Quick answer: UAE land glossary — This glossary defines 46 terms used in UAE land deals, from affection plan to zoning, in plain English. Each entry names the authority or law where one applies.
Jump to: A · B · D · E · F · G · I · K · L · M · N · O · P · R · S · T · U · Z
For who does what in each emirate, see Which authority controls what in UAE land. For area guides, see the community hubs.
A
ADREC
Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre, the authority that registers real estate transactions and regulates the sector in Abu Dhabi. It issues title deeds through the DARI platform.
Affection plan
The official plot document issued by the planning authority or master developer. It shows the plot number, area, permitted use, GFA, height and setbacks. Also called a site plan.
ARRA
The Ajman Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation, which registers land and issues title deeds in Ajman under Law No. 3 of 2023.
B
Building permit
Approval from the planning authority to start construction on a plot. The authority is the municipality or, in a special zone, the zone authority.
D
DARI
ADREC’s digital platform for registering real estate transactions and issuing title deeds in Abu Dhabi.
DDA
Dubai Development Authority, which regulates planning and construction in the TECOM Group districts in Dubai, such as Dubai Internet City and Dubai Industrial City.
Design guidelines
Rules a master developer sets on top of building regulations, such as façade style, materials and boundary walls. They are usually checked before the building permit.
DEWA
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, which supplies electricity and water in Dubai.
DIEZ
Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority, set up by Law No. 16 of 2021. It regulates Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Airport Freezone and Dubai CommerCity.
DLD
Dubai Land Department, the government body that registers land, property sales, mortgages and leases in Dubai.
E
Escrow account
A bank account that holds buyers’ payments for an off-plan project so the money is used only for that project. In Dubai it is required by Law No. 8 of 2007.
Etihad Water and Electricity
The federal electricity and water utility that serves Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
F
FAR
Floor area ratio: the permitted GFA divided by the plot area. A FAR of 2 on a 1,000 sq m plot allows 2,000 sq m of GFA.
Free zone
A designated area with its own authority and rules, mostly for business licensing. Free zone land is usually leased rather than sold freehold.
Freehold
Full, permanent ownership of land and what is built on it. Non-UAE nationals can hold freehold only in areas each emirate designates.
G
G+ (ground plus)
Shorthand for building height: G+4 means a ground floor plus four upper floors. The affection plan states the maximum.
GFA
Gross floor area: the total built floor area allowed on a plot, measured under the authority’s rules. It drives what a plot is worth to a developer.
I
Investment zone
An area in Abu Dhabi where non-UAE nationals can own property outright, under Law No. 19 of 2005 as amended by Law No. 13 of 2019.
K
KEZAD
KEZAD Group, part of AD Ports Group, which runs economic zones in Abu Dhabi and leases serviced industrial land.
L
Leasehold
A registered right to use land for a fixed term under a lease. In Dubai, terms of up to 99 years can be registered in designated areas.
M
Madhmoun
ADREC’s system for property advertising permits and verified listings in Abu Dhabi.
Master community
A large area planned and serviced by one master developer, which sells plots or buildings to buyers and sub-developers.
Master developer
The company that owns and plans a master community. It issues NOCs for transfers and sets design guidelines and service charges.
Musataha
A registered right to build on someone else’s land and own the buildings for an agreed term. It is used for long-term development deals.
N
NOC
No-objection certificate: a letter from a master developer or authority confirming it does not object to a transfer, works or connection.
O
Off-plan
Property sold before it is built. In Dubai, off-plan sales are recorded in the interim real estate register under Law No. 13 of 2008.
Oqood
DLD’s system for registering off-plan sales in Dubai’s interim real estate register.
P
PCFC
Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, the Dubai government body that Trakhees belongs to.
Plot coverage
The share of a plot that the building footprint may cover, set in the affection plan.
Plot number
The unique number the registration authority gives a plot. Ownership rules and permits attach to the plot number, not the community name.
Property Status Enquiry
A DLD e-service that shows a property’s status, including whether all nationalities can buy it.
R
Registration trustee
A DLD-licensed office that processes property transfers on DLD’s behalf and charges a published service fee.
Regulation No. 3 of 2006
The Dubai regulation that lists, plot by plot, the areas where non-UAE nationals can own freehold or hold usufruct or leasehold for up to 99 years.
RERA
Real Estate Regulatory Agency, the regulatory arm of DLD. It oversees brokers, developers, off-plan projects and escrow in Dubai.
S
Service charge
The annual fee owners pay a master developer or owners association for maintaining shared areas and services.
Setback
The minimum distance a building must keep from a plot boundary or road, set in the affection plan.
Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department
The Sharjah government department that registers land and issues title deeds.
Special Development Zone
An area in Dubai where Trakhees, not Dubai Municipality, licenses and regulates construction. PCFC publishes the list.
Sub-developer
A company that buys a plot inside a master community and builds on it under the master developer’s rules.
T
TAQA Distribution
The company that distributes electricity and water to customers in Abu Dhabi.
Title deed
The official certificate of registered ownership issued by the registration authority after a transfer.
Trakhees
The regulator within PCFC that licenses businesses and issues building permits on PCFC, Dubai World and subsidiary land, including Nakheel communities.
Trakheesi
DLD’s system that issues advertising permits for property in Dubai. Every property advertisement must show a permit number.
Transfer fee
The registration fee charged on a sale. In Dubai it is 4% of the sale value as set by DLD; other emirates set their own rates.
U
Usufruct
A registered right to use and take the benefit of someone else’s property for a set term, without owning it.
Z
Zoning
The permitted land use of a plot, such as residential, commercial, industrial or mixed use, as set by the planning authority.
Frequently asked questions
What is an affection plan?
The official plot document issued by the planning authority or master developer. It shows the plot number, area, permitted use, GFA, height and setbacks. Also called a site plan.
What is the difference between freehold and leasehold?
Freehold is full, permanent ownership. Leasehold is a right to use land for a fixed term; in Dubai, up to 99 years can be registered in designated areas.
What is musataha?
A registered right to build on someone else’s land and own the buildings for an agreed term. It is used for long-term development deals.
What is a NOC?
No-objection certificate: a letter from a master developer or authority confirming it does not object to a transfer, works or connection.
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Disclaimer: General information, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the authority named and a licensed UAE lawyer before you transact.
Last updated: 23 October 2026.