DLD stands for Dubai Land Department, a government entity established on January 24, 1960, to handle all matters related to the legalization of real estate transactions in the Emirate of Dubai. On September 18, 2013, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, issued the Law No. (7) of 2013 Concerning the Land Department which defines objectives of DLD as the government entity responsible for regulation and registration of real estate property and promotion of real estate investment. The department also actively develops the necessary legislation to propel the real estate sector in Dubai and distributes knowledge in real estate. Today, DLD provides more than 160 services going beyond just registration and titling. Organisational structure of Dubai Land Department includes: Real Estate Registration which documents and retains real estate rights in the land registry system (the registration arm); Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) which regulates the real estate sector in the emirate (the regulatory arm); Real Estate Investment Management & Promotion Center  supports national and international real estate investors, develops the real estate investment environment and promotes direct and long-term investments (the investment arm); Rental Disputes Settlement Center (also known as Rental Committee) which deals with rent disputes arising between those involved in the real property rental sector and other related sectors (the judicial arm); Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI) which aims to create, spread and sustain real estate knowledge in the market (the educational arm).

RERA stands for Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Agency, a government agency, the regulatory arm of Dubai Land Department. RERA was founded on July 31, 2007, by virtue of Dubai Law No. (16) of 2007 Establishing the Real Estate Regulatory Agency. The primary objective of the Agency is to regulate the real estate sector in the Emirate of Dubai by contributing to the preparation of strategies related to the industry and to the development and implementation of the required action plans, including setting legislation regulating the relationship between contracting parties in the real estate market. RERA involved in planning, organising and evaluating operations related to real estate licenses, organisation and development of real estate activities, monitoring property development projects financially and technically, to protect investors.

A formal promise by one party (the guarantor or surety) to another party (the creditor) to accept responsibility of a third party’s (the principal debtor) debt, if that third party cannot or refuses to pay it.

The process whereby a party is made aware of the commencement of legal proceedings affecting their rights, obligations or duties. Although the format may vary, there are strict requirements regarding service of a legal notice which must be adhered to if the legal notice to be effective.

Any matter of fact that a party to a claim or action offers to provide to prove or disprove an issue in the case. The strongest type of evidence is that which provides direct proof of the truth of an assertion. At the other extreme is evidence that is merely consistent with an assertion but does not rule out other, contradictory assertions, and may be viewed as circumstantial evidence.

A public officer constituted by law to serve the public in non-contentious matters. A notary’s main function is to attest and certify, by his/her hand and official seal, certain classes of documents, in order to give them authenticity in government authorities, foreign jurisdictions, etc.