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Dubai real estate glossary: Ejari, Oqood, Mollak, escrow

Every term the RERA exam uses, defined in two or three plain sentences. Where the exam likes to confuse two close notions, the difference is stated. Each entry also shows the term in French, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Russian and Chinese.

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12-month eviction notice: The notice a landlord must serve, by notary public or registered mail, to evict at the end of a lease on the grounds the law allows (Law No. 33 of 2008).
FR Préavis d’expulsion de 12 moisAR إشعار الإخلاء 12 شهراًHI 12 महीने का बेदखली नोटिसUR 12 ماہ کا بے دخلی نوٹسRU Уведомление о выселении за 12 месяцевZH 12个月腾退通知
90-day notice: The notice a landlord or tenant must give before the lease ends to change its terms or not renew, unless the contract says otherwise.
FR Préavis de 90 joursAR إشعار 90 يوماًHI 90 दिन का नोटिसUR 90 دن کا نوٹسRU Уведомление за 90 днейZH 90天通知
Advertising permit: A Trakheesi permit required before a property is advertised. The permit number must appear on the advert.
FR Permis de publicitéAR تصريح الإعلانHI विज्ञापन परमिटUR اشتہاری اجازت نامہRU Разрешение на рекламуZH 广告许可
Annual test: The test a broker must pass before the DLD renews the broker card. See broker card renewal.
FR Test annuelAR الاختبار السنويHI वार्षिक परीक्षाUR سالانہ ٹیسٹRU Ежегодный тестZH 年度考试
Anti-money laundering (AML): The duties of brokers to identify clients, report suspicious transactions through goAML and keep records.
FR Lutte contre le blanchimentAR مكافحة غسل الأموالHI धन शोधन निवारणUR منی لانڈرنگ کی روک تھامRU Противодействие отмыванию денегZH 反洗钱
BRN: Broker Registration Number: the number of an individual broker’s card, shown on adverts and checked by clients.
FR Numéro d’enregistrement du courtierAR رقم تسجيل الوسيطHI ब्रोकर पंजीकरण संख्याUR بروکر رجسٹریشن نمبرRU Регистрационный номер брокераZH 经纪人注册号
Broker card: The DLD practice card that allows a person to work as a real estate broker in Dubai. Its validity is linked to the brokerage’s trade licence.
FR Carte de courtierAR بطاقة الوسيطHI ब्रोकर कार्डUR بروکر کارڈRU Карта брокераZH 经纪人卡
Code of ethics: The conduct rules for Dubai brokers: fair treatment, respect, privacy, honesty, quality, integrity, commitment to society, protecting clients, preserving documents and respecting DLD rules.
FR Code de déontologieAR ميثاق الأخلاقياتHI आचार संहिताUR ضابطہ اخلاقRU Этический кодексZH 职业道德准则
Commission: The broker’s fee, agreed in writing in the DLD standard contracts.
FR CommissionAR العمولةHI कमीशनUR کمیشنRU КомиссияZH 佣金
Common parts: The parts of a jointly owned property shared by all owners. They cannot be turned into private property or sold separately.
FR Parties communesAR الأجزاء المشتركةHI साझा भागUR مشترکہ حصےRU Места общего пользованияZH 公共部分
Comparative market analysis: Estimating a price from recent sales of similar properties.
FR Analyse comparative de marchéAR تحليل السوق المقارنHI तुलनात्मक बाज़ार विश्लेषणUR تقابلی مارکیٹ تجزیہRU Сравнительный анализ рынкаZH 比较市场分析
Developer: A person or company registered in the register of real estate developers and licensed to build and sell projects.
FR PromoteurAR المطور العقاريHI डेवलपरUR ڈویلپرRU ДевелоперZH 开发商
Dubai Land Department (DLD): The government department that registers real property rights in Dubai. Under Law No. 7 of 2006 it is the only entity authorised to register them.
