Real Estate Registration Law

Purpose and scope

• Establishes the real estate register as the single reference for ownership of real property and rights in rem over it, gradually replacing traditional title deeds in areas where registration begins.
• The Real Estate General Authority supervises the register, which is applied in phases according to the areas announced for registration.

Key rules, rights and obligations

• Each property is a real estate unit with its own record showing its description, boundaries, owner and rights over it such as mortgages and easements.
• Real rights in property are created, transferred, changed or ended between the parties and against third parties only by entry in the real estate register.
• Entries in the register have absolute force against everyone and are relied on to prove ownership.
• The law sets the procedure for first registration in announced areas and the periods for objecting to announced data before it is approved.

Violations, penalties and common problems

• Not following the registration announcement in the property's area may mean missing the objection period for errors in boundaries or ownership.
• Real estate dealings not entered in the register cannot be relied on against third parties.
• Submitting false data or documents to register a property exposes the person to penalties and cancellation of the entry.

Procedures and key deadlines

• Follow the announcement of registration in the area through the Real Estate General Authority and its platforms, and submit the first-registration request with the required documents.
• Objections to an entry or announced data are filed within the announced statutory period.
• Check the register record of a unit before buying or mortgaging it.

An advisory summary prepared by Al-Bayan Al-Wadih Law Firm. It is not an official text and does not replace the law, its implementing regulations, or advice from a specialised lawyer. The official published text and its amendments prevail.