What decides how fast you sell
The price. Buyers in Dubai can see what similar units in your building have sold for. An apartment priced in line with recent transactions attracts serious buyers. One priced well above them usually waits.
The buyer. A buyer with a mortgage needs a bank valuation and a credit decision before the transfer, and the bank's valuation can come in below the agreed price. A cash buyer skips that stage, which usually gets you to the transfer sooner.
The documents. A missing NOC, unpaid service charges or a name on the title deed that does not match your passport can each hold up the transfer. Checking them at the start saves time later.
How it works with Sellova
- A short form. You tell us about the apartment: building, size, condition and whether there is a mortgage or a tenant.
- A call. We talk through price, timing and your documents. We look at recent transactions in your building and at demand from cash buyers.
- Matching. After you sign Form A, we present the apartment privately to cash buyers on our list whose criteria fit it.
- The transaction. If you accept a proposal, we prepare Form F, coordinate the developer NOC and any mortgage release, and take you through the transfer at a DLD trustee office. Sellova is a brand of CARPE DIEM REAL ESTATE L.L.C, a licensed agency, so the whole transaction stays with us.
Steps and documents
| Step | Document | Who | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Agency agreement | Form A | seller and agency | signed before your apartment is presented to buyers |
| 2. Agree the price | Form F (MOU) | seller and buyer | signed once you accept a proposal |
| 3. Developer consent | e-NOC | developer | issued by the developer once service charges are paid |
| 4. Mortgage settlement (if any) | bank liability letter, mortgage release | bank | set by your bank |
| 5. Transfer | title deed, passport or Emirates ID | DLD trustee office | at a trustee office appointment once every document is ready |
The full procedure is in our guide on how to sell property in Dubai, and the timing of each stage is in how long it takes to sell.
What it costs the seller
The best-known cost is the DLD transfer fee, a percentage of the price set by the current DLD schedule, which buyer and seller split as agreed in Form F. On top of that, there is the trustee office fee, the developer NOC and, with a mortgage, release fees. Our guide to selling costs in Dubai lists each item with its source. Check every amount against the current DLD fee schedule before you sign Form F.
Cash buyer or mortgage buyer
A cash buyer usually decides faster, at a price that tends to sit below the asking price. A mortgage buyer may pay closer to your asking price, but the sale waits for the bank. The DLD transfer steps are the same either way, but a mortgage buyer adds the bank's valuation and loan approval. We compare both routes in cash buyer or public listing, and you can read how a cash proposal is formed.
Mortgaged or off-plan apartments
A mortgaged apartment can be sold. The loan is settled as part of the transfer. We discuss the outstanding balance on the first call, and your bank confirms it in a liability letter. An off-plan unit that has not been handed over is sold by assigning your developer contract, which follows its own route; see selling off-plan. If you live outside the UAE, see selling from abroad.
Frequently asked questions
How fast can I sell an apartment in Dubai?
There is no fixed time. A cash buyer avoids bank approval, but timing still depends on finding a buyer, complete documents, the developer NOC and the transfer appointment.
Does a cash sale mean a lower price?
Usually, yes. A cash proposal tends to sit below the listing price, and in return you get a decision sooner because there is no buyer's bank to wait for. How large the gap is depends on the building, the apartment and how soon you need to sell.
Which documents do I need?
You need the title deed, your passport (and Emirates ID if you have one), Form A, Form F and the developer NOC. If the apartment is mortgaged, add a liability letter from your bank. If someone signs for you, add a power of attorney notarised in the UAE or, if signed abroad, notarised and legalised for use in the UAE.
Who pays the DLD fee?
The DLD transfer fee is paid as agreed in Form F. You and the buyer record the split in Form F before the transfer.
Can I sell a mortgaged apartment?
Yes. Settling the mortgage is part of the transfer. Your bank issues a liability letter with the outstanding amount, the loan is paid off from the sale and the bank releases the mortgage. We discuss the balance on the first call, and your bank confirms it in the liability letter.
Do I need to be in Dubai?
No. Most of the process can be done remotely, and you can give someone a power of attorney to attend the transfer for you. See selling from abroad.
Do I have to accept the proposal?
No. Registering and asking for a proposal are free, and receiving a proposal does not oblige you to accept it. The price only becomes binding once you and the buyer sign Form F.
Tell us about your property
Tell us about your property in a short form. We will call you, talk through price and timing, and help you sell to a buyer who pays in cash.