FR Département foncier de DubaïAR دائرة الأراضي والأملاك في دبيHI दुबई भूमि विभागUR دبئی لینڈ ڈیپارٹمنٹRU Земельный департамент ДубаяZH 迪拜土地局
Ejari: The DLD system to register tenancy contracts. Registration is needed for most services linked to a lease.
FR Ejari (enregistrement du bail)AR إيجاريHI एजारीUR ایجاریRU Ejari (регистрация аренды)ZH Ejari 租约登记
Escrow account: The bank account of a development project into which buyers pay. Under Law No. 8 of 2007 it is used only for that project.
FR Compte séquestreAR حساب الضمانHI एस्क्रो खाताUR ایسکرو اکاؤنٹRU Эскроу-счётZH 托管账户
Escrow agent: The bank or financial institution that manages a project escrow account. It keeps 5% of the account after the completion certificate.
FR Agent séquestreAR أمين حساب الضمانHI एस्क्रो एजेंटUR ایسکرو ایجنٹRU Эскроу-агентZH 托管代理
Form A: The DLD standard contract between a seller and a brokerage to market a property.
FR Formulaire A (mandat vendeur)AR النموذج أ (عقد البائع والوسيط)HI फ़ॉर्म A (विक्रेता अनुबंध)UR فارم A (فروخت کنندہ معاہدہ)RU Форма A (договор с продавцом)ZH A表（卖方委托合同）
Form B: The DLD standard contract between a buyer and a broker, recording the buyer’s wish to purchase.
FR Formulaire B (mandat acheteur)AR النموذج ب (عقد المشتري والوسيط)HI फ़ॉर्म B (खरीदार अनुबंध)UR فارم B (خریدار معاہدہ)RU Форма B (договор с покупателем)ZH B表（买方委托合同）
Form F: The DLD standard sale agreement (memorandum of understanding) between seller and buyer.
FR Formulaire F (compromis de vente)AR النموذج ف (اتفاقية البيع)HI फ़ॉर्म F (बिक्री समझौता)UR فارم F (فروخت کا معاہدہ)RU Форма F (договор купли-продажи)ZH F表（买卖协议）
Form I: The agreement between two cooperating brokerages, which market guides call Form I (the DLD publishes standard templates for Forms A, B and F).
FR Formulaire I (accord entre agences)AR النموذج I (اتفاقية بين الوسطاء)HI फ़ॉर्म I (ब्रोकर-से-ब्रोकर)UR فارم I (بروکر سے بروکر)RU Форма I (соглашение между брокерами)ZH I表（经纪人合作协议）
Freehold: Full ownership of a property. Non-UAE nationals may hold it in areas designated under Law No. 7 of 2006.
FR Pleine propriétéAR التملك الحرHI फ्रीहोल्ड (पूर्ण स्वामित्व)UR فری ہولڈ (مکمل ملکیت)RU Фригольд (полная собственность)ZH 永久产权
Good conduct certificate: The certificate from Dubai Police required for a DLD practice card.
FR Certificat de bonne conduiteAR شهادة حسن السيرة والسلوكHI अच्छे आचरण का प्रमाणपत्रUR کردار کا سرٹیفکیٹRU Справка о несудимостиZH 无犯罪记录证明
Green list: The list of owners who agreed to be contacted. Brokers may not contact owners who are not on it.
FR Liste verteAR القائمة الخضراءHI ग्रीन लिस्टUR گرین لسٹRU Зелёный списокZH 绿色名单
Interim register: The register created by Law No. 13 of 2008 for off-plan sales until units move to the main property register.
FR Registre foncier provisoireAR السجل العقاري المبدئيHI अंतरिम रजिस्टरUR عبوری رجسٹرRU Временный реестрZH 临时登记簿
Jointly owned property: A building or community with private units and common parts owned together, governed by Law No. 6 of 2019.
FR CopropriétéAR العقارات المشتركةHI संयुक्त स्वामित्व संपत्तिUR مشترکہ ملکیت جائیدادRU Совместная собственностьZH 共有物业
Leasehold: A long-term right to use a property, up to 99 years under Law No. 7 of 2006.
FR Bail emphytéotiqueAR حق الإجارة الطويلةHI लीज़होल्डUR لیز ہولڈRU Долгосрочная аренда (лизхолд)ZH 租赁产权
Management company: The company that runs the common parts of a jointly owned property for the owners.
FR Société de gestionAR شركة الإدارةHI प्रबंधन कंपनीUR مینجمنٹ کمپنیRU Управляющая компанияZH 物业管理公司
