Oqood vs Title Deed: The Difference and When You Get Each

Two documents matter most to a Dubai off-plan buyer. The first is the Oqood. The second is the title deed. Brokers, lawyers, and developers use the words constantly, often without explaining them. Buyers from London or Mumbai land in Dubai, sign forms, and only later realise what they signed for. This post explains both documents, the order they appear in, and what to check on each one.

What is Oqood?

Oqood is the Dubai Land Department's interim registration for an off-plan unit.

Oqood (also spelled Oqoodi) is the Arabic word for contract. The DLD runs an electronic registration platform with the same name. When you buy an off-plan unit in Dubai, the developer registers your sale contract on Oqood with the DLD. You receive an Oqood certificate.

The Oqood records your name, the unit, the price, the developer, and the project. It is your legal proof of ownership while the building is under construction. It can be transferred to a new buyer if you resell the unit before handover. It cannot be issued without a registered project, an active escrow account, and a signed SPA.

What is a title deed?

A title deed is the final document that proves outright ownership of a Dubai property.

The Arabic word is Mulkiya, and Dubai brokers use the two words interchangeably. The title deed is issued by the DLD when a building is handed over. It replaces the Oqood. It shows the unit number, the area, the owner's name, and — for off-plan — the developer's details.

Dubai title deeds are now fully digital. They sit on the DLD register and can be viewed any time through the Dubai REST app. A printed PDF copy is delivered at the trustee office on the day of handover.

When do you get each?

An Oqood is issued early in the off-plan process. A title deed is issued at the end.

The typical order looks like this:

1. Buyer signs a reservation form and pays the booking deposit.
2. Developer issues the SPA. Buyer signs and pays the first instalment.
3. Developer registers the sale on Oqood with the DLD. Oqood certificate issued.
4. Buyer pays construction-linked instalments into the escrow account.
5. Building is completed. Developer notifies buyer of handover date.
6. Buyer pays the final instalment and any DLD transfer fees.
7. Buyer attends a trustee office. Title deed (Mulkiya) is issued the same day.

Between Oqood and title deed, the buyer's legal status is set by the Oqood and the SPA together. After handover, the title deed is the controlling document.

Oqood vs title deed: the difference

How is Oqood issued?

Oqood is issued through the DLD's online platform after the developer files the signed SPA and proof of buyer payment.

The developer is responsible for filing. The DLD verifies the project is registered, the escrow is active, and the buyer details match. If everything checks out, an Oqood certificate is issued to the buyer's email and stored on the DLD register. A copy is also visible through the Dubai REST app.

DLD registration fee on an off-plan sale is 4% of the unit price plus an admin fee. In most projects this fee is paid by the buyer. Some developers cover it as a sales incentive. The fee is paid once and covers the Oqood — it is not paid again at title-deed issuance.

How is a title deed issued?

The title deed is issued at a DLD-licensed trustee office on the day of handover, after the final payment and developer NOC are confirmed.

The buyer (or their legal representative under Power of Attorney) attends the trustee office with passport, Emirates ID if resident, the developer NOC, and proof of final payment. The trustee verifies identity, checks the file, and uploads the transfer to the DLD register. The new title deed is issued the same day.

Trustee fees are fixed by the DLD: roughly AED 4,200 in admin fees on top of the 4% DLD fee paid earlier at Oqood. Once the title deed is issued, the buyer can register Ejari (if renting out), connect DEWA, and move in or list the unit on the secondary market.

What if you sell before handover?

A buyer can sell an off-plan unit before handover by transferring the Oqood to a new buyer.

The process requires a developer NOC, a new SPA, and an Oqood transfer at the DLD. Many developers restrict resale until a certain percentage of the price has been paid (commonly 30% to 40%). Resale fees vary by developer. The new buyer pays a fresh 4% DLD fee on the sale price.

When the building is later handed over, the new buyer (not the original signatory) receives the title deed. The Oqood acts as the bridge between owners during the construction period.

What this means for buyers

Treat the Oqood and the title deed as two checkpoints. After the first instalment, you should hold an Oqood certificate. If the developer cannot show you that certificate within a few weeks, escalate. Without a registered Oqood, you have an SPA but not the DLD recognition that makes off-plan ownership enforceable.

At handover, do not pay the final instalment until the developer NOC is confirmed and the trustee appointment is booked. The same day you pay, you should walk out with the title deed. If your broker tells you the title deed will follow later, push back. The DLD issues it on the same day the trustee files the transfer.

Vyre showrooms surface both checkpoints on every unit page — buyers can see the project's RERA registration and the path to title deed before they even ring the broker. The two documents are the spine of the entire purchase.