Property Gifting (Hiba) in Dubai is the legal transfer of property ownership from one person to a close family member — without a commercial sale. It is documented through a notarized Hiba (gift) deed and registered with Dubai Land Department (DLD). A Power of Attorney can authorize your agent to complete the entire gifting process on your behalf — signing the gift deed, attending DLD, and collecting the new Title Deed in the recipient's name.
DLD Gifting Fee — 0.125% for First-Degree Relatives
When transferring property as a gift to a first-degree relative (parent, child, or spouse), Dubai Land Department charges a reduced transfer fee of 0.125% of the property value — compared to the standard 4% fee for commercial sales. This reduced fee applies only to direct family relationships: parents → children, children → parents, and between spouses. Siblings and other relatives pay the standard 4% fee. Proof of family relationship (family book, birth certificate, or marriage certificate) is required at DLD to qualify for the reduced rate.
Documents Required for Property Gifting (Hiba) at DLD
- Original electronic Title Deed of the property (downloadable via DLD portal)
- Valid Emirates ID and passport of the donor (property owner)
- Valid Emirates ID and passport of the recipient (family member)
- Proof of family relationship — family book, birth certificate, or marriage certificate
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from developer — if property is in a development
- If using a POA: notarized Hiba POA naming the specific Title Deed and recipient
I, the undersigned, [Full Name of Donor], nationality: [Nationality], Emirates ID No.: [XXXXXXX], Passport No.: [XXXXXXX], hereby authorize [Full Name of Agent], nationality: [Nationality], Emirates ID No.: [XXXXXXX], Passport No.: [XXXXXXX], to complete all procedures related to the gifting (Hiba) of the property registered in my name: Title Deed No. [XXXXXXX], located at [Address/Area], Dubai — to [Full Name of Recipient], [relationship to donor], Emirates ID No.: [XXXXXXX]. This includes: signing the Hiba deed before Dubai Land Department (DLD), attending the DLD Trustee Office, paying applicable gifting fees (0.125% for first-degree relatives), and collecting the new Title Deed issued in the recipient's name. This POA is issued through Dubai Courts or the UAE Ministry of Justice via a video call and is valid for one year from the date of notarization unless revoked earlier.
Property gifting between Muslim family members in the UAE is governed by Federal Law No. 28 of 2005 on Personal Status, which regulates Hiba (gift) under Sharia principles: the gift must be accepted by the recipient, delivered (or ownership transferred), and free from conditions that would benefit the donor. For non-Muslim expatriates, Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 allows inter-vivos transfers and gifting to be governed by the donor's home country law or by registered wills at the DIFC Wills Service Centre or Dubai Courts. In all cases, the gifting deed must be notarized and registered at DLD to be legally effective.
Confirm eligibility and prepare documents
We verify the family relationship qualifies for the 0.125% DLD fee and confirm all required documents are in order before drafting.
Draft and notarize the Hiba POA
You appear before a UAE Notary Public through Dubai Courts or the UAE Ministry of Justice via a video call — from anywhere in the world. Delivered by email within hours.
Agent completes transfer at DLD — new Title Deed issued
Your agent attends the DLD Trustee Office, signs the Hiba deed, pays the gifting fee, and collects the new Title Deed issued in the recipient's name. Typical timeline: 2–3 working days.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Under UAE law, a valid gift (Hiba) must be unconditional and irrevocable once accepted by the recipient. A conditional gift transfer may not be accepted by DLD. If you need conditions attached to a property transfer, a sale agreement or trust structure may be more appropriate — we can advise.
Yes — the recipient (donee) must formally accept the gift. This is typically documented at DLD during the transfer process. Both parties' identification documents are required.
The POA itself is prepared and notarized same-day. The DLD transfer appointment can typically be booked within a few days. Total process is usually 3–7 business days.
Gifting (Hiba) is a transfer of property ownership without payment — the donor receives nothing in return. A sale involves a purchase price and DLD charges the standard 4% transfer fee. For gifting to first-degree relatives (parents, children, spouses), DLD charges a reduced fee of 0.125% of the property value — significantly lower than the sale fee. Gifting is governed by Federal Law No. 28 of 2005 (Personal Status) for Muslim families, while property sales are governed by Federal Law No. 5 of 1985 (Civil Transactions). A gift once accepted cannot be revoked under UAE law except in specific circumstances.
No. The reduced 0.125% gifting fee applies only to first-degree relatives: parents gifting to children, children gifting to parents, and between spouses. Siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and all other relatives are charged the standard 4% DLD transfer fee — the same as a commercial sale. We confirm the applicable fee before drafting based on your specific family relationship.
Yes. A non-UAE resident family member can receive property as a gift in Dubai, provided they meet DLD's eligibility criteria for property ownership (nationals and residents of GCC countries, and foreigners in designated freehold areas). The recipient does not need to be present at DLD — the donor's agent can complete the transfer on their behalf using a POA that authorizes receipt of the Title Deed. The recipient must provide a valid passport copy and proof of the family relationship.
Yes — once the Title Deed is issued in the recipient's name at DLD, they become the full legal owner and can sell, mortgage, or gift the property as they choose. There is no mandatory holding period imposed by DLD after a gifting transfer. However, some mortgage lenders may have their own waiting periods before they accept a newly gifted property as collateral — confirm with the specific bank. If the original gift was conditional on the property not being sold, that condition must be documented in the gift deed itself to be enforceable.
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