Mollak: The DLD system that regulates management companies and monitors service charges in jointly owned properties.
FR Mollak (gestion des charges)AR ملاكHI मुल्लाकUR ملاکRU Mollak (сервисные сборы)ZH Mollak 物业费系统
Mortgage: A charge registered on a property to secure a loan. A mortgaged property is sold with the lender’s release or settlement.
FR HypothèqueAR الرهن العقاريHI बंधकUR رہنRU ИпотекаZH 抵押
Musataha: The right to build on land owned by someone else and own the building for the agreed period.
FR Droit de superficieAR المساطحةHI मुसाताहाUR مساطحہRU Мусатаха (право застройки)ZH 地上权
NOC: No-objection certificate, for example from the developer before a resale.
FR Certificat de non-objectionAR شهادة عدم ممانعةHI अनापत्ति प्रमाणपत्रUR عدم اعتراض سرٹیفکیٹRU Справка об отсутствии возраженийZH 无异议证明
Off-plan: A unit sold before it is built. The contract is void unless entered in the interim register, and void if signed before the project is approved.
FR Vente sur planAR على الخارطةHI ऑफ-प्लानUR آف پلانRU Off-plan (на этапе строительства)ZH 期房
Oqood: The DLD system used to register off-plan sales in the interim register.
FR Oqood (enregistrement sur plan)AR عقودHI ओक़ूदUR عقودRU Oqood (регистрация off-plan)ZH Oqood 期房登记
ORN: Office Registration Number: the number of the brokerage office registered with the DLD.
FR Numéro d’enregistrement de l’agenceAR رقم تسجيل المكتبHI कार्यालय पंजीकरण संख्याUR آفس رجسٹریشن نمبرRU Регистрационный номер агентстваZH 经纪公司注册号
Owners committee: The committee of owners in a jointly owned property, formed once 10% of the units are registered.
FR Conseil des copropriétairesAR لجنة الملاكHI मालिक समितिUR مالکان کمیٹیRU Комитет собственниковZH 业主委员会
Power of attorney: A document that authorises someone to act for another person, for example to sign at the transfer.
FR ProcurationAR الوكالةHI मुख़्तारनामाUR مختار نامہRU ДоверенностьZH 授权委托书
Property register: The DLD register of all real property rights. Transactions not recorded in it are not valid.
FR Registre foncierAR السجل العقاريHI संपत्ति रजिस्टरUR جائیداد رجسٹرRU Реестр недвижимостиZH 不动产登记簿
Real estate evaluator: A valuer holding the DLD evaluator card (AED 5,000). A trainee evaluator trains for one year at an office approved by RERA.
FR Évaluateur immobilierAR المقيّم العقاريHI संपत्ति मूल्यांककUR جائیداد کا تخمینہ کارRU Оценщик недвижимостиZH 房地产估价师
Rent increase: At renewal, rent may rise only if it is more than 10% below the index average: 5%, 10%, 15% or 20% depending on the gap (Decree No. 43 of 2013).
FR Augmentation de loyerAR زيادة الإيجارHI किराया वृद्धिUR کرایہ میں اضافہRU Повышение арендной платыZH 租金上涨
Rental Dispute Centre: The DLD body that decides disputes between landlords and tenants. The law calls it the Special Tribunal for the Settlement of Disputes between Landlords and Tenants.
FR Centre de règlement des litiges locatifsAR مركز فض المنازعات الإيجاريةHI किराया विवाद केंद्रUR کرایہ تنازعہ مرکزRU Центр по арендным спорамZH 租赁纠纷中心
RERA: Real Estate Regulatory Agency: the regulatory arm affiliated with the DLD. Under Law No. 4 of 2019 it licenses real property activities, registers practitioners, issues their cards and approves advertising content.
FR Agence de régulation immobilièreAR مؤسسة التنظيم العقاريHI रियल एस्टेट नियामक एजेंसीUR ریئل اسٹیٹ ریگولیٹری ایجنسیRU Агентство по регулированию недвижимостиZH 房地产监管局
RERA rental index: The official index of average rents in Dubai used to decide how much rent may rise at renewal under Decree No. 43 of 2013.
FR Indice des loyersAR مؤشر الإيجاراتHI किराया सूचकांकUR کرایہ انڈیکسRU Индекс арендной платыZH 租金指数
