When it comes time to transfer property from an individual to a company in the UAE, there are a few things that you need to take into account. In this blog post by GCG Structuring, we will go over the process step-by-step and explain what you need to do in order to ‘gift’ (transfer) your property to a company in the UAE.So, whether you are an individual who is looking to transfer their property to a company or you are a start-up aiming to specialize in managing your clients’ properties; this blog post is for you!
Table of Contents
Property Transfer Procedure in Dubai
You might be familiar with the concept of a ‘Hiba Transfer’ if you have been in an Islamic country. A Hiba transfer is simply a gift that is given from an individual to mainly a 1st-degree relative. However, if you want, you can also make that same gift to a corporate entity (and vice versa). The reason you would want to give a property to a corporate entity would be for inheritance planning or property management in general so that future generations can benefit from the assets. Property inheritance is a fairly difficult process and more so if you are not familiar with the UAE’s Sharia Law.
Corporate Structures Allowed to Hold Companies
Not all corporate structures are eligible to hold properties within the UAE. The most common corporate structures that can hold properties are the JAFZA Offshore as well as the companies present in the DIFC and DMCC jurisdictions. The shareholders of the aforementioned corporate structures can be either individuals or corporate entities.
Important Points to Account For
Transferring a property from an individual to a company requires attention to various intricate details. Keep in mind that the percentage of the property being transferred has to align with the percentage of ownership of the shareholders. Attested and translated company documents have to be presented with specific approvals from your relevant jurisdiction and the Dubai Land Department. The title transfer of real estate requires you to pay a 4% stamp duty. In a Hiba transfer, you only have to pay 0.125%. To complete a successful Hiba transfer, the points above have to be accounted for but that’s easier said than done. The entirety of the process can easily be handled with the help of a Power of Attorney specialist, especially if the parties aren’t present in the UAE at the time of the deal. The process can get more complicated if there are multiple transfers involved in order to achieve the desired result.
Required Documents
To get started, you’re going to need the following documents.
For an Individual
- Title deed and site plan (original)
- Prove the identity of the customer or his representative legally
- Sanitation clearance
- No objection certificate obtained from the developer of the real estate unit
- Message from the company with a transfer
For a Company
- Title deed and site plan (original)
- Prove the identity of the customer or his representative legally
- Sanitation clearance
- Commercial license and establishment contract for institutions and companies
- No objection certificate obtained from the developer of the real estate unit
- Message from the company with a transfer
Service Procedure
The process involves the following steps:
- Receiving concerned parties
- Ensuring the completion of all requirements
- Provide the customer’s number
- Confirm receival of the transaction from the transactor
- Fulfillment of service procedures in the system
- Fees payment
- Receipt of the title deed or the ownership structure
This was an article by GCG Structuring on how to transfer property from an individual to a company in the UAE. We hope that this has helped shed some light on the process and what needs to be taken into account. If you have any further questions, feel free to to talk to book a free consultation for further details and streamline your property transfer process.
