title (subject to applicable laws and designated freehold areas), as distinct from leasehold or limited-interest arrangements. Always confirm title form in the SPA and registration documents.
Term clusters
Market evidenceDLD closed sales, medians, transaction counts, and rollup dates describe what already transferred — not what a listing asks.
Purchase pathwaySPA, escrow, Oqood, title deed, and NOC terms describe how ownership and payments are documented.
Money termsPSF, service charges, DLD transfer fees, agency fees, and LTV shape total cash and net returns.
Product & lifestyleFreehold communities, masterplans, handover, and snagging describe what you buy and when you can use it.
High-frequency definitions
Short definitions for the terms buyers ask about first.
- DLD — Dubai Land Department: authority for property registration and transaction records.
- SPA — Sale and Purchase Agreement: primary contract between buyer and seller/developer.
- Off-plan — Property sold before completion; payments often follow construction milestones.
- Service charges — Ongoing community/building fees that reduce net rental yield.
Caveats
- Legal terms can differ by free zone, master developer, and regulation updates.
- This glossary is not a substitute for a licensed lawyer or conveyancer.
- Marketing definitions may oversimplify SPA obligations.
- Always re-check current RERA/DLD process guidance for your transaction type.