How to verify a Dubai property before you invest
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Property fraud rarely looks like fraud — it usually looks like a great deal. Dubai's land department offers free tools that let you check almost…
Quick answer
Check the title deed through the DLD (Dubai REST app or DLD eServices), confirm the broker and agency are RERA-licensed, look up off-plan projects and escrow accounts with the DLD, ask for a service charge clearance and check for mortgages or blocks before paying any deposit.
Property fraud rarely looks like fraud — it usually looks like a great deal. Dubai's land department offers free tools that let you check almost everything before you commit.
Why verification matters
- Sellers who do not actually own the unit
- Hidden mortgages or legal blocks that stop the transfer
- Unlicensed brokers who disappear with deposits
- Off-plan projects that stall
- Unpaid service charges passed on to you
Step 1: the title deed
Ask the seller for the title deed, then verify it in the Dubai REST app or on DLD eServices. Unit number, building, area and size must match the listing. If the unit shows a mortgage, block or complaint, stop and get legal advice.
Step 2: the broker
Check the agent's and agency's RERA licence in the Dubai REST app before sharing documents or money.
Step 3: off-plan projects
Confirm the project and developer are registered with the DLD and that payments go into the project's escrow account, never to a personal account.
Step 4: charges and clearances
Request a service charge clearance and, for mortgaged units, the bank's liability letter. The transfer happens at a DLD trustee office, where the remaining checks are completed.
Never pay a deposit before the title deed and the broker licence have been verified.
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Frequently asked questions
Is DLD title deed verification free?
Yes, the basic checks in the Dubai REST app and DLD eServices are free.
Can I verify an off-plan project?
Yes. Look up the project and its escrow account with the DLD.
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