Title Deeds in Abu Dhabi: Why You Need Them and How to Get Them

When buying an apartment or house in Abu Dhabi, it is not enough to sign a sales agreement and pay for the property — the property must be registered with the Land Registration Department. After the property is registered, the buyer will receive a title deed and will then be able to dispose of the property at their discretion. Read on to learn how to register a property in Abu Dhabi and how to become its rightful owner.

• Why You Need a Title Deed
• Who Can Get a Title Deed in Abu Dhabi?
• The Routes to Get a Title Deed
• Fees for Obtaining a Title Deed
• Is it Possible to Register Property Online?

Why You Need a Title Deed

Since 2018, all owners of real estate in Abu Dhabi must register their property with the Land Registration Department (LRD) and the title deed is the only document that certifies the registration of the property. The title deed is an important document and without it, you cannot rent or sell the property.

Information about properties and their owners is used by the LRD for market monitoring and analysis.

Who Can Get a Title Deed in Abu Dhabi?

Foreigners are allowed to purchase property for freehold in Abu Dhabi only in specific freehold zones and there are currently more than 20 of these zones. The most popular areas among foreigners are: Al Reem Island, Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, Al Reef and Al Raha Beach districts.

Foreigners cannot be full owners of real estate in many parts of Abu Dhabi: only citizens of the UAE and the countries of the Persian Gulf can own property in these areas. Citizens of other countries can only rent or lease properties in these areas.

The Routes to Get a Title Deed

Registering a sale and obtaining a title deed for finished freehold real estate in Abu Dhabi consists of the following stages:

1. The buyer and the seller agree to meet at the LRD. Representatives of the parties should receive powers of attorney, if the participants cannot attend in person.
2. The parties sign the sales and purchase agreement. They then provide a package of documents to the LRD employee: identity cards, Emirates IDs or visas, a list of meter readings from the ADWEA utility provider, a building plan of the property, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) confirming the absence of debts for the property, etc. Legal entities provide a set of corporate documents. You can read more about the documents required in Abu Dhabi here.
3. The buyer provides proof of payment of all fees and charges related to the sale.
4. The parties sign special forms confirming the transfer of ownership of the property.
5. The buyer transfers the money to the seller, as a rule, via a manager’s cheque.
6. The buyer obtains a title deed for the property.

The title deed is issued in a special form signed and sealed by the certifier.

Fees for Obtaining a Title Deed

The LRD registers the ownership subject to payment of all duties and charges. The following fees apply in Abu Dhabi:

• Property transfer fee in the amount of 4% of the property value.
• Administrative fee of 540 AED ($147).
• Registration fee depending on the property value: 4,000 AED ($1100) for properties valued above 500,000 AED ($137,500); 2,000 AED ($545) for properties valued below 500,000 AED.

Is it Possible to Register Property Online?

An application for the transfer of ownership in Abu Dhabi can be submitted online through the TAMM state portal. This can save time on filing documents but does not exempt you from meeting in person to finalise the transfer.

In a Nutshell

A title deed in Abu Dhabi certifies freehold ownership of property. With this document, the owner can dispose of the property at their own discretion: rent, gift or sell it. To obtain the title deed, the owner should submit a package of documents to the LRD and pay all necessary fees.

Cover photo: energepic.com (Pexels)