Trade licence, building permit, completion certificate
Dubai Land Department's Development Handbook page names three documents along a project's path: the developer's trade licence, the building permit and the completion certificate. The page, read 9 October 2026, describes the stages these belong to. It does not give fees, timelines or which body issues each document.
What are the three stages?
The handbook page (read 9 October 2026) describes development in three stages.
Pre-development. The developer obtains a trade licence to carry out real estate development activity.
Real estate development. This stage has three sub-phases, each with services the developer must complete. The page names masterplan approval and the issuing of building permits as part of the process.
Post-development. This covers services the developer needs after finishing the project and obtaining its completion certificate from the licensing authority.
What is each document?
- Trade licence: the licence that allows a business to carry out real estate development.
- Building permit: the permit to build. The handbook page places it in the development stage.
- Completion certificate: the certificate from the licensing authority after the project is finished.
The handbook page does not describe the contents of these documents.
Who prepared the handbook?
The 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." It links to a list of the entities involved, which Keyva has not read.
What does DLD's FAQ add?
DLD's FAQ (read 9 October 2026) says a new project can be launched or announced only after all registration steps are done and an accreditation certificate is issued. It says a project's description is changed by submitting final building permits.
Where can a project's details be seen?
DLD's open-data portal has a Project tab with each project's status, completion percentage and completion date (portal read 9 October 2026). The Developer tab lists each developer's licence type, licence number and licence dates.
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.
This page reports what DLD publishes. It is not legal advice.
Updated 9 October 2026: figures and wording corrected.