Dubai’s booming real estate market attracts countless property buyers and investors from across the globe every year. The real estate landscape of the region offers countless lucrative investment opportunities in terms of both off-plan properties and completed projects.

What sets Dubai apart are its robust regulations and procedures that safeguard the rights of the buyers and sellers involved in real estate transactions. Buyers and sellers both have to prepare valid documents and have them verified to ensure full compliance.

One key document in any real estate transaction is the title deed. This certified document verifies the rightful owner of a property and comes in handy when preventing fraud or settling disputes.

This blog covers the basics of title deed verification in detail. So, keep on reading till the end to know what is a title deed and why its verification is important.

• What is a Title Deed?
• Types of Title Deeds
• Key Information Contained in a Title Deed
• The Importance of Title Deed Verification
• Title Deed Verification Process
• Physical Verification
• Dubai Land Department (DLD) Verification
• Self-Verification
• Online Title Deed Verification
• From Dubai REST App
• From DLD Website
• Interpreting Title Deed Verification Results

What is a Title Deed?

A title deed is among the most important documents that you need when buying or selling a property. This is an official legal document issued by the (Dubai Land Department) DLD that serves as proof of your ownership of a property. This document contains important details about the property and its owner including the property’s registration number, size, location, etc.

The verification of this document is done to ensure the property in question is free from legal disputes or liens which can affect the ownership rights later on.

It is also worth noting that for finished projects, this document is issued after the DLD registration and upon receiving the full payment from the new owner.

However, in the case of off plan properties, the deed is issued once the construction has been completed. In this case, DLD issues an Oqood certificate which serves as the temporary proof of ownership until the project is completed and the official title deed is issued.

Types of Title Deeds

Before we look into the verification process, let’s first discuss the different types of title deeds to make things clearer:

• Freehold Title Deeds

This deed grants owners full ownership of the property and the land on which it is constructed.  Most foreigners living in the freehold area of the UAE get this deed.

• Leasehold Title Deeds

This deed gives ownership rights to the buyers for a limited time usually about 99 years. In this case, the government owns the land and the buyers cannot make any changes to the land or the property. 

• Interim Registration

This is used for off-plan properties that are partially paid. It documents the rights of the buyer during the payment process. 

• Strata Title Deeds

These deeds apply to single units that are a part of some larger development. It is used to define ownership boundaries in shared establishments.    

• Initial Sale Agreement (Oqood)

This deed is issued when you buy a property that is still under construction. It serves as a preliminary registration document that verifies your ownership rights to the property.   

• Granted Properties Deeds

These are special deeds issued for properties granted by Dubai’s ruler to UAE nationals. 

• Final Title Deed (Ejari)

Ejari is the final ownership document registered with the DLD that one gets after the project is finished and the payments have been made.

Key Information Contained in a Title Deed

The following are some key details typically included in this document:

• Owner’s name and contact
• Owner’s Identity Number
• Property’s size, location, layout, usage, boundaries, etc.
• Agreed upon purchase terms and conditions
• Final property purchase price
• Official stamp of the relevant department
• Title Deed Number​
• Property Plot Number
• Municipality’s Name
• Financial encumbrances like mortgages, liens, court orders regarding disputes, and other claims or liabilities related to property

The Importance of Title Deed Verification

Title Deed verification is like a background check on a property, ensuring your investment and rights are protected at all times. Here are a few points that show why this verification is crucial:

• The deed is irrefutable evidence of your property ownership and rights.
• It shows that the seller is the legal owner of the property and has the right to make changes or transfer ownership to the buyer.
• It helps in fulfilling insurance coverage requirements where you have to present proof of ownership in most cases.
• It helps ensure details like your property’s size, location, and boundaries are accurate. 
• Title Deeds can uncover potential legal disputes or financial encumbrances on the property.
• They protect buyers from shady or fraudulent real estate deals.
• They can help pinpoint outstanding debts or mortgages linked to properties which saves you from financial strife down the line.
• It gives you peace of mind that property is legal and free from potential liabilities.

