Authority and procedure
Every emirate keeps its own property register. In Ras Al Khaimah, sales are registered with the local land registration authority, and Dubai procedures such as Form F, DLD trustee offices and Oqood do not apply. The overall sequence is similar: the parties agree a sale, the seller clears any service charges and any mortgage, and the sale is registered so that the title passes to the buyer. The forms, the fees and the order of the steps follow Ras Al Khaimah's own rules, so they need to be checked for each property before the sale.
Who can own property in Ras Al Khaimah
Foreign nationals can own property in designated areas of Ras Al Khaimah. If you bought in one of these areas as a foreign national, you can sell the property. Whether a particular buyer can purchase depends on the buyer's nationality and on where the property is located, so this is checked for each sale.
Documents
You will usually need:
- The title document for the property, or the developer contract for a unit under construction.
- Your passport, and your Emirates ID if you live in the UAE.
- The sale contract, which the registration office prepares for the parties to sign.
- The developer's consent, for a project that has not been handed over or where the developer requires it.
- A letter from your bank with the outstanding balance, if the property is mortgaged.
The registration authority can ask for additional documents, so we confirm the full list for your property before you sign the sale contract.
Fees
Ras Al Khaimah sets its own registration fees, and they differ from the DLD fees in Dubai. Who pays which fee is agreed between buyer and seller in the sale contract. We confirm the exact fees for your property before you sign, so the costs of the sale are clear before you commit.
Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai compared
| Item | Dubai | Ras Al Khaimah |
|---|---|---|
| Registering authority | Dubai Land Department | Ras Al Khaimah's own land registration authority |
| Sale contract | Form F (MOU) | contract under Ras Al Khaimah rules |
| Transfer fee | set by Dubai rules | set by Ras Al Khaimah rules |
| Off-plan register | Oqood | Ras Al Khaimah's own procedure |
| Foreign ownership | designated freehold areas | designated areas |
If your property is in Dubai, see selling in Dubai. For Abu Dhabi, see selling in Abu Dhabi. The Dubai procedure step by step is in our guide on how to sell property in Dubai.
How we can help
Sellova is a brand of CARPE DIEM REAL ESTATE L.L.C (RERA ORN 33387), a real estate agency licensed in Dubai. If you own property in Ras Al Khaimah, you can tell us about it through our property form. As a licensed agency, we handle the UAE legal requirements of each transaction. On the first call we go through your documents and the Ras Al Khaimah procedure that applies to your property. Our buyer list is made up of people and companies who pay in cash, and you can read how a cash proposal works.
Frequently asked questions
Who registers the sale in Ras Al Khaimah?
The sale is registered by Ras Al Khaimah's own land registration authority, not by the Dubai Land Department. The procedure and the fees therefore follow the emirate's own rules, which differ from those in Dubai.
Can a foreign owner sell without travelling?
Yes, in many cases a representative can sell on your behalf under a power of attorney. The power of attorney has to be in a form that the Ras Al Khaimah authority accepts, so we check the requirements for your case before the sale.
What are the fees?
Ras Al Khaimah sets its own registration fees, which differ from the DLD fees in Dubai. Who pays which fee is agreed in the sale contract. We confirm the exact fees for your property before you sign.
Can I sell off-plan before handover?
It can be possible, depending on your developer contract and on the developer's consent. Ras Al Khaimah has its own procedure for off-plan sales, separate from Dubai's Oqood system, so the developer contract is the first thing to check.
How long does it take?
The timing depends on finding a buyer, on the developer's consent and on any mortgage on the property. A cash buyer removes the bank approval stage on the buyer's side. We give you a realistic timeline once we have seen your documents.
How does Sellova handle a sale in Ras Al Khaimah?
We work across the UAE, and Dubai is our main market. A sale in Ras Al Khaimah follows the emirate's own procedure, which we go through with you on the first call. Sellova is a brand of CARPE DIEM REAL ESTATE L.L.C (RERA ORN 33387), a real estate agency licensed in Dubai.
Own property in Ras Al Khaimah?
Tell us about it.