Dubai Freehold Property Guide

The Dubai Land Department has issued the Freehold Property Guide to wipe away the uncertainty over buying and registering property in Dubai. The additions made to the property law this year points out specific areas where the non-UAE residents can buy freehold properties.

The use of varied names by the developers to describe the residential areas confuse the buyers whether their property is listed or not. “The market needs this guide. The major developers have branded areas, but land is officially registered under different names”, said Sultan Butti Bin Mejren, Director-General, Land Department.

The 168-page guide provides vital information such as the full list and map of the designated freehold areas. Besides, it supplies guidelines for buyers and sellers on the procedures for property and mortgage registration. The handbook also has a checklist of all the essential steps for transaction and completing documentation.

An important feature of the manual is a listing of the master developers and private realty firms and their freehold property projects. One can also find the names of real estate agents, brokers, contractors, consultants and legal firms in it. The guide is priced at Dh25 and its publisher is the Sterling Publications.

It is available in all the bookstores from November 21^st 2006. The Dubai Land Department has made 3 new additions to the existing Dubai’s property law, which would come into effect in early 2007. A condominium law will clarify the responsibility for maintaining common hold areas. It will also put a regulation on owners associations and escrow accounts, which hold investor’s down payment until the property is constructed.