Documents
Form A
Form A is the agreement between a property seller and a real estate agency in Dubai. It authorises the agency to market the property and sets the terms of the agency's work. It is a standard contract form published by the Dubai Land Department. Source: DLD contract forms.
Form F (MOU)
Form F, also called the memorandum of understanding (MOU), is the standard sale contract between the seller and the buyer in Dubai. It records the price, the deposit, the transfer date and who pays which fees. Source: DLD contract forms and DLD's Know your rights guide.
Title deed
A title deed is the official document that shows who owns a property. In Dubai it is issued by the Dubai Land Department, and a new title deed is issued in the buyer's name after the transfer. Source: DLD property sale registration.
SPA
An SPA, or sale and purchase agreement, is the contract between a developer and a buyer of an off-plan unit. It sets the price, the payment plan and the conditions for reselling the unit before handover. Source: DLD Oqood service.
NOC
An NOC, or no objection certificate, is the developer's confirmation that it does not object to the sale and that there are no outstanding service charges or other dues on the unit. DLD requires it before transferring ownership. Source: DLD property sale registration.
Authorities and registers
Dubai Land Department (DLD)
The Dubai Land Department is the government authority that registers property ownership and transactions in Dubai. Every sale in the emirate is registered with DLD. Source: dubailand.gov.ae.
Trustee office
A trustee office is a registration centre authorised by DLD where the buyer and the seller complete the transfer of ownership. The documents are checked there, the fees are paid and the sale is registered. Source: DLD property sale registration.
Oqood
Oqood is the interim real estate register kept by DLD for off-plan units. Every sale of an off-plan unit, including the resale of a unit before handover, is registered there. Source: DLD Oqood service and Law No. 13 of 2008.
Ejari
Ejari is Dubai's system for registering tenancy contracts. A registered tenancy contract is one of the documents to review when a tenanted property is sold. Source: Dubai Land Department.
Mortgage
Liability letter
A liability letter is a letter from the seller's bank that states the outstanding balance of the mortgage. It is used to pay off the loan as part of the transfer at the trustee office. Source: DLD, registering the sale of a mortgaged property.
Mortgage release
A mortgage release is the removal of the bank's mortgage from the property register after the loan has been repaid. The bank issues a release letter, and DLD completes the release. Source: DLD mortgage release service.
Licences
ORN
An ORN, or office registration number, is the number under which a real estate agency is registered with RERA, the regulatory arm of DLD. Sellova is a brand of CARPE DIEM REAL ESTATE L.L.C (RERA ORN 33387). Source: RERA.
BRN
A BRN, or broker registration number, is the personal registration number of a licensed real estate broker in Dubai. Sellova, as a licensed agency, handles the UAE legal requirements of each transaction and works with agents with or without a licence. To check Sellova, look up the agency's ORN. Source: RERA.
Where to read more
The steps that use these terms are explained in our guide on how to sell property in Dubai and, for units before handover, in the off-plan assignment guide.
Questions about documents?
If you are unsure which documents your sale needs, we can go through them with you.