Authority and procedure
Each emirate keeps its own property register. In Sharjah, sales are registered with the local registration authority, and Dubai rules such as Form F, DLD trustee offices and Oqood do not apply there. The broad sequence is similar to Dubai's: the parties agree a sale, the seller clears any dues 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 Sharjah's own rules, so they need to be checked for each property before the sale.
Who can own property in Sharjah
Based on Sharjah Law No. 2 of 2022, the Sharjah Executive Council issued a decision allowing people of all nationalities to own real estate in the emirate's development areas and projects, without a time limit. If you bought in one of these areas as a foreign national, the type of ownership shown on your title is checked before the sale. Whether a particular buyer can purchase depends on the area where the property is located.
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 agreed with the buyer.
- The developer's consent for a project that has not been handed over yet.
- 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
Sharjah sets its own registration fees, and they are not the same as 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 are clear before you commit.
Sharjah and Dubai compared
| Item | Dubai | Sharjah |
|---|---|---|
| Registering authority | Dubai Land Department | Sharjah's own registration authority |
| Sale contract | Form F (MOU) | contract under Sharjah rules |
| Transfer fee | set by Dubai rules | set by Sharjah rules |
| Off-plan register | Oqood | Sharjah's own procedure |
| Foreign ownership | designated freehold areas | designated development 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 Sharjah, 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 Sharjah 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 Sharjah?
The sale is registered by Sharjah's own real estate registration authority, not by the Dubai Land Department. The procedure and the fees therefore follow Sharjah 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 Sharjah authority accepts, so we check the requirements for your case before the sale.
What are the fees?
Sharjah 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. Sharjah has its own procedure for registering off-plan sales, separate from Dubai's Oqood system, so we read your contract before anything else.
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 Sharjah?
We work across the UAE, and Dubai is our main market. A sale in Sharjah 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 Sharjah?
Tell us about it.