Developer Verification Checklist: DLD's Developer Details Fields Explained
What the Developer Details dataset actually contains
DLD's open data portal publishes a Developer Details dataset with these fields: Developer Number, Developer Name, Registration Date, License Source, License Type, Website, Phone, Fax, License Number, License Issue Date, License Expiry Date, Chamber of Commerce No., and social/contact fields (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Email).
Separately, the Project Details dataset — searchable by date range and area — includes Project Number, Project Name, Developer Number, Developer Name, Start Date, End Date, Adoption Date, Project Type, Project Value, Escrow Account Number, Project Status (Freezed, Under Reviewing, Under Cancellation Decision, Cancelled, Finished, Active, Conditional, Activating, Under Cancellation Notification), Completed (%), Inspection Date, Completion Date, and unit/building counts.
Because both datasets share the Developer Number field, you can cross-reference a developer's license record against every project they're registered against — including whether that specific project has an escrow account number on file. That's the core check every off-plan buyer should run before paying a booking fee.
The checklist
- Pull the developer record. Search Developer Details by developer name. Confirm the Developer Number and Chamber of Commerce No. exist and match what's on the sales contract or brochure.
- Check license validity. Compare License Issue Date and License Expiry Date against today's date. A developer marketing a project with an expired license is a red flag the dataset lets you catch directly — DLD does not state elsewhere on this page what happens if a license has lapsed, so treat an expiry date in the past as a reason to ask the developer directly, not as proof of anything worse.
- Match the developer to the project. Use the shared Developer Number to search Project Details for the specific project you're being sold. Confirm the Developer Name on the project record matches the entity you're transacting with.
- Confirm the escrow account number is populated. In the Project Details record, check the Escrow Account Number field. If it's blank or missing for an off-plan project, that's worth raising with the developer before you transfer anything — the dataset doesn't explain escrow rules beyond publishing the account number, so for the underlying escrow law itself, treat DLD's page as the reference point rather than this article.
- Check Project Status. A status of Active or Conditional is different from Freezed, Under Cancellation Decision, or Cancelled. Read the status field literally — it's a direct signal, not a marketing description.
- Cross-check Completed (%) against your contract timeline. If the developer's sales material promises a handover date that doesn't line up with Completed (%) and the End Date/Completion Date fields, ask for an explanation before signing.
What this dataset does not tell you
The source page lists fields — it doesn't explain enforcement, complaint procedures, or what recourse you have if a developer's license lapses mid-project. For anything beyond field-level verification, go to DLD's open data page directly, and consider running your own lookup on Keyva's verify tool before booking.
Don't forget the rest of the cost stack
Verifying the developer is step one. Before you commit funds, remember that off-plan purchases carry a full transaction cost stack beyond the sale price:
| Cost | Typical rate |
|---|---|
| DLD transfer fee | ~4% of property price |
| Trustee registration fee | Fixed fee, paid at registration |
| Mortgage registration fee | If financing |
| Bank valuation fee | If financing |
Note: agency/broker commission (~2%) typically applies to resale transactions, not first-sale off-plan purchases from a developer.
Off-plan buyers should also know the CBUAE minimum down payment for off-plan property is 50%, regardless of nationality. If you're weighing this against a ready property, run the numbers through the mortgage calculator or compare projects on Keyva's areas page before deciding.
If the project qualifies toward a Golden Visa, note that mortgaged or off-plan property can qualify with a bank or developer NOC — details on Keyva's Golden Visa guide.
Source: Dubai Land Department – Real Estate Open Data
This article is informational, not legal or financial advice. DLD's own open data page is the authoritative source — verify current field values directly there before making any payment decision.