Quick answer: Oqood registers a signed Dubai off-plan purchase in DLD’s provisional register. The developer submits it through Oqood, and DLD states the SPA must be registered within 90 days. It is not the final title deed.
Many buyers understand the booking payment and Sales and Purchase Agreement but are less clear about Oqood. This guide explains its purpose, current DLD deadline, official fees, documents and buyer checks.
What Is Oqood Registration in Dubai?
Oqood is the Dubai Land Department system used by developers to register off-plan sales in the provisional, or Interim, Property Register. The output listed by DLD is an electronic provisional registration certificate.
Article 3 of Law No. 13 of 2008 requires legal dispositions involving off-plan units to be entered in the Interim Property Register. An off-plan disposition that transfers or restricts rights is not valid unless it is registered there.
This makes Oqood different from a reservation receipt. A booking form may show that money was paid or a unit was reserved, while Oqood records the signed off-plan sale through DLD’s official provisional-registration process.
Who Registers the Off-Plan Sale?
Official answer: The developer submits the initial-sale registration through the Oqood portal. The buyer signs the SPA and supplies the required identification, but DLD’s service is designed for the developer to complete the electronic registration.
Through the current DLD initial-sale registration service, the developer selects the property, enters the transaction details, uploads the documents and submits the application and payment. The issued document is a provisional registration e-certificate.
For an individual purchaser, DLD lists the signed SPA and valid identification among the required documents. A UAE resident uses valid UAE identification, while a non-resident can provide a valid passport.
What Is the Official Oqood Registration Deadline?
DLD states that the signed SPA must be registered in the provisional register within 90 days from the date the contract is signed.
This matters because some property guides still mention 30 or 60 days. The current DLD service page, updated on 9 July 2026, states 90 days. Buyers should use the current government service requirement rather than an unsupported general timeline.
DLD separately lists the service time as one business day. That service time should not be confused with the 90-day registration requirement. It describes DLD’s stated processing time for a properly submitted application, not a promise that the buyer will receive Oqood one day after signing the SPA.
What Are the Official Oqood Registration Fees?
The current DLD initial-sale service displays the following fees:
| Official fee item | Amount shown by DLD |
|---|---|
| Seller’s registration fee | 2% of the sale value |
| Purchaser’s registration fee | 2% of the sale value |
| Knowledge fee | AED 10 |
| Innovation fee | AED 10 |
| Developer self-registration fee through Oqood | AED 1,000 |
The displayed sale-value fees therefore total 4%. The DLD page does not list a separate 4% property-registration fee and another 4% Oqood fee for the same initial-sale registration.
Check the signed fee schedule and request an official receipt rather than relying only on a sales message or promotion.
SPA vs Oqood vs Title Deed
Short answer: The SPA creates the contractual sale, Oqood records that off-plan transaction in DLD’s provisional register, and the title deed is issued after completion and the required final procedures. These three documents are connected but not interchangeable.
| Stage | Main purpose | What the buyer should receive |
| SPA | Sets the contractual terms between developer and purchaser | Signed sale and purchase agreement |
| Oqood registration | Records the off-plan transaction in DLD’s provisional register | Provisional registration e-certificate |
| Final registration | Completes registration after project completion and contractual compliance | Electronic title deed and map |
DLD’s completion of initial procedures service allows parties who have complied with their contractual obligations to complete the provisional procedures and issue a title deed.
How Should a Buyer Check the Registration?
After the developer confirms registration, ask for the provisional registration e-certificate and compare the transaction details with the signed SPA.
Check the buyer’s name, project and unit information, recorded sale value and official registration reference against the SPA. Keep the certificate and payment receipt.
If you have the application details, DLD’s Application Status Enquiry allows customers to check the status of a real-estate registration application through the DLD website, Dubai REST or WhatsApp.
Remember that unit registration and project verification are separate checks. Buyers should also confirm the project’s official status and escrow details before continuing payments. You can compare current off-plan properties in Dubai after reviewing these basic protections.
What If You Have Not Received Oqood?
Buyer action: Confirm the SPA signing date, ask the developer for the Oqood application reference and provisional certificate in writing, and use DLD’s enquiry or support channels when the official registration period has passed without a clear explanation.
Check whether 90 days have passed, request the application reference and certificate, compare the registered information with the SPA, and use DLD’s enquiry or support channels if the position remains unclear. Obtain legal advice if a contractual dispute exists.
Do not treat a verbal assurance as registration evidence. Also, do not stop instalments automatically without checking the SPA and obtaining appropriate guidance, because buyer-payment obligations follow a separate legal and contractual process.
For payment timing and risk, read the guide to off-plan property payment plans in Dubai.
Does Oqood Replace the Project Escrow Account?
No. Oqood records the buyer’s transaction, while the escrow account controls project payments. DLD’s project-registration service requires project registration and an escrow account for off-plan sales, so buyers should verify both.
Can an Oqood-Registered Property Be Sold Before Handover?
Article 6 of Law No. 13 of 2008 permits a registered off-plan unit to be sold, mortgaged or otherwise legally disposed of. DLD’s sale-registration information requires a developer e-NOC for a property under construction.
The SPA and approved developer conditions can affect when a transfer may proceed. Buyers should not assume that one fixed 30% or 40% resale threshold applies to every project; no universal percentage appears on the official DLD pages reviewed.
Oqood Checklist Before Booking
Before reserving, verify the project and escrow instructions, read the booking form and SPA, confirm the registration charges, obtain a written Oqood timeline, and request the e-certificate and official receipt.
If you are still at the launch stage, review how an EOI differs from a booking form, SPA and Oqood before transferring money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oqood the Same as a Title Deed?
No. Oqood is the provisional registration used for an off-plan transaction. The final title deed is issued after project completion and completion of the applicable registration procedures.
How Long Does a Developer Have to Register the SPA?
DLD’s current initial-sale service states that the SPA must be registered in the provisional register within 90 days from signing.
Who Submits the Oqood Application?
The developer submits the registration through the Oqood portal. The purchaser supplies the signed SPA and applicable identification documents.
Can a Non-Resident Receive Oqood Registration?
Yes. DLD’s required-document list accepts a valid passport for an individual non-resident purchaser.
What Should I Do if the Developer Has Not Provided It?
Request the application reference and certificate in writing. If the official period has passed, use DLD’s application-status and support channels and obtain legal advice where a contractual dispute exists.
Final Advice
Oqood is a required purchase step, not optional paperwork. Before booking, ask when the SPA will be registered, what official fees apply and when the provisional certificate will be provided. Verify the project, escrow instructions, SPA and payment schedule together.
If you are comparing Dubai off-plan options, Realtor Farrukh can help you shortlist projects and review the available project information, payment schedule and documentation before you reserve a unit. Legal interpretation of an SPA should be handled by a qualified property lawyer.
This article provides general property information and does not replace legal advice. Requirements and transaction details should be checked against the latest DLD service information and the signed SPA.
