What is the Oqood fee for off plan property in Dubai, how does it relate to DLD fees, when is it paid during registration, and what changes for off plan resale transfers?
A practical breakdown of Oqood, the 4% structure, admin items, timelines, and how assignments work.
Direct Answer
Oqood is Dubai’s off plan registration in DLD’s provisional register. DLD lists the core fee as 2% seller plus 2% purchaser, total 4% of the sale value, plus small admin charges and AED 1,000 developer self-registration. It’s paid during Oqood registration, typically within 90 days of signing.
Explanation
Oqood is basically the bridge between “I signed an off plan SPA” and “my unit is legally recorded under my name.” It is not a separate authority, it is part of the Dubai Land Department system, specifically the provisional register used for under-construction properties.
How it relates to DLD fees (the part people confuse):
When someone says “the Oqood fee is 4%,” what they usually mean is that the DLD registration fee structure still applies,
just earlier in the process. On DLD’s “Request to register the initial sale” service page (updated online 30 Jan 2026),
the service fees are listed as 2% paid by the seller and 2% paid by the purchaser, so the official structure totals 4%
of the sale value.
In practice, developers often manage the registration and may pass the entire 4% to the buyer depending on what the SPA says. That is why you will hear different “rules” from different people, the DLD schedule shows the fee structure, but the SPA decides who funds it in your specific deal.
Admin charges and what else you pay:
DLD lists AED 10 knowledge fee and AED 10 innovation fee, plus a AED 1,000 developer self-registration fee for provisional
sale registration via the Oqood developer portal. VAT can apply where a fee line explicitly states “+ VAT,” for example on
trustee or service partner items in other DLD processes, and the UAE standard VAT rate is 5%.
When it is paid:
DLD’s service terms state the sale and purchase contract should be registered in the provisional register within 90 days
from signing. In real life, many developers submit Oqood shortly after SPA signing or once the contract is activated in
their system, but the safest move is to confirm the planned registration date and keep proof of payment.
Resale, meaning assignment before final title deed, is possible after obtaining a developer NOC. After that, the Oqood record must be updated to the new buyer, and developers often charge their own transfer or admin fees. Fee responsibility varies, but many assignment processes place the DLD registration cost on the new buyer, so it needs to be written clearly in the assignment agreement and developer transfer form.
Quick Fact Table
| Item | What it is | What DLD shows |
|---|---|---|
| Oqood initial sale registration | Provisional registration of off plan SPA | 2% seller + 2% purchaser (total 4%) |
| Knowledge fee | Fixed admin line item | AED 10 |
| Innovation fee | Fixed admin line item | AED 10 |
| Developer self-registration | Oqood portal developer transaction fee | AED 1,000 |
| Registration timing | Deadline to register SPA in provisional register | Within 90 days of signing |
| Off plan resale prerequisite | Condition to assign before handover | Developer NOC required |
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