Resources
Check it yourself
The official Dubai Land Department services I use in every deal, with short how-tos. Below are guides to mortgages and buying.
Official DLD resources
- 01
Service Charge Index (Mollak) ↗
- Open the index on the DLD website
- Search by project name or Title Deed number
- See the approved service charge per sq ft
- 02
Project status and completion ↗
- Open the service on the DLD website
- Search by project or developer
- Compare the completion percentage with what the developer says
- 03
Escrow, inspections, construction stage ↗
- Install the Dubai REST app
- Open Project Status (Mashrooi)
- Check completion, planned handover, last inspection date and escrow account details
- 04
Rental Index ↗
- Open the DLD rental calculator
- Choose the area and property type
- See how much the rent can rise on renewal
- 05
Verify a broker
- Open the Dubai REST app
- RERA → Validate E-Card or Find Brokers
- Enter the broker's BRN or scan the QR on the card
- 06
Verify a listing (Madmoun)
- Find the Madmoun QR code on the listing
- Scan it with your phone camera
- Check that the listing, broker and permit are valid
- 07
DLD open data ↗
- Open the Open Data section
- Choose transactions, rents or projects
- Filter by area and date to see actual prices
Guides
Mortgages
- 01Low Bank Valuation in Dubai: How to Handle a Valuation GapWhy a Dubai bank valuation can come in below the price, how much extra you'll need, and your options: renegotiate, review, switch lender or top up.
- 02Selling a Mortgaged Property in Dubai: Liability Letter to ReleaseHow to sell a Dubai property with a mortgage: bank consent, the liability letter, three manager's cheques, early settlement fees and mortgage release at DLD.
- 03Developer NOC With Arrears and Penalties: How to Clear It on the DealNeed a developer NOC in Dubai but behind on your payment plan? Why the NOC matters, the risks of arrears, and how to settle debt and penalties at transfer.
- 04AECB Credit Score in the UAE: Check It Before Your MortgageWhat the Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB) report and score show, what they cost, how to get them with UAE PASS, and how to fix errors before a mortgage application.
- 05Mortgage Buyout in the UAE: Moving Your Loan to Another BankHow a Dubai mortgage buyout works: when refinancing pays off, the Central Bank cap on early settlement fees, DLD mortgage transfer fees, documents and steps.
- 06Handover Payment Mortgage: Financing a 20/80 or 40/60 PlanFinancing the handover payment on a 20/80 or 40/60 plan in Dubai: CBUAE LTV caps, banks with handover products, the funding gap and timing.
- 07Mortgage for Business Owners in the UAE: Documents and Bank RulesHow company owners get a Dubai mortgage: years in business, statements, audited accounts and the Central Bank's 50% DBR cap. Why banks decline, and what helps.
- 08Dubai Mortgage for Non-Residents: Banks, Down Payment, DocumentsCan you get a Dubai mortgage without UAE residency? Central Bank limits, what banks lend, documents, DLD fees and the deal process, from a RERA broker.
- 09Mortgage Through UAE Employment: What a Local Job ChangesHow a UAE work visa changes your Dubai mortgage: Central Bank LTV caps, bank salary and service rules, documents, AECB and the right order of steps.
- 10Dubai Mortgage Calculator: DBR, LTV and Your Monthly PaymentHow Dubai banks work out what you can borrow: the 50% DBR cap, stress test, LTV limits, tenor and upfront costs, with a worked example.
- 11Equity Release in the UAE: Borrowing Against Your Dubai PropertyHow equity release works in Dubai: how banks size the loan, what LTV to expect, DLD and bank fees, documents, and the risks to plan for.
Buying
- 01UAE Golden Visa Through Property: 2026 RequirementsGolden Visa through Dubai property: the AED 2 million threshold, mortgages, off-plan, joint ownership, documents and DLD fees, per ICP, GDRFA and DLD.
- 02Dubai Service Charges: What You Pay and Where to CheckHow Dubai service charges work, who approves them, how to look up a building's rate in the DLD Service Charge Index, and how to avoid buying with arrears.
- 03Dubai Property Purchase Costs: DLD 4%, Fees and Mortgage ChargesEvery cost of buying property in Dubai: the 4% DLD fee, Trustee office, Title Deed, agent commission, and bank and DLD mortgage fees, with a worked example.
- 04How to Buy Dubai Property Remotely: Step by StepBuying in Dubai without flying in: video viewings, checking the broker, power of attorney, safe payment, DLD transfer, and what happens after handover.
- 05How to Transfer Money to Buy Property in Dubai, LegallyWhere your money should go when buying in Dubai: project escrow accounts, manager's cheques, conveyancing, and banks or exchange houses licensed by the CBUAE.
- 06Dubai Forms A, B and F: What You Sign When Buying or SellingThe RERA contracts in plain words: Form A (seller and broker), Form B (buyer and broker), Form F (seller and buyer). What's inside and what to check.
- 07Documents to Buy Property in Dubai: Cash and MortgageWhat you need to buy property in Dubai, by role: buyer, seller, company and mortgage. What DLD requires and what banks ask for.
- 08Safe Payment in Dubai Property Deals: Manager's Cheques ExplainedHow to pay for a Dubai resale property safely: manager's cheques, the DLD Trustee office and conveyancing companies. Step by step, with a real case.
Off-plan
- 01Snagging in Dubai: How to Inspect Your Unit Before HandoverA practical snagging guide for Dubai off-plan buyers: what to check before handover, developer defect liability under Dubai law, and what to do after the keys.
- 02Dubai Payment Plans and Post-Handover Instalments: The PitfallsHow 20/80, 50/50 and post-handover plans really work: title deed timing, developer NOCs, penalties, mortgaging the balance and service charges.
- 03What Is Oqood? Dubai's Off-Plan Registration ExplainedOqood is DLD's interim registration for off-plan sales. Who registers it, the 90-day deadline, fees, documents, and how it differs from a title deed.
- 04Off-Plan or Ready Property in Dubai in 2026: How to ChooseOff-plan vs ready in Dubai: upfront cash, mortgages, risk, rental income and DLD fees compared. No market forecasts, just how each route works for you.
- 05How to Check a Dubai Developer: An Off-Plan Due Diligence ChecklistA practical checklist: DLD developer register, Mashrooi in Dubai REST, the project escrow account, Oqood and ad permits. What to verify before you pay.
- 06How to Check Construction Progress in Dubai: Dubai REST and MashrooiStep by step: check a Dubai project's completion, inspection details and planned date in Dubai REST (Mashrooi), and what to do if they don't add up.
- 07Dubai Escrow Accounts: How They Work and How to Check YoursHow off-plan escrow accounts work in Dubai, what developers may spend the money on, what happens if a project is cancelled, and how to check in Dubai REST.
Renting
- 01Dubai Rental Index: How Much Can Your Rent Go Up?How the DLD Rental Index works, the rent increase bands under Decree No. 43 of 2013, the 90-day notice rule, and how to check a renewal increase yourself.
- 02Dubai Rental Yield: How to Calculate Gross and NetHow gross and net rental yield differ, which costs to deduct, and where to find rent and price data on the DLD website so you can run the numbers yourself.