A gift deed in Dubai (in Arabic «عقد هبة», or hiba) transfers property or another asset to someone, usually a family member, without payment. Parents gifting an apartment to a child and spouses adding each other to a title deed are the usual cases. Wordcraft drafts the deed in Arabic and English, prepares attested proof of relationship and arranges notarization or the donor's POA.
The Dubai Land Department (DLD) registers property gifts and checks the relationship, the title and every supporting paper; where a notary is involved, the notary notarizes the deed. We are neither, and we are not property brokers. We put the file together so it passes those checks.
Who Can Receive a Gift, and What Can Be Gifted
The DLD handles a gift between close relatives differently from a sale, and it decides which relationships qualify and what proof it wants. Most property gifts in Dubai are between parents and children or between spouses. Other assets can be gifted by notarized deed too: vehicles, company shares (see share transfer notarization) or assets held abroad, where that country's law decides the format. We confirm what applies to your case before anyone signs.
Papers the DLD Checks Before Registering a Gift
- Title deed, or Oqood for off-plan property, in the donor's name
- Proof of relationship: birth certificates for parents and children, a marriage certificate for spouses. Certificates issued abroad need attestation (home-country authentication, then the UAE embassy, which now includes MOFA digitally) and an Arabic translation. See birth certificate attestation and marriage certificate attestation.
- Developer NOC confirming service charges are paid, where the developer asks for one
- Mortgage position: a mortgaged property usually needs the bank's release or consent first
- Valuation or any other document the DLD requests in your case
Some gifts are signed as a gift contract at the DLD or a registration trustee; others need a notarized gift deed or declaration. We find out which the DLD expects for your property, then draft it bilingually so the Arabic text does not have to be corrected at the counter.
Donor Abroad: POA and Legalization
A donor who lives outside the UAE can appoint someone in Dubai by special POA to sign the gift for them. That POA has to name the property, the recipient and the power to gift; a general POA is usually refused for a transfer of this kind (see property power of attorney). The donor signs by video on a UAE e-notary platform where eligible, or before a notary in their own country. A POA signed abroad then goes through that country's authentication and the UAE embassy (MOFA is added digitally), and an MOJ-certified legal translator in the UAE prepares the Arabic version. If the POA was signed some time ago, check it is still in force on the day of the DLD appointment; our POA validity guide explains how long each type lasts.
Checklist for Donor and Recipient
- Emirates IDs of the donor and the recipient, or passports for anyone living outside the UAE
- Title deed or Oqood of the property
- Birth or marriage certificates proving the relationship, attested and translated if issued abroad
- Developer NOC and the bank's release or consent, where relevant
- For a donor abroad: name and ID of the person who will sign on their behalf
How a Gift File Comes Together
Share the title deed and IDs with us and you get a free written quote within 10 to 30 minutes, listing what the DLD will want for your gift. Once you confirm, we draft the bilingual deed or declaration, attest and translate the relationship certificates, and arrange notarization of the deed or of the donor's POA, in person, by video or abroad. You leave with a complete file for the DLD or trustee appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I gift my Dubai property to my child?
Yes. Parent-to-child gifts are among the most common. The DLD checks the relationship and the title, then registers the transfer.
Do I need a notary for a gift deed in Dubai?
It depends on the asset and the facts. Some property gifts are signed at the DLD or a trustee office, while a donor abroad or a gift of other assets usually calls for a notarized deed or POA. Your quote tells you which.
My birth certificate is from abroad. Can it be used?
Yes, after attestation in the issuing country and at the UAE embassy (which covers MOFA digitally), followed by an Arabic legal translation from an MOJ-certified translator.
Can I gift a mortgaged property?
Usually only after the bank releases the mortgage or agrees to the transfer. We tell you what the bank and the DLD will ask for.
Is a gift deed the same as a will?
No. A gift transfers the asset now; a will only takes effect after death. For wills, see wills and agreements.
Last updated: September 2026
