Establishes the DIFC's own land registry and title system: registration of freehold and leasehold interests, mortgages, easements and off-plan sales within the Centre, the Registrar of Real Property's powers and the transfer and registration fee regime detailed in the Real Property Regulations.
The Real Property Law, DIFC Law No. 10 of 2018, establishes the DIFC's own land registry and title system. Made by the Ruler of Dubai, it repealed and replaced the Real Property Law 2007 (Article 1) and applies to all real property within the jurisdiction of the DIFC (Article 3), which is the land the Ruler transferred to the DIFC Authority on 17 March 2003 and any land later brought into the Centre (Articles 4 and 8). Its purpose is to guarantee title, facilitate dealings and define the Registrar's powers (Article 5). The copy read is the consolidated version of May 2026, as amended by DIFC Laws Amendment Law No. 2 of 2022 and Real Property Law Amendment Laws No. 3 of 2022, No. 9 of 2024 and No. 1 of 2026; the index omits the 2024 amendment. The index records enactment on 5 November 2018 and commencement on 12 November 2018.
Dubai real estate laws do not apply to DIFC property unless they say so expressly, and the DIFC Law of Security does not affect it (Article 9). Freehold ownership carries the rights and obligations of a fee simple estate under English common law and equity (Article 10). The Registrar of Real Property is a corporation sole appointed by the DIFC Authority's board and acts independently (Article 12).
Part 3 is a Torrens-style register. An instrument does not transfer or create a real property interest until it is registered (Article 26); registration vests the interest in the person named (Article 27) and is conclusive evidence that the registered owner's title is indefeasible (Article 29), subject only to prior registered rights (Article 30). No title can be acquired by adverse possession (Article 32), while unregistered instruments still operate as contracts between their parties (Article 33). Transfers take effect by registering a transfer instrument (Articles 42 and 43).
Leases of more than six months, including renewal options, must be registered by the lessor within 45 days of signing, with a lease plan, and failure is a contravention (Articles 48 to 50). A mortgage is registered with a description of the lot, the interest and the secured debt, operates as a charge only and gives the mortgagee powers of sale, receivership and possession (Articles 56 to 70). Later Parts cover easements, covenants, trusts, deceased estates, insolvency, caveats, compensation for loss and searches.
Part 23 regulates off-plan sales: a developer may not sign an off-plan sale agreement until it is licensed, has registered the development and has opened an escrow account with an approved escrow agent, into which all sales revenue must be paid within five days and from which funds are released against verified construction progress (Articles 156 to 163). Contraventions carry the penalties set in Regulations or Directives, and the Registrar may order action, payment or compensation (Articles 172 and 173).
Owners, buyers, sellers, lessors, lessees, mortgagees, developers and off-plan purchasers of land and buildings inside the DIFC, including DIFC companies and SPVs holding Centre property; the Registrar of Real Property; and master community owners and occupiers bound by the master community declaration.
| Article 1 | Cites the Law as the Real Property Law 2018 and repeals and replaces the Real Property Law 2007, preserving accrued rights and pending proceedings. |
| Article 9 | Dubai real estate laws do not apply to real property governed by this Law unless they expressly state that they apply in the DIFC, and the DIFC Law of Security does not affect such property. |
| Article 10 | Freehold ownership of DIFC real property carries the same rights and obligations as an estate in fee simple under English common law and equity. |
| Articles 26–27 | An instrument does not transfer or create a real property interest until it is registered; on registration the interest is transferred or created as the instrument provides and vests in the person it identifies. |
| Article 29 | Registration of a person as owner of a real property interest is conclusive evidence that the person is the owner and that its title is indefeasible, subject to the Law. |
| Article 32 | No right or title to DIFC real property can be acquired by any length of adverse possession. |
| Articles 48–49 | A lease whose term, including any renewal option, exceeds six months must be registered as a real property right by the lessor within 45 days of signing; a shorter lease may be registered; failure to register in time is a contravention. |
| Articles 57–58 | A mortgage instrument must identify the lot, the interest mortgaged and the secured debt and is registered on payment of the prescribed and mortgage registration fees; a mortgage operates only as a charge and the mortgagor keeps an equity of redemption. |
| Articles 63–69 | A registered mortgagee has powers of sale, subject to injunction, with proceeds applied in a set order, and may appoint a receiver or enter into possession. |
| Articles 156–161 | The Registrar keeps an off-plan register; a developer may not enter an off-plan sale agreement until licensed, with the development registered and an escrow account opened with an approved escrow agent, into which all sales revenue is deposited within five days and released only against verified construction progress. |
| Articles 172–173 | A contravention attracts any penalty specified in Regulations or Directives, and the Registrar may order a party to act or refrain, pay fees or penalties, or pay compensation. |
The Law fixes no amounts itself: Article 172 makes a contravener liable to any penalty specified under Regulations or Directives, and Article 173 lets the Registrar order a party to take or stop an action, pay fees or penalties and pay compensation. A lessor who fails to register a lease of more than six months within 45 days commits a contravention (Article 49), and an unregistered transfer or mortgage simply does not take effect as a property interest (Article 26).
Clients buying, leasing or financing offices and residences inside the DIFC register title, leases and mortgages with the DIFC Registrar of Real Property, not the Dubai Land Department, and we build that into every DIFC property structure we set up. Where a client holds Centre property through a DIFC SPV or prescribed company we check that the SPV is the registered owner, that any shareholder loan security is registered as a mortgage under Part 9 and that the lease to the operating company is lodged within the 45-day window. For off-plan purchases in the Centre we verify the developer's licence, the development's registration and the escrow arrangements under Part 23 before the client pays. The registered-office and filing work is coordinated with a DIFC-registered provider.
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