Property gift transfer in Dubai is the legal process of transferring ownership of a property to a family member or eligible recipient as a gift without a financial transaction registered through the Dubai Land Department (DLD) via a DLD-authorized trustee office. Unlike a standard property sale, a gift transfer benefits from a significantly reduced DLD fee of 0.125% of the property value, making it one of the most cost-effective ways to transfer property between family members in the UAE.
Al Taresh Trustee is a DLD-authorized trustee office in Umm Suqeim 3, Dubai. We process property gift transfers for individuals, families, and investors – handling all documentation, DLD submissions, and title deed processing from start to finish.
Dubai’s property gift transfer regulations define specific eligible relationships that qualify for the reduced DLD gift transfer fee. Gifting to an eligible first-degree relative means the DLD fee drops from the standard 4% to just 0.125% of the property value a substantial saving on higher-value properties.
Eligible relationships for the reduced gift transfer fee:
Properties gifted to individuals outside these first-degree relationships are processed as standard sale transfers, with the 4% DLD fee applicable. Contact our team for guidance on the appropriate transfer type.
Prepare the following documents for both parties before your trustee office appointment. Missing documents are the most common cause of appointment delays and rescheduling.
Donor (Current Owner) Documents | Recipient Documents |
Original title deed | Original passport (and copy) |
Original passport (and copy) | UAE Emirates ID (if resident) |
UAE Emirates ID (if resident) | Proof of relationship (marriage cert / birth cert) |
Developer NOC (if applicable) | POA (if represented by third party) |
Bank NOC (if property is mortgaged) to release the mortgage or the new mortgage contract if the mortgage will be under the new owner name | Emirates ID (if UAE resident) |
One of the most significant advantages of a property gift transfer to a first-degree relative is the substantially reduced DLD fee. The standard 4% property transfer fee is replaced with a 0.125% gift transfer fee — representing a saving of AED 37,500 on a AED 1 million property compared to a standard sale.
Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
DLD Gift Transfer Fee | 0.125% of property value | Applies to first-degree relatives only |
Title deed fee | 560AED for unit or villa |
|
Legal Translation (if required) | Varies | For non-Arabic relationship documents |
Al Taresh Trustee Service Fee | Contact our office | Professional handling fee |
Example calculation: For a property valued at AED 2,000,000, the DLD gift transfer fee is AED 2,500 (0.125%), compared to AED 80,000 (4%) for a standard sale transfer a saving of AED 77,500.
Yes, a mortgaged property can be transferred as a gift in Dubai. However, the process requires an additional step: obtaining a written No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the mortgage lender (bank or financial institution). And the new mortgage contract under the new owner
The mortgage does not need to be cleared before the gift transfer, but the bank must formally consent to the change of ownership. After the gift transfer, the mortgage remains registered against the property. The recipient (new owner) assumes responsibility for the mortgage.
If you intend to release the mortgage simultaneously with the gift transfer, our team can coordinate both the mortgage release and gift transfer in a single trustee appointment. Contact us to discuss this arrangement.
| Scenario | Estimated Timeline |
| Gift transfer — no mortgage, documents ready | Same day to 1 working day |
Our Al Taresh Trustee team handles property gift transfers for families and investors across Dubai. Pre-check your documents today via WhatsApp to ensure your appointment runs smoothly.
WhatsApp: Send your document list for a free pre-check before your appointment
Visit our office: Shop No. 27, The Mall, Umm Suqeim 3, Dubai
Call us: +971 4 889 5945
The Dubai Land Department fee for property gift transfer to a first-degree relative including a spouse is 0.125% of the property’s assessed value. For example, on a property valued at AED 2,000,000, the DLD gift transfer fee would be AED 2,500. This is significantly lower than the standard 4% fee (AED 80,000 on the same value) that applies to regular sale transfers.
Yes. A mortgaged property can be gifted, but the bank that holds the mortgage must provide a written No Objection Certificate (NOC) before the DLD will process the transfer. The mortgage is not required to be cleared it stays registered against the property with the new owner by providing the new mortgage contract under the new owner name (recipient) assuming the mortgage obligation. If you wish to release the mortgage at the same time, Al Taresh can coordinate both at the same appointment.
Yes. A property can be gifted to a first-degree relative who lives outside the UAE, provided they are eligible to hold property in Dubai (i.e., in a designated freehold area). The overseas recipient can be represented by a holder of a notarized Power of Attorney, allowing someone in Dubai to attend the appointment and complete the transfer on their behalf.
Yes, both the donor and the recipient must attend in person or be represented by an authorized POA holder. A notarized Power of Attorney is particularly useful when one party is overseas, unable to travel, or otherwise unavailable. Our team can advise on the POA requirements before the appointment.
With all documents in order, a property gift transfer can be completed on the same day as the trustee office appointment. Our team recommends pre-checking your documents via WhatsApp before booking your appointment to avoid any delays.
Yes. Either the donor (giver) or the recipient can be represented by a person holding a notarized Power of Attorney that specifically grants authority for DLD property transactions. If the POA is issued in the UAE, it must be notarized by a UAE notary public. If issued abroad, it typically requires an apostille and may need UAE embassy attestation and UAE MOFA IN UAE.
