Title deed verification in Dubai explained: how to check a deed on the DLD website or Dubai REST app, what details you need and what the results mean.
Title deed verification in Dubai is one of the quickest checks a buyer can make. A title deed records who owns a property, and the Dubai Land Department (DLD) keeps the official register behind it. Before you transfer money on a plot, a villa or an apartment, a verification takes a few minutes and shows the status recorded against the deed. This guide explains how to verify a title deed in Dubai, what details you need and what the results mean.
What a title deed verification in Dubai tells you
A verification checks the deed details against the DLD's records. It confirms that the certificate number and year match a registered record and shows the status attached to it. It does not replace a full due-diligence review, because it cannot show every claim, and it says nothing about whether the price is fair or what you are allowed to build. Treat it as one check among several.
What you need before you start
- The certificate number and certificate year. On a title deed, these sit below the barcode or QR code.
- The property type: Land, Unit or Villa.
- The owner's name. The form treats it as optional on most routes, but some validation options ask for it.
- For an off-plan purchase with no title deed yet, the Oqood contract number and year, which the DLD uses in place of the certificate details.
How to verify a title deed on the DLD website
- Go to the Dubai Land Department website and open the eServices tab.
- Under Real Estate Services, choose Title Deed Verification.
- Enter the details from the deed, select the property type and click Validate.
How to verify a title deed in the Dubai REST app
The same service is available in the Dubai REST app on iOS and Android. Log in or register, select Title Deed Verification on the home screen, enter the same details and tap Validate. Use only the official site and app. Be cautious of unofficial websites that claim to confirm ownership from copied DLD information, since they can give a misleading picture.
What the title deed status results mean
The result shows a status for the deed. The wording differs between sources and between the website and the app, so treat the list below as a guide rather than a definitive glossary.
- Valid: the deed is recorded as authentic and up to date.
- Mortgaged: a bank still has a claim on the property. The bank usually keeps the original deed and the buyer receives a copy, which changes the paperwork at transfer.
- Restrained: a restriction is recorded. This can relate to a legal dispute, an outstanding payment to the developer, a developer-imposed approval or a government order.
- Blocked: the deed is frozen and cannot be transferred, typically because of a court order.
- Invalid: a status you may see, but its meaning is not clearly documented, so ask the DLD to explain it.
If the result is anything other than valid, do not transfer money until you have confirmed what it means directly with the DLD or a conveyancing lawyer.
Checking an off-plan purchase
If you are buying off-plan, the formal title deed is usually not issued until handover, so the check relies on the Oqood record instead. Enter the Oqood contract number and year. The Oqood contract is the registration record for an off-plan sale, so confirm it appears correctly before you pay. It does not replace checking the developer's registration or reading the payment plan.
Practical checks alongside the verification
- Confirm that the name on the deed matches the seller's Emirates ID and the person signing the contract.
- Compare the certificate number on the paper deed with the number you verified online.
- Check the plot's freehold or leasehold status and its zoning, since a clean deed does not confirm what you can build.
- Keep a dated record of each check and its result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use the Title Deed Verification service on the Dubai Land Department website or in the Dubai REST app. Enter the certificate number and year from the deed, select the property type and click Validate.
