The short answer
The developer submits the initial-sale registration through Oqood. DLD’s current service terms require registration within 90 days of signing the sale contract. Its listed processing time is one business day; that is a service benchmark, not a promise that your certificate arrives the day after signing.
The process, step by step
| Stage | Who acts | What the buyer should keep |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Contract | Buyer and developer sign the SPA. | A complete signed copy, including the payment plan and unit details. |
| 2 · Application file | Buyer supplies identification; developer prepares the submission. | Copies of what you sent and confirmation of receipt. |
| 3 · Registration submission | Developer selects the provisional-sale service, adds the property and documents, and arranges payment. | Application reference, submission date and any returned requirements. |
| 4 · Output | The service sends the registration output to the purchaser by email. | The issued certificate and original source email. |
| 5 · Check the details | Buyer compares the issued record with the purchase file. | A written question for any mismatch; retain both versions. |
Payment to the developer and completion of a DLD application are different events. Ask for evidence of the relevant stage rather than inferring it from a payment receipt.
What documents are required?
For individuals, DLD lists the SPA, valid Emirates ID and a valid passport for non-residents. Confirm the applicable identification route for your circumstances with the developer. A minor’s purchase requires guardian involvement and identification under the service terms.
Company purchases have a longer checklist which varies by entity type. It can include the trade licence, signatory identification, authority documents, memorandum, shareholder information, translations and applicable attestations or approvals. Use the entity-specific list on the official service page rather than an individual buyer checklist.
A mortgage-related purchase has a separate route and bank documentation. See Oqood and off-plan mortgages.
Is the deadline 60 days or 90 days?
For this initial-sale service, the current DLD page expressly states 90 days from contract signing. Older general guides contain other timing references, and the original 2008 law also contains a transitional 60-day provision for earlier dispositions. Those are not interchangeable descriptions of this current service.
Record the signing date and seek a status update early. If timing is disputed, refer the exact transaction and documents to DLD or a qualified Dubai property lawyer. Do not infer a cancellation right or a penalty amount from a general deadline alone.
Must I pay 20% or 25% first?
The official initial-sale service terms reviewed here do not publish a universal buyer-payment threshold of 20% or 25%. If the developer says it cannot register until a particular instalment, ask for the contractual and regulatory basis in writing and how it meets the published timing requirement.
A resale payment threshold is a different question. Do not transfer a figure quoted for resale eligibility into advice about first registration.
How do I follow up?
A question you can use
Please confirm the initial-sale registration status for my project and unit, the application reference and submission date, any outstanding requirement, and when the issued certificate will be sent. My SPA was signed on [date].
If submitted, use the official application enquiry route with the information it requires. If no application reference is available or the explanation remains unclear, follow the delayed-certificate guide.
Questions people ask
Can I register directly as an individual buyer?
The published initial-sale service is a developer workflow. An owner account and a developer’s authority to submit that transaction are different. If the developer is not acting, ask DLD about the route for your case.
Can a non-resident receive Oqood?
The published requirements include non-resident passport identification. Obtain the correct checklist and confirm the purchaser’s email so the output reaches the right person.
How much does registration cost?
Start with the official percentage and fee lines in the fees guide. Ask how the contract allocates them, and separate government, developer and independent-service charges.