Handover
Handover is the moment a property is delivered to its new owner — from the developer at the end of a project, or from the seller in a resale.
Definition
For completed projects, Law No. (13) of 2008 requires developers to enter them in the Property Register once they receive the completion certificate, including units “in the name of purchasers who fulfilled their contractual obligations”. Law No. (6) of 2019 on jointly owned property keeps the developer liable “for a period of one (1) year from the date of handover of the Unit to the Owner” for defective installations. In a resale, DLD’s standard sale contract (Contract F) records the seller’s undertaking to hand over the property on the date of transfer.
What it shows — and what it does not
Handover is physical delivery; registration is legal ownership. The two can happen on different days, and what is handed over (keys, access cards, any lease) depends on the contract.
Example
Illustrative example: in a resale the keys pass to the buyer on the transfer day, as Contract F provides; in an off-plan purchase the buyer receives the unit after completion, and the developer’s one-year liability runs from that handover.
Next step
Use the after-transfer checklist.
Source: Law No. (13) of 2008 Regulating the Interim Property Register in the Emirate of Dubai — Dubai Legislation Portal · supports: completed projects entered in the Property Register · checked 10 October 2026
Source: Law No. (6) of 2019 Concerning Ownership of Jointly Owned Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai — Dubai Legislation Portal · supports: the developer’s one-year liability from handover · checked 10 October 2026
Source: Property Sales Contract between Seller and Buyer (Contract F) — Dubai Land Department · supports: the seller’s undertaking to hand over on the transfer date · checked 10 October 2026
Governance
- October 11, 2026
Maintenance: Updated for material UAE authority/trustee process changes and recurring user confusion. Method: Editorial Policy