# Gift Deed in Dubai: Gifting Property to Family > How gifting property in Dubai works, who you can gift to, the documents needed, and how our in-house notary public notarises the gift deed. Source: https://notaryservicesdubai.com/gift-deed-in-dubai/ Last updated: 29 September 2026 Publisher: Notary Services Dubai, Business Bay, Dubai (+971 54 380 1094) Gifting property in Dubai means transferring a title deed to someone, usually a close family member, without payment, through a gift deed that is notarised and then registered with the Dubai Land Department. Signing the gift deed alone does not transfer ownership: the transfer only takes legal effect once it is registered at the Dubai Land Department. Our in-house notary public notarises the gift deed at our Business Bay office or on a home visit. This page covers what a gift deed is, who can receive a gifted property, the documents you need, what happens if the property has a mortgage, and how the process works if the donor is outside the UAE. Quick answer ## At a glance - A gift deed records the voluntary transfer of a property with no payment involved. - It is drafted, signed before a notary, and then registered with the Dubai Land Department. - Dubai Land Department applies reduced fees for transfers between certain close relatives. - A mortgaged property usually needs a bank NOC before it can be gifted. - A donor abroad can sign through a power of attorney instead of returning to Dubai. ## What a gift deed is, and what it does not do on its own A gift deed is the legal document that records a donor's intention to transfer ownership of a property to a recipient, called the donee, without any payment or exchange. It sets out who is gifting, who is receiving, and a precise description of the property, usually referencing the existing title deed. The gift deed on its own is a statement of intent. It does not change who owns the property in the government's records. That change happens at the Dubai Land Department, which is the authority that registers property ownership in Dubai. Until registration is complete, the property remains legally owned by the donor. This matters because people sometimes assume that a signed and notarised gift deed is the end of the process. It is a necessary step, but the DLD registration is what transfers the title. Fees ## Who can receive a gift transfer and how the fee changes Dubai Land Department gift transfers are most commonly used between close family, such as parents, children and spouses, because these categories can qualify for a reduced transfer fee compared with a standard sale. The exact categories that qualify, and the fee that applies to each, are set by Dubai Land Department and should be confirmed before you rely on a figure. Do not assume that a gift to a sibling, cousin or unrelated friend qualifies for the same treatment as a gift to a spouse or child. Relationship proof, such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate, is typically needed to support the application, and it may need notarisation and translation if it was issued outside the UAE. ## Documents: title deed, IDs, proof of relationship, bank or developer NOC Gathering the right documents before your notary appointment avoids delays. You will typically need: - **Original title deed** for the property being gifted. - **Emirates ID and passport** for both the donor and the recipient. - **Proof of relationship** , such as a marriage or birth certificate, where the reduced gift fee depends on the relationship. - **No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the developer** , confirming the property has no outstanding service charges or restrictions. - **Bank NOC** , if the property carries a mortgage, confirming the lender's position on the transfer. - **Power of attorney** , if either party is signing through a representative rather than in person. ## Can a mortgaged property be gifted in Dubai A mortgaged property can usually still be gifted, but the lender's involvement is required before the transfer can proceed. In practice this means obtaining a bank NOC, and depending on the bank's terms, the mortgage may need to be settled, transferred to the recipient's name, or otherwise restructured before Dubai Land Department will register the gift. Speak to your lender early, since this step can affect your timeline more than any other part of the process. ## Donor abroad: signing through a power of attorney If the donor is outside the UAE and cannot attend in person, they can appoint someone in Dubai to sign the gift deed and complete the Dubai Land Department steps on their behalf, through a power of attorney. That power of attorney needs to be executed properly in the country where the donor is located, which usually means notarisation there, attestation by the UAE embassy or consulate in that country, and then MOFAIC attestation once it reaches the UAE. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so there is no apostille shortcut for this document: it follows the full legalisation chain. See our [power of attorney in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/power-of-attorney-in-dubai/) page for how that process works, or our page on [power of attorney for property in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/power-of-attorney-for-property-in-dubai/) specifically for property transactions. ## Gift deed sample outline A gift deed used in Dubai typically includes: 1. Full names, nationalities and ID or passport numbers of the donor and the donee. 2. A statement that the transfer is a gift, made voluntarily and without payment. 3. A precise description of the property, matching the title deed, including plot or unit number and community. 