There are two types of real estate residencies: a three-year residency on a property whose value is AED 750,000 or more, and a five-year residency on a property whose value exceeds AED 5 million.

Initial registration means registering real estate sales contracts and other legal actions off-plan before transferring them to the real estate registry, and it includes properties purchased off-plan or ready-made properties for which an initial sale certificate is issued indicating the registration of a property. This aims to preserve the rights of owners and investors.

Dubai Land Department is the sole, legally authorised entity to register and document all real estate transactions. This is done through an electronic system (e-register) dedicated to this purpose, in accordance with DLD’s specific procedures and based on certain documents and papers. The transactions undertaken by real estate developers are recorded through the developers’ self-registration system. The rest of the transactions must be completed by the owner(s) or their representatives, with an official power of attorney at the Real Estate Registration Trustee centres located in different regions across Dubai.