How to Add or Remove a Name from a Property Title Deed in Dubai

DLD Services for Title Deed Name Changes in Dubai

The DLD operates three separate services relevant to updating title deed details.

Title Deed Modification covers corrections or updates to the owner's personal data recorded on the title deed — the owner's name, nationality, passport number, date of birth, or place of birth. This service applies when a name was spelled incorrectly, when a legal name change has occurred, or when identification details have been updated after a new passport or Emirates ID issuance. The fee is AED 250 for the title deed certificate, plus AED 10 knowledge fee and AED 10 innovation fee. The standard processing time is approximately 25 minutes.

Amendment of Person/Entity Details updates the owner's personal or corporate data in the DLD system without reissuing the title deed certificate. This is a free DLD service; only a service partner fee of AED 20 + VAT applies when processed through a Trustee Centre.

Amendment of Real Estate Details covers changes to the property data itself — area, type, unit number, status, or addition of a store or parking lot.

None of these services changes legal ownership. If a property owner wishes to add or remove a person as a legal co-owner with registered ownership rights, a separate process is required — either a property sale registration, a gift registration, or an inheritance title transfer — each with its own fee structure.
For a detailed explanation of the full title deed in Dubai lifecycle, including issuance and verification, refer to the EGSH guide.

When a Name Can Be Added to a Title Deed in Dubai

The Title Deed Modification service applies when the change involves correcting or updating the owner's personal data on the existing deed. Eligible scenarios include correcting a name spelling or transliteration error, updating a name following a legal name change (for example, after marriage where the surname has changed), and updating personal identification details after a new passport or Emirates ID has been issued. In each case, the modification reflects a data correction — not a change in legal ownership.

Adding another person — such as a spouse, co-investor, or family member — as a full legal co-owner with registered ownership rights goes beyond a modification. Adding a spouse's name to a title deed in Dubai as a co-owner requires either a gift registration for property in Dubai (if transferring a share without consideration to a first-degree relative) or a property sale registration (if the transfer involves consideration). The DLD's Property Gift Registration service permits transfers between first-degree relatives only — parents, children, and spouses.

For off-plan properties registered under the Oqood system, amendments to buyer details are processed through the Oqood portal managed by the DLD, and a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the developer may be required before any changes are made.

If the property is subject to a mortgage, the bank or financial institution holding the mortgage must provide a No Objection Letter before any modification or transfer can proceed. Without lender consent, the DLD will not process the request.

Documents Required for Title Deed Changes in Dubai

The documents required to add or remove a name from a title deed in Dubai vary by the applicable DLD service. All supporting documentation must be complete and verified before the DLD will process any application.

Documents for Name Correction or Personal Data Update (Title Deed Modification)

The following documents are required, as specified by the DLD: a copy of the owner's Emirates ID; a copy of a valid passport for non-resident owners; a legal Power of Attorney if the owner is not attending in person; and an official letter in case of area modification or a new map from the municipality or the DLD Survey Department.

If the name update follows a legal name change — for example, after marriage — the applicant should also present the supporting legal document (such as a marriage certificate or court order) confirming the change.

Power of Attorney Requirements (DLD Circular No. 29/R/2025)

If a representative is acting on behalf of any party, a valid Power of Attorney is required. Under DLD Circular No. 29/R/2025, issued on 16 July 2025, the POA must expressly authorise the specific disposition being undertaken, use approved wording as set out in the Circular, and be verified through the issuing authority's official electronic platform. QR code verification is no longer accepted. POAs issued outside the UAE must have been issued within two years prior to submission.

Mortgaged Properties — Bank NOC Requirement

For any title deed change involving a mortgaged property — whether a modification, gift registration, or ownership transfer — the property owner must first obtain a No Objection Letter from the bank or financial institution that holds the mortgage. The DLD will not process any change without this clearance. The timeline for obtaining an NOC varies by bank and may take several working days.
If the ownership change involves a sale of a mortgaged property, the DLD has a separate dedicated service — Registering the Sale of a Mortgaged Property — with additional requirements, including a liability letter from the bank, manager's cheques for debt settlement, and a specific fee structure.

To verify a title deed in Dubai before initiating a modification, property owners can use the DLD's verification service directly or through an authorised Trustee Centre.

Processing time: approximately 25 minutes. Payment methods: ePay, credit card, cash, or manager's cheque.

Amendment of Person/Entity Details Fees (System Record Update)

Updating the owner's personal or corporate data in the DLD system — without reissuing the title deed — is a free DLD service. A service partner fee of AED 20 + VAT applies when processed through a Trustee Centre such as EGSH.

Amendment of Real Estate Details Fees (Property Data Changes)

Fees vary by property type. For land: AED 250 title deed fee, plus AED 100 map fee (lands outside Dubai Municipality) or AED 225 (unified map with Dubai Municipality), plus AED 10 knowledge fee and AED 10 innovation fee per drawing. For a building: AED 250 title deed fee, AED 3,000 map fee, plus AED 10 knowledge fee and AED 10 innovation fee per drawing.

For a villa or unit: AED 250 title deed fee, plus AED 10 knowledge fee and AED 10 innovation fee per drawing. If the amendment involves adding a store or parking lot not included in the original sales contract, a 4% fee on the value of the added item applies in addition to the standard fees. A service partner fee of AED 130 + VAT applies when processed through a Trustee Centre. Processing time: approximately four working hours.

Step-by-Step Process for Title Deed Modification at the DLD

Applications can be submitted at the DLD Main Branch or at authorised Real Estate Services Trustee Centres such as EGSH.

Step 1 — Prepare Documents

Gather all required documents based on the type of change. For a name correction or personal data update: a copy of the owner's Emirates ID, a valid passport for non-residents, and any supporting evidence for the change (such as a court order for a legal name change or a newly issued passport). If a representative is applying, a valid Power of Attorney is required. For gift registration or ownership transfers: ensure that relationship proof documents have been properly attested and translated. If the property is mortgaged, obtain the bank's NOC in advance.

Step 2 — Visit the DLD Main Office or an Authorised Trustee Centre

Applicants must visit the DLD Main Branch or an authorised Real Estate Services Trustee Centre. EGSH operates as an authorised DLD Trustee Centre and processes title deed registration in Dubai and related services.

Special Circumstances for Title Deed Name Changes

Adding a Spouse's Name After Marriage

If the goal is to add the spouse as a legal co-owner with registered ownership rights, this requires a gift registration — not a title deed modification. The DLD permits gift transfers between spouses as first-degree relatives at a reduced transfer fee of 0.125% of the property valuation, with a minimum fee of AED 2,000.

The marriage certificate must be translated into Arabic, attested by the UAE embassy in the issuing country, and authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that country. Additionally, proof of paternity or kinship from the client's embassy in the UAE may be required. If the property is mortgaged, the bank must provide an NOC before the gift registration can proceed.

If the purpose is simply to update the owner's surname on the title deed following marriage — without adding the spouse as a co-owner — this qualifies as a Title Deed Modification, provided the marriage certificate and updated passport or Emirates ID are submitted. The fee is AED 250 plus AED 10 knowledge fee and AED 10 innovation fee.