Sakani guide

Oqood: registering an off-plan property in Dubai

What Oqood is, how off-plan sales are registered with the DLD before handover, how resale-before-handover works, and the fees involved.

Sakani editorial team 7 min readUpdated 4 June 2026

What Oqood actually is

Oqood (Arabic for 'contracts') is the DLD's initial contract registration system for off-plan properties — units sold before construction is complete and before a title deed exists. The Oqood certificate is the buyer's proof of ownership rights during the construction period; at handover it is converted into a full title deed.

Oqood vs SPA vs title deed

Three documents, three stages. The Sales Purchase Agreement (SPA) is the contract between buyer and developer. The Oqood is the DLD registration of that SPA — a separate, official record. The title deed is what replaces the Oqood once the project is completed and the unit is handed over. Always insist on Oqood registration in your name within weeks of paying the booking deposit — without it, your name is not on the DLD record.

Fees and timing

Oqood registration is 4% of the purchase price plus AED 3,000 admin (typically), payable to the DLD via the developer. Many developers absorb part or all of this 4% as a launch incentive — read the SPA carefully to see who is actually paying. Registration usually happens within 14–60 days of the booking, depending on the developer.

Reselling an off-plan unit

Off-plan units can be resold before handover. Practical mechanics: the original buyer must typically have paid 30–40% of the purchase price before the developer will issue a transfer NOC. The new buyer takes over the remaining payment plan to the developer. The Oqood is re-registered in the new buyer's name at the DLD. See the dedicated guide on Oqood resale for the full process.

What to verify before buying off-plan

Confirm: (1) the developer is registered with RERA and the project has a valid escrow account (legally required for off-plan); (2) the project completion date in the SPA matches the developer's marketing — and that there are documented remedies if it slips; (3) the payment plan ties to construction milestones, not arbitrary dates; (4) the Oqood will be registered in your name within an agreed window; (5) any 'guaranteed rental' is contractually binding, not marketing language.

Off-plan escrow — different from secondary

Critically: off-plan IS escrow-protected by law (Law No. 8 of 2007). Buyer payments go into a project-specific escrow account at a UAE bank and are released to the developer only as construction milestones are verified. This is the opposite of secondary-market resale, where escrow is rare and protection comes from the DLD trustee office. Don't conflate the two.

Common pitfalls

Late completion is the most common — typical slippage is 3–18 months past the SPA date. Other risks: the developer changing the unit specification, common-area redesign, service charges rebenchmarked higher post-completion. Mitigate by checking the developer's track record on the DLD's 'Mashroi' service before signing.

Sakani is a property-technology platform. Brokerage services, Form A / Form B / Form F contracts and DLD trustee transactions are handled by our RERA-licensed brokerage partner, Cedara Core Realty L.L.C (RERA ORN 54063).

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