DLD's Development Handbook: the three stages it describes

Dubai Land Department publishes a Development Handbook for developers. Its page, read 9 October 2026, says the handbook "is prepared in co-operation with more than 23 governmental and non-governmental entities that provides services related to the real estate development."

That sentence describes who helped prepare the handbook. It does not say that every project passes through all of those bodies, or in what order.

What stages does the handbook describe?

The handbook page (read 9 October 2026) splits development into three stages:

• Pre-development: the developer gets a trade licence to carry out real estate development.
• Real estate development: three sub-phases, each with services the developer must complete. The page names masterplan approval and building permits.
• Post-development: services after the project gets its completion certificate from the licensing authority.

The page links to a separate list of the entities involved. Keyva has not read that list, so this page does not say which body handles which step.

Does a buyer hear when a file moves?

The handbook page does not describe any notice to buyers. It is written for developers.

What can a buyer check?

DLD's open-data portal, read 9 October 2026, has a Project tab. Its download includes each project's status, completion percentage, inspection date and completion date.

The status values listed there are Freezed, Under Reviewing, Under Cancellation Decision, Cancelled, Finished, Active, Conditional Activating and Under Cancellation Notification. The portal does not define them.

DLD's FAQ says an investor can follow completion percentages on DLD's project tracking service. It also says that when a developer asks for a payment tied to completion, the investor can ask for the completion percentage in a letter from the project consultant approved by DLD.

Can transaction data show a developer's delivery record?

Not from the portal alone. The Project tab has a completion date field, but the portal does not say how it is set or updated. DLD's FAQ says RERA, the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, asks developers to update the expected completion date when it reviews projects.

Keyva does not publish a developer delivery score.

Keyva's listing checks page links to DLD's and RERA's own public checks. Keyva is independent and is not part of, or endorsed by, either body.

Updated 9 October 2026: figures and wording corrected.