What is Oqood?
Oqood (Arabic for “contracts”) is the official registration system for off-plan property transactions in Dubai, operated by the Dubai Land Department (DLD). It serves as the interim title registration for properties that have not yet been completed — protecting the buyer’s interest from the moment of purchase until the project is handed over and a permanent Title Deed is issued.
How Oqood Works in the UAE
When you buy an off-plan property in Dubai, the developer submits the Sales Purchase Agreement (SPA) to the DLD for registration in the Oqood system. This registration:
- Legally records your claim to the specific unit you purchased.
- Prevents the developer from selling the same unit twice — a critical safeguard.
- Creates a digital record accessible through the Dubai REST app, allowing you to track your investment status.
- Triggers escrow compliance — ensuring your payments go into a regulated escrow account rather than the developer’s operating funds.
The Oqood registration fee is 4% of the property value (same as the DLD transfer fee), plus an AED 1,010 admin charge. This fee is typically paid by the buyer at the time of booking or shortly after signing the SPA.
Practical Example
You book a studio in a new Emaar project at Dubai Hills for AED 900,000. After signing the SPA, Emaar submits the contract to Oqood. Within days, your purchase is registered, and you can verify it on the Dubai REST app. If you later decide to sell before handover (a “resale of off-plan”), the Oqood registration is transferred to the new buyer — ensuring a clean chain of ownership throughout the project’s lifecycle.
Why Oqood Matters for Investors
Oqood is the safety net for off-plan buyers. Without it, you would rely solely on the developer’s word that your unit is reserved. With Oqood, your purchase is government-backed and legally enforceable. We at UAE-Prop ensure every off-plan transaction we facilitate is properly registered in Oqood, giving our clients documented proof of ownership from day one of their investment journey.
