TL; DR

  • Property transfers in Ajman are registered with the Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation, mostly online through its e-services and UAE PASS.
  • For a sale, the buyer pays 2% of the apartment value, plus AED 350 for the new title deed. The official fee list also shows a 1% fee paid by the seller.
  • Apartments need a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the developer before ownership can be transferred.
  • A mortgage does not disappear on transfer. The seller’s bank must release it or approve its transfer to the buyer.
  • Gifts, inheritance and wills are separate transfer types. Each has its own court letter and fee.

Who handles property transfers in Ajman?

All property transfers in Ajman are registered with the Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation, established under Emiri Decree No. 7 of 2017. It is often called AjmanRE and is associated with the older ARRA name. Emiri Decree No. 9 of 2025 sets its service fees. To learn how ARRA and the Department relate, read our Ajman ARRA regulations guide.

Ownership changes only when the Department registers the transfer and issues a title deed or certificate in the new owner’s name. A signed contract or a paid deposit does not, on its own, make you the legal owner.

What documents are needed to transfer property in Ajman?

The Department’s sale registration service asks for the following documents:

Document

Provided by

When it is needed

Title deed, ownership certificate or initial registration certificate

Seller

The original is required if it is not linked to the owner’s Emirates ID

Emirates ID, or a valid passport for non-residents

Buyer and seller

Always

Developer clearance certificate or NOC

Seller

Apartments and other units in jointly owned projects

Initial sale contract from the real estate office

Agent

If an agent is involved

Mortgage release letter, or the bank’s transfer approval

Seller’s bank

If the property is mortgaged

Founding contract and trade licence

Company

If a company is buying or selling

Power of attorney

Representative

If someone signs on another person’s behalf

 

How do you transfer property ownership in Ajman? (Step by step)

Step 1: Agree the terms in writing

Record the price, deposit, transfer date, who pays each fee, and what happens if either side withdraws. Ajman has no general cooling-off period, so your contract decides whether a deposit is refundable.

Step 2: Verify the title and check for a mortgage

Make sure the name on the title document matches the seller’s ID, and ask whether the property is mortgaged. If a power of attorney is used, confirm it is valid and covers the sale.

Step 3: Get the developer NOC

For apartments, the seller requests a clearance certificate or NOC from the developer or management company. Unpaid service charges often cause delays, so settle them early.

Step 4: Submit the application online

Submit the application and documents through the Department’s e-services portal. You will receive approval and a payment notice by SMS or email.

Step 5: Pay the fees

Pay the registration and title deed fees shown in your notice. If the buyer is using a mortgage, the bank registers the mortgage as part of the same process.

Step 6: Sign the sale contract

All parties, or their legal representatives, sign the sale contract.

Step 7: Receive the new title deed

The title deed, ownership certificate or initial registration certificate is issued digitally through UAE PASS or the Department’s document wallet. See our help centre guide to sale registration in Ajman for screenshots of the process.

How much does it cost to transfer property in Ajman?

These fees come from the Department’s service pages on the Ajman government service catalogue. Confirm the current amounts before you transact.

Fee

Amount

Paid by

Sale registration: apartment or other unit

2% of the value

Buyer

Sale registration: land or whole building (UAE and GCC nationals)

2%, minimum AED 2,500

Buyer

Sale registration: land or whole building (other nationalities)

3%, minimum AED 3,000

Buyer

Seller’s fee (as listed on the current service page)

1% of the property valuation

Seller

New title deed or certificate

AED 350

Charged when issued

Buyer’s mortgage registration

0.5% of the loan, minimum AED 1,000

Borrower

 

Agent commission, the developer’s NOC charge and bank fees are extra. Our guide to hidden costs when buying apartments in Ajman explains how to budget for them.

What happens to the seller’s mortgage?

