Gift Deed in Dubai: Gifting Property to Family

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.

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 page for how that process works, or our page on 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.”