The government department that registers every property transaction and issues all title deeds in Dubai.
The Dubai Land Department (DLD) is the government body that registers every property transaction in the Emirate, issues title deeds, oversees developer escrow accounts, and collects the 4 percent transfer fee on every sale.
The DLD's 4 percent transfer fee is the single biggest closing cost on a Dubai purchase, traditionally split 2 percent buyer / 2 percent seller but in practice usually borne by the buyer. There's also a flat AED 4,000 admin fee for apartments (or AED 2,000 for villas) plus a small trustee fee. Mario gives every client a full closing cost sheet up front so there are no surprises at signing.
Mario walks every European investor through these mechanics on the first call. The diligence trail is what separates a clean deal from a regret.