Oqood: A Practical Guide to What It Is and Why It Matters

In Dubai’s fast-moving off-plan market, trust is currency. Every promise—every handover date, every payment plan—rests on one essential record: Oqood. This interim registration with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) transforms a signed sales agreement into a recognised legal right on the Interim Real Estate Register. For buyers, it records and protects their contractual interest while the tower is still rising (it is not the final title deed). For agents, it proves that every deal rests on solid legal ground.

What is Oqood

When a buyer signs a Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA), the developer must register the sale on DLD’s Interim Real Estate (Provisional) Register—commonly known as Oqood. That registration gives the buyer enforceable standing during construction and until the title deed is issued at handover. Think of Oqood as both risk management for the buyer and credibility for the agent—it shows that the sale is recorded in DLD’s system and that payments follow Dubai’s escrow-linked framework.

Legally, developers are required to register off-plan contracts under Dubai Law No. 13 of 2008 (Interim Real Property Register). Unregistered off-plan sales can be difficult to enforce, which is why Oqood registration is a critical early step. As an agent, helping clients understand when and how Oqood registration happens turns a complex process into a moment of trust.

For example, when a buyer books an off-plan apartment in Business Bay, they’ll often pay a reservation fee, sign the SPA, and then wait for confirmation that the sale has been officially registered. Showing them that Oqood milestone—and where to view outputs via DLD’s approved digital channels such as the Dubai REST app—builds confidence and positions you as a knowledgeable, compliant advisor. (DLD lists Dubai REST among its service channels and issues a Provisional Registration e-certificate for off-plan registrations.)

New to off plan sales? This primer sets the stage: Off-Plan Developments: A Golden Opportunity for New Real Estate Agents and Agency Owners in Dubai.

Before we dive into the “how,” here’s the off-plan journey every client should understand:
Reservation → SPA (Sales & Purchase Agreement) → Oqood Registration → Construction Milestones (escrow-linked) → Handover & Title Deed

Registration typically happens shortly after the SPA is signed and relevant fees are paid. The developer submits the application through DLD’s system and, once processed, the buyer’s interest appears on the Interim Register. Buyers can later view official property records and, upon completion, title information through DLD’s digital services (e.g., Dubai REST).

Why Oqood Matters

It turns promises into protection
Once an SPA is signed and fees are paid, Oqood registration places the buyer’s rights on record with DLD. This gives the contract recognised, enforceable standing during construction. Without registration, disputes become harder to prove and resolve—making this step the cornerstone of buyer protection.

It builds confidence in your process
Clients often feel anxious between signing the SPA and receiving the title deed. Guiding them through Oqood—explaining who files it (the developer) and what they’ll receive (a DLD provisional registration e-certificate, visible via DLD digital channels)—turns what could be a moment of uncertainty into a moment of reassurance.

It keeps payments on track
Once the sale is registered and the project operates under an escrow account, collections follow milestone schedules overseen within Dubai’s escrow framework (Law No. 8 of 2007), aligning funds with construction progress. 

For a fuller playbook on sourcing projects, structuring pitches, and keeping momentum from enquiry to escrow, see Off-Plan Sales Strategies: Capturing New Development Opportunities in Dubai

It saves time later
Educating clients early on how to check their registration outputs via DLD’s digital channels (e.g., Dubai REST) reduces “status update” calls and keeps you focused on next steps: qualification, financing, or handover readiness.

What Gets Checked Before Oqood

Before a developer registers an off-plan sale, a good agent double-checks that everything leading up to Oqood is airtight. A clean file now prevents weeks of delays later.

1) Verify the project and escrow
Confirm the project is registered with DLD/RERA and has a valid escrow account for off-plan sales (project registration and escrow setup are official DLD services for developers). This escrow requirement is a key consumer-protection safeguard in Dubai.

2) Lock down the paperwork and payment plan
Collect complete buyer KYC, ensure the SPA is countersigned, and verify the payment schedule mirrors construction milestones so registration proceeds smoothly under the Interim Register framework.

3) Confirm fees and official schedules
Confirm registration/admin fees directly with the developer and guide clients to DLD’s official channels (e.g., Dubai REST / service pages). Avoid quoting from third-party calculators or social posts—fees vary and change periodically.

4) Walk the buyer through the fine print
Highlight delivery windows, default clauses, and the link between milestones and payments so expectations are clear and aligned with Dubai’s escrow/registration framework. 

Avoid promises you can’t prove
Don’t guarantee handover dates, fee waivers, or change-order approvals unless documented by the developer (letterhead or SPA addendum) and compatible with DLD-recognised processes. This protects both you and the client. (General best practice consistent with DLD developer-led registration workflows.)

To reinforce SLA discipline and keep clients warm between SPA → Oqood → milestones, read The Follow-Up Formula: How to Stay Top of Mind With Your Clients

Assignments (“Oqood Resales”) Before Completion

Some investors choose to resell their off-plan units before handover (assignment). It’s legal but tightly controlled. The developer manages the process under DLD’s framework. Specifics differ by project and SPA. Generally, the current buyer must have a clean payment record and obtain a developer No-Objection Certificate (NOC) before reassignment, after which the developer updates the provisional registration.

Typical flow

1. Confirm eligibility in the SPA and gather the incoming buyer’s KYC.
2. Obtain the developer’s NOC and settle applicable fees.
3. The developer submits the reassignment; DLD updates the provisional registration, and the new buyer continues under the same escrow-linked schedule.

Agent Script
“Assignments are allowed in many projects, but they’re governed by the SPA and the developer’s policies. We’ll confirm the exact requirements—NOC, fees, documentation—directly with the developer first. Once everything’s approved and the new buyer’s KYC is complete, the Oqood record is updated. Timelines and costs vary, so we’ll share the official steps in writing before moving forward.”

Why the caution?
DLD’s system places responsibility for registering and updating off-plan sales on the developer (including issuance of the provisional registration e-certificate and filing windows). Clear, early communication prevents surprises and keeps both parties aligned with the official process.

For the handover phase that follows Oqood, use this step-by-step checklist: Your Off-Plan Completion Blueprint: Guiding Clients from Deposit to Keys

Quick definitions (agent cheat sheet)

“When do I use which?” (quick reference)

• Off-plan purchase from a developer → Sign SPA → Developer registers on Oqood → Title Deed issued at completion/transfer.
• Secondary/ready resale → Buyer & seller sign Form F → Transfer at DLD → Title Deed issued.
• Rentals → Tenancy contract registered on Ejari (not Oqood).

Key Takeaways

Oqood isn’t just an administrative checkbox. It’s the moment an off-plan promise becomes a recognised legal right on DLD’s Interim Register. When handled well, it’s your strongest proof of trust and professionalism.

Keep files clean, expectations realistic, and communication constant. Verify project and escrow details, confirm every document, and rely only on official DLD information for fees or timelines. Teach clients how to view their outputs via DLD’s digital channels (e.g., Dubai REST) so they can see progress first-hand. Done consistently, Oqood registration becomes more than paperwork—it’s the foundation of client confidence, regulatory compliance, and smoother off-plan closings for your team.