Development (usufruct) sale
Registers the sale of a development (usufruct) right with the Dubai Land Department.
How it works
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Documents
You
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Reviewed by MARIO E.G.S.H AI
MARIO E.G.S.H AI
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Registered at trustee office
Runner at DLD
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Title deed issued
DLD
Documents required
Electronic no-objection certificate (e-NOC) from the developer (requested through the Dubai REST app)
in some casescopyOnly if: Needed for properties in freehold areas (and off-plan/Oqood units).Emirates ID of the parties (shown for identification only; no copy is taken) or a valid passport for non-resident foreigners
originalTitle deed, usufruct deed or Oqood (provisional sale) certificate of the property (copy or number)
in some casescopyOnly if: Helps our staff identify the property; DLD reads the record from its system.Legal power of attorney, if someone acts for a party
in some casesoriginalattestedlegal Arabic translationOnly if: Only when a representative attends; it must expressly cover this transaction on this property. A POA made abroad must be attested and legally translated into Arabic.If a party is a company: trade licence (with the partners page), memorandum of association with annexes (MOFA-attested with Arabic translation), job-title certificate of the signatory, and a POA or notarised board resolution
in some casesoriginalattestedlegal Arabic translationOnly if: Only when the owner or buyer is a company. A company that is not yet registered in the DLD system must first be registered (separate company-registration service).
Conditions, time and validity
- A usufruct right (long-term lease) lets the holder use and benefit from someone else's property for up to 99 years; a musataha right lets the holder build on land and use the building for up to 50 years.
- A company buyer must already be registered in the DLD system.
- Any mortgage on the usufruct deed must be released (or transferred) before or together with the sale.
- Processing time
- DLD: 30 minutes at most at the trustee office.
- Validity of the result
- The buyer holds the right for the remaining term of the original usufruct.
- Where it is applied for
- Real Estate Registration Trustee offices (in person). All outputs are electronic.
Steps at the authority
- Seller and buyer sign the sale agreement (form F) and the seller obtains the developer's e-NOC.
- Our centre checks the file and submits it at a Real Estate Registration Trustee office; all documents are uploaded to the DLD digital vault.
- The fees are paid (e-pay, Dubai Pay, Noqodi or a manager's cheque to DLD) and a receipt is issued.
- DLD audits and registers the transaction; the updated title deed / certificate is sent by email.
Tips that save you a trip
- Check the remaining years of the right: the price should reflect them, and banks lend less on short remaining terms.
Common reasons for rejection or delay
- Mortgage on the usufruct deed not released.
- Developer e-NOC missing.
Questions and answers
Is the fee the same as a normal sale?
In practice trustees charge 4% of the price plus deed, map and trustee fees, like a sale; DLD's page describes the percentage on the rental (usufruct) value. Our staff confirm the amount before you pay.
Checked by the MARIO E.G.S.H team on 2026-10-08. Rules can change at any time; our consultant confirms the details for your case.
Legal basis
Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 concerning Real Property Registration (usufruct and musataha rights up to 99 / 50 years)
Related services
Data update
Updates your registered data in the Dubai Land Department's records, at the centre or online.
To whom it may concern letter
Obtains a to-whom-it-may-concern letter about your property from the Dubai Land Department.
Property details certificate
Obtains an official certificate of your property's registered details from the Dubai Land Department.
Land map (affection plan)
Obtains the land map (affection plan) showing your plot details from the Dubai Land Department.