Security deposit: The amount a landlord may take to secure the maintenance of the property, refundable in full or in part at the end of the lease.
FR Dépôt de garantieAR مبلغ التأمينHI सुरक्षा जमाUR سیکیورٹی ڈپازٹRU ЗалогZH 押金
Service charges: The yearly charges owners pay for the common parts. A management entity needs RERA approval before collecting them.
FR Charges de copropriétéAR رسوم الخدماتHI सेवा शुल्कUR سروس چارجزRU Плата за обслуживаниеZH 物业服务费
Tenancy contract: The written lease signed by landlord and tenant. Under Law No. 26 of 2007 it must be registered.
FR Contrat de bailAR عقد الإيجارHI किरायेदारी अनुबंधUR کرایہ داری معاہدہRU Договор арендыZH 租赁合同
Title deed: The document the DLD issues for a real property right, based on the property register. Under Law No. 7 of 2006 it has absolute evidentiary value.
FR Titre de propriétéAR سند الملكيةHI स्वामित्व विलेखUR ملکیت نامہRU Свидетельство о праве собственностиZH 产权证
Trade licence: The licence of the brokerage company. The broker card’s validity is linked to it.
FR Licence commercialeAR الرخصة التجاريةHI व्यापार लाइसेंसUR تجارتی لائسنسRU Торговая лицензияZH 营业执照
Trakheesi: The DLD system that issues licences, practice cards and advertising permits, and records violations. Broker card renewals go through it.
FR Trakheesi (système de permis)AR نظام تراخيصيHI ट्राखीसी प्रणालीUR تراخیصی سسٹمRU Система TrakheesiZH Trakheesi 许可系统
Transfer of ownership: Registering the sale of a property in the DLD property register, after which the buyer receives a new title deed.
FR Transfert de propriétéAR نقل الملكيةHI स्वामित्व हस्तांतरणUR ملکیت کی منتقلیRU Переход права собственностиZH 产权过户
Trustee office: A registration trustee office where DLD transactions such as transfers are processed.
FR Bureau fiduciaire d’enregistrementAR مكتب أمين التسجيلHI ट्रस्टी कार्यालयUR ٹرسٹی آفسRU Офис регистрационного доверенного лицаZH 登记受托办公室
Usufruct: The right to use a property and take its income without owning it.
FR UsufruitAR حق الانتفاعHI उपयोग अधिकारUR حق انتفاعRU УзуфруктZH 用益权

Pairs of terms the exam likes to confuse

Learn these in pairs. Each one has cost candidates easy marks.

Forms A, B and F

Form F is between buyer and seller. Form A is with the seller’s brokerage and Form B with the buyer’s broker. The agreement between two cooperating brokerages is what market guides call Form I; the DLD publishes standard templates for Forms A, B and F.

Oqood and title deed

Oqood belongs to the interim register of off-plan units. The title deed belongs to the main register.

Ejari and the tenancy contract

The tenancy contract is the agreement. Ejari is its registration. Courts and government bodies may not hear disputes on unregistered leases.

90 days and 12 months

90 days is the notice to change the terms or not renew a lease. 12 months is the notice to evict at expiry, by notary public or registered mail.

BRN and ORN

The BRN is the number of the broker’s card. The ORN is the number of the brokerage office.

Mollak and Ejari

Mollak concerns service charges in jointly owned property. Ejari concerns tenancy registration. Different systems, different questions.

The Arabic text of a law prevails over its English translation. RERA Exam is independent of the Dubai Land Department and RERA.

From words to marks

Definitions help you read. Questions help you remember. Every lesson defines its terms, and every quiz tests them.

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