UAE Real Estate Glossary

Key terms and concepts used in UAE real estate and PropertyfinderAPI responses. Understand the data you are working with.

B D E F G H L M O P R S T U

B

Broker (Real Estate Agent)

A licensed real estate professional authorized to facilitate property get-transactions in the UAE.

D

Developer

A company that constructs and sells real estate projects.

DLD (Dubai Land Department)

The government authority responsible for organizing and registering all real estate get-transactions in Dubai.

E

Ejari

Dubai's mandatory online rental registration system managed by the DLD.

F

Freehold

A type of property ownership in the UAE where the buyer owns the property and the land it sits on indefinitely.

G

Golden Visa

A long-term residence visa (5 or 10 years) granted to property investors in the UAE.

H

Handover

The process of transferring a completed property from the developer to the buyer.

L

Leasehold

A form of property ownership where the buyer holds rights to the property for a fixed period, typically 99 years, after which ownership reverts to the freeholder.

M

Makani Number

A unique 10-digit smart coordinate system created by Dubai Municipality.

Master Plan

A comprehensive development plan for a large-scale community or district, covering layout, infrastructure, amenities, and phasing.

O

Off-Plan

Properties purchased before or during construction, typically at below-market prices with developer payment plans.

Oqood

Dubai's interim property registration system for off-plan properties.

P

Payment Plan

A structured installment schedule offered by developers for off-plan property purchases.

R

Real Estate Agency

A licensed company that employs real estate brokers to facilitate property get-transactions.

Rental Yield

The annual rental income from a property expressed as a percentage of its purchase price.

RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority)

The regulatory body governing real estate in Dubai, operating under the Dubai Land Department.

ROI (Return on Investment)

The total return on a property investment including rental income and capital appreciation, minus costs like service charges, maintenance, and vacancy periods.

S

Service Charge

An annual fee paid by property owners to cover the maintenance and management of common areas in a building or community.

SuperAgent

A status awarded to real estate agents on Property Finder who consistently provide excellent customer service, maintain high-quality listings, answer calls rapidly, and generate confirmed viewings..

T

Title Deed

The official document issued by the Dubai Land Department (or equivalent authority in other emirates) that proves property ownership.

Trakheesi

The Dubai permit system for advertising and marketing real estate properties.

TruCheck™

A proprietary verification system developed by Property Finder.

U

Usufruct

A property right common in Abu Dhabi that grants the holder the right to use and benefit from a property for a specified period (typically 99 years) without owning the land.

Work with UAE Real Estate Data

Now that you know the terminology, start building with real-time property data from PropertyfinderAPI.

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