Dubai Property Due Diligence: The 2026 Checklist for South African Buyers
How South African buyers should verify a Dubai property's title, developer and RERA status before paying a deposit.
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A 2026 due diligence checklist for South African investors buying Dubai property, covering title, developer and RERA checks.
Dubai Real Estate Insights · For SA Investors Dubai Property Due Diligence: The 2026 Checklist for South African Buyers The biggest mistake overseas buyers make is paying a reservation deposit before confirming two basic facts — that the property sits in a freehold zone, and that the seller is actually the registered owner. This Banke checklist covers what to verify first. For Ready Property Check the title deed via DLD or Dubai REST, cross-check the seller's ID against the name on the DLD record, confirm outstanding service charges are settled, review the tenancy position if occupied, and request a property status inquiry through the DLD to confirm the unit is free of mortgages, liens or encumbrances. For Off-Plan Property Verify the developer's RERA license is active with no disciplinary actions on record, confirm the specific project is registered, check the escrow account details, review construction progress against the payment plan, and confirm Oqood registration for the unit. Checking the Developer Due diligence on a developer centres on three checks: developer registration, project registration, and escrow account confirmation — all three, not just one, since a legitimate developer name doesn't guarantee a specific project is properly registered. Verify Your Broker Too Every legitimate agent must hold an active RERA Broker Registration Number — check this before relying on any listing or advice, especially when you're buying from South Africa without the ability to walk into an office in person. Talk to Banke Contact Banke to run this checklist on a specific property before you send a deposit.
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