Oqood in Dubai: What It Is and Why Off-Plan Buyers Should Check It

The Short Answer

Oqood vs Title Deed

What to Ask For Before You Pay

Resale of an Off-Plan Unit

Common Mistakes

How Banke Can Help

Conclusion

Dubai Property Insights · Off-Plan Buying Oqood in Dubai: What It Is and Why Off-Plan Buyers Should Check It Oqood is the Dubai Land Department (DLD) register in which an off-plan purchase is recorded before the building is finished and a title deed can be issued. If you are buying off-plan in Dubai, your contract should be registered there, and you can ask to see

proof. This Banke UAE guide explains what Oqood means in plain language, how it differs from a title deed, and the questions to ask before you pay anything beyond a reservation. The Short Answer A title deed is issued for a completed, registered property. An off-plan unit does not exist yet, so there is no title deed to hand over. The interim record of your

right to the unit is the Oqood registration. In practice, it is what shows that the sale of a specific unit to you has been recorded with the DLD. Registration is not a guarantee that the project will be built on time or at all. It is one protection among several, alongside the developer's licence, the escrow arrangement for buyer payments and the terms of

your sale and purchase agreement. Oqood vs Title Deed Oqood records an off-plan sale. It exists while the building is being built. Title deed is issued once the property is complete and registered in the buyer's name. Handover is the point where the unit is finished and delivered. The move from Oqood to title deed follows completion and the final steps set by the authorities

and the developer. Do not treat a reservation form, a booking receipt or a brochure as proof of registration. They are different documents. What to Ask For Before You Pay A copy of the sale and purchase agreement, read in full, including the payment schedule and the handover date clause. Confirmation that the project is registered and that the developer is licensed to sell it.

Verify this with the DLD or RERA, not only with the seller. The escrow account details for your instalments. Payments should go to the project escrow account named in the contract, not to a personal or general company account. Written confirmation of when and how the Oqood registration will be completed, and who pays the registration fees. A receipt for every payment, stating the unit

number and project. If a seller cannot or will not explain any of these points, treat that as information about the seller. For more on buyer protections, read our guide to off-plan risk checks with Banke and how escrow accounts protect off-plan buyers in Dubai with Banke . Resale of an Off-Plan Unit If you buy an off-plan unit from another buyer, the transfer is

recorded as well. The developer usually has to be involved, and the terms of your original contract decide what is allowed and what it costs. Ask for the developer's requirements in writing before you agree a price with the seller. Common Mistakes Assuming a signed booking form equals a registered purchase. Paying to a bank account that is not the project escrow account. Not reading

the clauses on delay, cancellation and refund. Relying on verbal promises about completion dates or fee waivers. How Banke Can Help Banke UAE can walk you through the documents for a specific project and help you list the questions to put to the developer. We do not give legal advice, and for the contract itself you should use an independent lawyer. To discuss a project,

contact the Banke UAE team . Conclusion Oqood is the off-plan record that stands in for a title deed until the property is finished. Ask to see it, pay only into the escrow account named in your contract, and keep every document. Rules, fees and procedures change. Confirm the current position with the relevant authority or a qualified professional before you commit money. This is

general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.