Title Deed Verification Process

There are two main ways you can carry out title deed verification. You can either do it in person or you can use the online approach. This next section covers these in detail so keep on reading till the end.

The first step is requesting a copy of the property ownership certificate from the seller. Make sure this document contains the information we discussed earlier. Following are some additional documents that you must have with you when verifying a title deed:

• Your Emirates ID (for Residents)
• Your Passport (for Non-Residents)
• Power of Attorney (In case you are acting on behalf of the seller)
• Payment for the Title Deed verification fee

Once you have arranged these documents, you or an expert property management service you hire can use the following methods for verification.

Physical Verification

For physically verifying title deeds, you can either go for DLD verification or self-verification as follows.

Dubai Land Department (DLD) Verification

• Visit your nearest DLD office and bring either the title deed’s number or a copy of the title deed.
• You can give these documents to the relevant staff who will ask for your details and carry out the verification for you.
• After verification, they will stamp and sign the title deed, then provide you with a certified copy confirming its validity..

You can also request a detailed property report from the DLD which includes:

• Property address 
• Owner’s name 
• Legal status
• Ownership History
• Restrictions 
• General property details including size, location, boundaries, etc. 

Self-Verification

Self-verification is another quick way to ensure the validity of the title deeds. In this case, you examine the deed yourself. First step is the acquisition of a copy of the deed from the previous owner. Then, you need to look at the details to ensure they are updated and consistent with the real estate you are about to buy.

Here are some important things to consider when self-verifying title deeds:

• Look at the property details and owner’s name to ensure they are the same as mentioned in the contract.
• Look for the official DLD stamp and QR code.
• Look at the property’s address and general details like size, location, etc.
• Use the DLD app or website to ensure the information included in the title deed has no discrepancies.

Online Title Deed Verification

For verifying title deeds online, you can either use the Dubai REST app or DLD’s official website which gives you a quick and convenient way to carry out this task.

From Dubai REST App

Here are a few easy steps you can follow for title deed’s verification via the Dubai REST app:

• Install the Dubai REST app from the Android or iOS app store and click on the icon to launch.
• Log in to your account if you are already registered or create a new one using your Emirates ID or passport.
• Next, click on the “services” tab and scroll through the list to find “Title Deed Verification”. Click on it.
• Then you can choose the option “Validate Property” or “Validate Owner and Property” as per your need.
• Enter the required information such as Certificate Number, Certificate Year, Property Type, etc.
• Click on “Search” and the app will automatically verify the title deed’s validity by cross-referencing the information with DLD’s database. Finally, the app will show you information regarding the validity of the title deed.

From DLD Website

Here is how you can easily do title deed verification using DLD’s official website:

• Visit the official DLD website and navigate to the “services” and then “popular services” options.
• Now you will see a list of popular services from which you need to choose the “Verification of Certificate of Title / Title deed” option.
• Now you can choose the “validate owner and property” or “validate property” option.
• Enter the required information such as Title Deed No., Title Deed Year, Property Type, etc.
• Do Captcha verification and then click on “Validate”.
• The website will soon display the title deeds information and validity details after an analyzing the information.  

Interpreting Title Deed Verification Results

Here are some possible results that you can expect after the verification is done:

• Valid: This result means the title deed is updated and valid.
• Invalid: This result suggests the title deed might be inaccurate or unauthentic.
• Restrained: This shows the property in question might have some legal restrictions on it.
• Blocked: This result means the property ownership cannot be transferred.
• Mortgaged: This result shows the existence of a lien on the real estate property. This means the previous owner still owes some money on the mortgage.

Conclusion

It is always a good idea to do your due diligence when buying a property. Title deed verification is very important as it can streamline real estate transactions, generate investor confidence, and prevent fraudulent practices.

You can easily do your title deed verification either by personally visiting the DLD’s office or using online methods like the website of the DLD or the Dubai REST app.

You can either verify this document yourself or entrust the task to a property management expert to further safeguard your rights and avoid potential scams.

You can visit us at My Property Manager to get the best title deed verification, property investment, and other essential property management services all over Dubai, UAE.