Resources
Dubai real estate abbreviations.
A quick glossary for terms you'll hear during a launch or in your Sale and Purchase Agreement.
- RERA
- Real Estate Regulatory Agency — regulates Dubai's real estate sector, including broker licensing.
- DLD
- Dubai Land Department — the government body that registers property ownership and transactions.
- Trakheesi
- The DLD permit number required for any property to be legally advertised or marketed.
- Off-Plan
- A property sold before or during construction, typically at a lower price than a completed unit.
- EOI
- Expression of Interest — a non-binding indication that a buyer wants to reserve a specific unit.
- SPA
- Sale and Purchase Agreement — the binding contract signed between buyer and developer.
- Oqood
- The DLD's initial registration of an off-plan unit, issued before the final title deed.
- Title Deed
- The legal document proving ownership, issued once a property is registered with the DLD.
- Escrow Account
- A regulated bank account, mandated by RERA, where developer funds for a project are held and released in stages.
- DP
- Down Payment — the initial percentage of the purchase price paid on booking.
- Handover
- The date a project is completed and units are delivered to buyers.
- Payment Plan
- The schedule of installments a buyer pays toward an off-plan unit, often tied to construction milestones.
- BUA
- Built-Up Area — the total floor area of a unit, including walls.
- GFA
- Gross Floor Area — the total floor area of a building across all levels.
- Sq Ft / Sq M
- Square feet / square metres — the units property size and price-per-area are typically quoted in.
- Freehold
- Full ownership of a property and the land it sits on, available to foreign buyers in designated Dubai areas.
- NOC
- No Objection Certificate — a document from the developer confirming there's no obstacle to a resale or transfer.
- POA
- Power of Attorney — a legal document authorising someone to act on a buyer's behalf, common for remote/international buyers.
- DEWA
- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority — the utility provider new owners register with at handover.
- Ejari
- Dubai's official tenancy contract registration system, used once a unit is leased out.
- ROI
- Return on Investment — the yield or gain an investor expects from a property, usually shown as an annual percentage.
- Service Charge
- The annual fee owners pay for building maintenance and shared facilities, usually quoted per square foot.