4. Confirmation of the relationship between donor and donee, where the reduced fee category depends on it. 5. Signatures of both parties, witnessed and notarised, followed by the steps for Dubai Land Department registration. Sample wording: "I, [donor's name], holder of Emirates ID / passport number [number], being the registered owner of [property description], hereby gift the said property to [donee's name], holder of Emirates ID / passport number [number], without consideration, and confirm this transfer is made voluntarily." How we help ## How we help: drafting, translation, notarisation, and the DLD step There are three ways to get it notarised with us: in person at our Business Bay office with our in-house notary public, through our online notary public services, or on a home visit. We draft the gift deed to match the details on your title deed and identification documents, and prepare an Arabic version where the Dubai Land Department process requires one, using a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice. You and the recipient sign in person, and our in-house notary public checks identification and applies the seal. From there we guide you through the Dubai Land Department registration step, including the developer and bank NOCs where they apply. If the donor cannot attend in person, we can also prepare the power of attorney needed to complete the transfer on their behalf. We do not set Dubai Land Department fees or decide which relative categories qualify for the reduced rate: those are DLD's own rules, and we confirm the current figures with you before you commit to a date. FAQ ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I gift property in Dubai to a family member? Yes. Gifting to close family, such as a spouse, parent or child, is the most common form of property gift in Dubai and can qualify for a reduced Dubai Land Department transfer fee, subject to proof of the relationship. ### How do I transfer property as a gift in Dubai? You draft and sign a gift deed before a notary, then register the transfer with the Dubai Land Department using the title deed, IDs, proof of relationship and any required NOCs. The DLD registration is what changes the ownership record. ### Does a gift deed need to be notarised? Yes. The gift deed is signed before a notary public, who verifies the identities of the donor and donee and witnesses the signatures, before the document moves on to Dubai Land Department registration. ### What are the charges for gifting property in Dubai? Dubai Land Department applies a transfer fee that can be reduced for certain close relatives compared with a standard sale. Ask us for the current figures and eligible categories when you book. ### What is a gift deed? A gift deed is the legal document recording a voluntary transfer of property from a donor to a donee without payment, used as the basis for registering the transfer at the Dubai Land Department. ### Can a mortgaged property be gifted in Dubai? Usually yes, but only after obtaining a bank NOC and satisfying the lender's requirements, which can include settling or restructuring the mortgage before Dubai Land Department will register the gift. ### Can I gift property in Dubai while I am abroad? Yes. A donor outside the UAE can appoint someone in Dubai to sign the gift deed and handle the Dubai Land Department steps through a power of attorney, provided that power of attorney is properly notarised and attested in the country where the donor signs it, then attested again in the UAE. More answers, grouped by topic, are on our [questions and answers page](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/faq/). 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About this page Prepared by the Notary Services Dubai team in Business Bay, Dubai. Last reviewed . ### Official sources we checked (5) - Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 on the regulation of the notary profession: [https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563](https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563) - Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013 concerning Notaries Public in the Emirate of Dubai (Dubai Legislation portal, dlp.dubai.gov.ae) - MOFAIC attestation service: [https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation](https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation) - HCCH Apostille Convention status table (UAE is not a party): [https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41](https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41) - Dubai Land Department: [https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/](https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/) Get started ## Next step Call or WhatsApp +971 54 380 1094, or email support@notaryservicesdubai.com, and we will confirm the current Dubai Land Department fee and documents for your specific gift transfer before your notary appointment. Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7. If the donor cannot travel to Dubai, ask us about a [power of attorney for property in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/power-of-attorney-for-property-in-dubai/) instead. For general information on how notarisation works in Dubai, see our page on [notary public services in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/notary-public-dubai/), and if you are also planning how the property should pass on after your lifetime, see our [wills in the UAE](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/wills-in-uae-secure-your-legacy-in-the-emirates/) page. For sworn statements outside property transfers, see our [affidavit in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/affidavit-in-dubai-how-to-get-affidavit-in-dubai/) guide.