Dubai Land Department (DLD) managed to enhance the sustainability and continuity of real estate registration services through digital outlets and formats; thus, becoming available around the clock, allowing customers inside and outside the UAE to benefit from digital services with high flexibility. This allowed DLD to contribute to achieving the vision of the Dubai Government and the wise leadership on digital transformation, in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who once said: “We are proud of the flexibility and readiness shown by the UAE Government in dealing with the current developments. Our services are continuing around the clock.”

DLDhas taken many important and unprecedented steps under these exceptional circumstances as well as has continued its work remotely and with high efficiency. DLD did not stop any of its services and maintained contact with its customers, especially after the procedures were modified. It adopted a new system for recording transactions remotely, which includes direct communication with the seller and buyer and documenting procedures via video-calling technology. In order to achieve the highest levels of reliability, the system saves the videos in the same transaction file, allowing for quick completion of sales transactions on a daily basis for the parties (sellers and buyers), whether they are inside or outside the UAE.

DLDalso sent auditors to work in the real estate registration trustee offices with full commitment to strict precautionary measures, including physical distancing and continuous sterilisation, while increasing customer awareness to preserve their health and safety in addition to contributing to supporting the efforts of the health authorities.

HE Sultan Butti bin Mejren, Director General of DLD, commented: “Through the continuation of its work, provision of services to its customers, and the many achievements it accomplished during the National Sterilisation Programmeas well as its implementation of the remote-working system, DLD affirmed its readiness and ability to support the vision of UAE Centennial 2071, making the UAE one of the best countries in the world. DLD also supports Dubai Government’s digital transformation strategy by adopting digital platforms with high efficiency and great flexibility that facilitate the procedures of several services, including real estate registration services.”

Bin Mejren added: “Our teams have shown tremendous efforts as part of their keenness to align with the requirements of the current and future stage as well as of customer expectations. This comes out of our belief that the use and adoption of electronic technologies in our various operations are in line with the vision of our wise leadership and supports the Dubai Paperless Strategy. The circumstances resulting from the global outbreak of COVID-19 contributed to accelerating the development pace and the switch to paperless transactions and virtual communication. These were the only options available during the lockdown and consolidated our success, business continuity, and sustainability in overcoming the exceptional challenges.”

DLD studied the situation when the decision to work remotely was issued to limit the spread of COVID-19, and comprehensive reviews of various procedures were carried out and transferred to electronic formats to facilitate buying and selling while also providing an appropriate investment climate for the real estate sector. Thanks to the advanced systems developed by DLD, services were and are still being provided anytime and from anywhere.

Commenting on the successes achieved over the past months, Majid Saqr Al Marri, CEO of the Registration and Real Estate Services Sector at DLD, said: “The procedures for remote buying and selling were done safely and easily as well as provided exceptional incentives for Dubai’s real estate sector. In light of employing highly advanced and accurate technical protocols, the rights of sellers and buyers when dealing remotely are preserved through the escrow account in which the agreed amounts are deposited. It was possible to complete the procedures and transfer the money to complete the buying and selling process from all over the world, according to the currency of the customer’s country of residence.”

Al Marri concluded: “The efforts made by the wise leadership and the economic incentives announced in support of Dubai’s real estate sector, including the exemption from the fine of real estate registration, resulted in a significant increase in numbers, especially by those wishing to benefit from other economic incentives provided by the government.”