Wills and family property
Gift Deed in Dubai: Gifting Property to a Family Member
A gift deed in Dubai records that an owner gives something to another person for free. For Dubai property, the transfer itself is registered with the Dubai Land Department, not by a notary. Our in-house notary public handles the papers around it.
We have in-house, in person notary public services, online notary public services and home visit private notary services.
In short
- Price: price on request. We confirm it before you pay. Government fees are paid on top at cost.
- Who signs: the owner giving the gift, and anyone signing for them under a power of attorney.
- What to bring: original Emirates ID or passport, and the papers that prove the family link.
- Where: in person, at home or office, or online for the notarised papers.
- Next step: send us the property details and the family link on WhatsApp.
What the notary can and cannot do
A Dubai notary public may not attest an instrument that creates, transfers, changes or ends ownership of real property (Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013, Article 21). So a notary cannot sign off the property transfer itself.
In Dubai, the Dubai Land Department has a service called Property Gift Registration. It is carried out at a Real Estate Registration Trustee Centre. It covers the whole property or a share of it, given without payment.
Our part is the supporting paperwork, for example:
- A power of attorney, when someone signs for a party. Dubai Land Department asks for a legal power of attorney in that case.
- Translation of family papers into Arabic by a legal translator.
- Affidavits or declarations that your papers call for.
Three ways to get the supporting papers notarised
In person with our in-house notary public
The notary public checks each signer's original ID, reads the document, watches you sign and applies the seal. We prepare and check the papers first.
Home or office visit
We come to your home, hospital or office. Price on request, plus the Dubai private notary government fee of AED 1,000 per trip outside the place of work.
Online
UAE law lets a notary use IT tools in place of personal appearance (Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022, Article 18). This helps an owner who lives abroad. See our e-notary guide.
Who can receive the gift
On its service page, Dubai Land Department lists first degree relatives (mother, father, spouse or children) or companies. It does not offer the service for restricted property or granted land. Check the current page before you plan, because the rules are set by the land authority and can change.
What the land authority asks for
For individuals, the Dubai Land Department lists:
- Proof of the relationship. A marriage certificate or a birth certificate, translated and attested by the UAE embassy in the issuing country and that country's foreign ministry.
- Proof of kinship from the donor's embassy in the UAE.
- Emirates ID, or a valid passport copy for a non-resident.
UAE citizens bring a marriage contract or Family Book. A company that is not yet registered with the land department registers first.
We help you get these papers in order, with translation and the attestation steps. See our translation services.
What the UAE civil law says about gifts
The new Civil Transactions Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025) covers gifts in Articles 552 to 590. In short:
- A gift of real property is valid only if it is documented under the rules that apply (Article 554).
- The donor may revoke a gift before handover without the receiver's consent. After handover, revoking needs the receiver's consent or a court order (Article 582).
- A gift made during a fatal illness is treated like a will (Article 572).
These points are general. For a gift with a mortgage, a minor or a disputed family link, speak to a lawyer licensed in the UAE before you sign.
Step by step
How it works
1
Send us the property details and the family link on WhatsApp.
2
We list the papers you need, draft any power of attorney or declaration, and order the Arabic version.
3
The notary public checks each signer's original ID, reads the document, watches you sign and applies the seal.
4
You, or your attorney, take the file to the Real Estate Registration Trustee Centre. We do not register the transfer.
Prices
Price
| Item | Our service price | Government fee, paid on top at cost |
|---|---|---|
| Notarised papers for a property gift (power of attorney, declaration) | Price on request | Dubai private notary: AED 100 per party registration and AED 100 per signature |
| Home or office visit | Price on request | AED 1,000 per trip outside the place of work (Dubai private notary) |
| The property transfer itself | Not our service | Set by Dubai Land Department. See its Property Gift Registration page |
All service prices are starting prices and are negotiable. Government fees are paid on top, at cost, exactly as the authority charges them. We confirm your final price before you pay. See the notary fees page.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can a notary make a gift deed for a Dubai property?
No. A Dubai notary cannot attest the transfer of ownership of real property. The gift is registered at Dubai Land Department. A notary can handle the supporting papers.
Can I gift a share of a property?
Dubai Land Department lists gifts of a whole property or part of it. Check the current service page for the conditions.
Can someone sign for me if I am abroad?
Dubai Land Department says a legal power of attorney is required when someone acts for a party. We prepare it and the notary seals it. See special power of attorney.
What about a gift of a car or shares?
Rules differ for each asset. Contact us with the details and we tell you what we can notarise.
Can I take a gift back?
Sometimes, under the Civil Transactions Law. The rules depend on the case, so ask a lawyer licensed in the UAE before you act.
More in wills and family property
Wills for non-Muslims and gifts of property in the family.
Contact
Book your notary appointment
- Phone and WhatsApp: +971 52 947 5935
- Email: support@privatenotarydubai.com
- Hours: Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Dubai time). WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7.
See all private notary services.
- Phone+971 52 947 5935
- WhatsApp+971 52 947 5935
- Emailsupport@privatenotarydubai.com
- AddressJebel Ali, Main Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE