Glossary & framework library

Transfer fee

Legal & Title

Reference

A charge payable to the land authority on registering a change of ownership, often a percentage of price; Dubai Land Department's 4% and Egypt's registration levies are typical examples.

Related terms

  • Vendee

    The buyer of a property under a sale contract; the counterparty to the vendor.

  • Vendor

    The seller of a property under a sale contract.

  • Adverse possession

    Acquisition of title by occupying land openly and continuously for a statutory period without the owner's objection; recognised in Egyptian civil law (hiyaza)…

  • Beneficial ownership

    The party who ultimately enjoys the benefits of ownership even where legal title is held by a nominee, trustee, or SPV; disclosure of beneficial ownership is i…

  • Cadastre

    The official register mapping land parcels with their boundaries, area, and ownership; Egypt's Survey Authority and the UAE municipalities maintain cadastral r…

  • Chain of title

    The unbroken sequence of ownership transfers from the current owner back through prior owners; a gap or defect in the chain is a red flag that must be resolved…

  • Commission agreement

    A signed contract fixing a broker's fee and the trigger for earning it (introduction, exchange, or completion); across the Gulf and Egypt a written, dated agre…

  • Conveyancing

    The legal process of transferring property ownership from seller to buyer.