Registering an off-plan project in Dubai is a structured, multi-authority process. Until your project is registered with the Dubai Land Department (DLD), approved by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), backed by an escrow account and recorded through Oqood, you cannot legally sell or market a single unit.
This guide walks through the full pathway in the order it actually happens, so you can plan your launch with confidence.
Step 1: Register as a developer
Before a specific project can be registered, the developing entity must be a registered developer with the DLD and RERA. This means having the correct company structure and trade licence for development activity, and satisfying eligibility and financial-standing checks.
Landowners and family offices developing for the first time should treat this as the foundation step everything else depends on it.
Step 2: Verify the land and prepare the project file
The project land must be verified with the DLD, and the full project file prepared: title deed, affection plan, approved drawings, consultant and contractor appointments, the project cost report, the construction timeline and the proposed payment plan.
Most delays happen here. A file that is incomplete or internally inconsistent for example a cost report that does not match the payment plan, triggers authority queries and re-submissions.
Step 3: Open the project escrow account
Every off-plan project needs an escrow (trust) account with a RERA-approved trustee bank, operated through the Trust Account System (TAS). Buyer payments flow into this account and are released to the developer against verified construction progress.
The escrow structure must match the RERA-approved payment plan and construction milestones. Getting this wrong is one of the most common causes of stalled launches.
Step 4: Secure RERA approval and DLD registration
With the file ready and escrow in place, the project is submitted for RERA approval and DLD registration. RERA reviews developer compliance and the project file; the DLD registers the project and issues its official project number.
This project number unlocks everything downstream escrow drawdowns, Oqood and, eventually, title deeds.
Step 5: Activate Oqood and obtain marketing permits
Oqood is the DLD system that records off-plan unit sales and SPAs before title deeds are issued. Once activated, you can record sales as they happen.
Before any public launch, you also need a valid marketing/advertising permit. Advertising or taking deposits before registration and permit issuance exposes you to penalties.
How long does it take?
With a complete, pre-validated file and an open escrow account, RERA approval and DLD registration typically take a few weeks. The biggest variables are document readiness and bank onboarding, which is exactly why experienced developers pre-validate everything before submission.
Frequently asked questions
No. You may only market or advertise an off-plan project after it is registered with the DLD, approved by RERA, the escrow account is open and a marketing permit has been issued.
Becoming a registered developer. The developing entity must be registered with the DLD and RERA before a specific project can be registered.