Transferring ownership does not cancel a mortgage. The seller’s bank must issue a release letter, and the mortgage release is then registered for AED 500 plus AED 350 for the updated certificate. Usually the loan is paid off from the sale price at transfer, so agree the payment steps in writing before any money moves.

Buying with a loan yourself? Read our expat mortgage guide for Ajman apartments before you sign.

Other ways property ownership is transferred in Ajman

Not every transfer is a sale. Each of the following has its own Department service:

Transfer type

Key document

Fee (plus AED 350 title deed)

Gift to first- or second-degree relatives

Court letter approving the gift

0.125% of the appraised value, minimum AED 2,000

Inheritance

Inheritance determination letter from a UAE or GCC court

AED 500

Will

Sharia court letter

AED 750

 

Heirs, beneficiaries under a will and people receiving a gift still need the developer NOC for apartments. Non-resident heirs can use a valid passport.

Does transferring property in Ajman give you UAE residency?

Not automatically. The UAE Golden Visa for property investors requires owning property worth at least AED 2 million, proven by a letter from the property registration authority. The Department carries out valuations for Golden Residency applications. Rules on mortgaged and off-plan property can change, so check the latest criteria with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) before relying on a purchase for residency.

Is there tax on a property transfer in Ajman?

The main government cost is the Department’s registration fee. Individuals in the UAE do not pay personal income tax on property sales. However, commercial property sales are generally subject to VAT, and property held through a company may have Corporate Tax implications. If either applies to you, ask a registered tax adviser.

What delays a property transfer?

  • Names that don’t match exactly across the title deed, IDs and contract.
  • Unpaid service charges that hold up the developer NOC.
  • An expired Emirates ID, passport or power of attorney.
  • A mortgage release letter that isn’t ready on transfer day.
  • Ownership disputes or court restrictions on the property.

Frequently asked questions

Can the Department come to me to sign the transfer?

Yes. It offers off-site signature authentication for a fee: AED 300 in Ajman, AED 500 in Sharjah or Umm Al Quwain, AED 1,000 in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah, AED 2,000 in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain, and AED 3,000 in the Western Region.

How long does the registration itself take?

The Department lists the service duration as about five minutes once the application is approved. In practice, the overall timeline depends on how quickly the developer issues the NOC and any bank release letter.

Can I sell an off-plan apartment before handover?

Yes, subject to the developer’s NOC. Before completion, ownership is recorded on an initial registration certificate. Final registration happens only after all payments are made and the developer and management company issue their NOC.

Can I transfer my property into my own company’s name?

Yes. The Department has a dedicated service for transfers between an owner and their sole establishment or company, and back again. The fee is listed as 0.125% of the value, plus AED 350 for the title deed.

Can heirs transfer their shares to one heir?

Yes. This is called registration by way of exit. It requires a letter from the Sharia Court, and the fee is AED 1,000 plus AED 350 for the title deed.

How is a property bought at auction registered?

The Department charges AED 2,000 to register a property sold at a public auction run by a real estate office, or AED 1,500 if the Department organised the auction.

What if a court orders the transfer?

The Department registers transfers made under a court judgment. The fee is 2% of the value (minimum AED 2,500) for UAE nationals, or 3% (minimum AED 3,000) for non-citizens, and the buyer pays the ownership fee.

How can I prove all the properties I own in Ajman?

You can request a Certificate of Owned Properties, which lists all your properties in the emirate. It costs AED 100 for most applicants and is usually issued within one day.

Does my real estate agent need to be registered?

Yes. Real estate offices in Ajman are regulated under Amiri Decree No. 12 of 2012 and must hold a registration certificate from the Department before they can practise real estate activities.

What does it cost to pay off my mortgage early so I can sell?

Under Central Bank of the UAE rules, the early settlement fee on a home loan is capped at 1% of the outstanding balance or AED 10,000, whichever is less.

Related guides

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This guide is general information based on official sources available at the time of review. It is not legal or tax advice. Confirm fees and requirements with the Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation before you transact.