The Dubai Land Department (DLD) has signed a memorandum of collaboration with the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (Awqaf Dubai). The partnership aims to develop the properties within the foundation’s real estate portfolio and enhance their competitiveness in the emirate’s dynamic real estate market. The initiative will be realized through the Department’s Building Classification Project, which strengthens cooperation across various areas of mutual interest.
The memorandum was signed at DLD’s headquarters by Mr. Majid Al Marri, CEO of the Real Estate Registration Sector at the Dubai Land Department, His Excellency Khalid Al Thani, deputy secretary general, along with several division managers from Awqaf Dubai and multiple CEOs from both entities.
The areas of collaboration outlined in the memorandum include evaluating properties owned by the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation and classifying them according to standards approved by the Dubai Land Department. This initiative also involves revaluing the foundation’s properties to upgrade their classification following improvements made to the targeted assets. Additionally, the memorandum facilitates inquiry services for all lands and properties associated with deceased individuals, minors, and others under similar legal statuses, with access to all relevant documentation.
Innovative management mechanisms
Majid Al Marri stated, “Our collaboration with the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation reflects our ongoing commitment to strengthening partnerships among government entities in the emirate, serving the public interest, and supporting Dubai’s vision of becoming a global model in real estate management, including the management of endowment properties. Through this memorandum, we will work on developing and classifying the foundation’s properties according to the highest standards, enhancing their competitiveness in the market. We will also provide advanced mechanisms to enable more efficient and transparent management of lands and properties belonging to deceased individuals and minors, which aligns with our commitment to offering innovative services that meet the community’s aspirations. This collaboration will foster greater government integration, help us achieve our shared goals of promoting real estate sustainability, and support the national economy fully aligned with Dubai’s vision of building a brighter future for future generations.”
Commitment to inclusivity and sustainability
For his part, Khalid Al Thani emphasized that the collaboration with the Dubai Land Department reflects the Foundation’s dedication to enhancing opportunities for strategic cooperation, contributing to inclusivity and sustainability within foundation operations. Al Thani explained that this partnership represents a significant step toward unifying efforts to provide proactive services and solutions to the Foundation’s clients, including endowments and minors. It also strengthens the development and advancement of the Foundation’s real estate portfolio, ensuring competitiveness in the emirate’s market by classifying properties according to engineering and technical standards and awarding each building the appropriate star rating it deserves.
Establishing a shared system for enhanced services
Al Thani added that, based on this classification, the Foundation will valuate and develop its buildings to ensure their sustainability and investment in line with best practices, while striving to achieve optimal returns in support of the objectives of endowers and minors. He noted that the memorandum will also contribute to establishing a shared system between both parties to facilitate access to endowment property data and streamline various requests, thereby enhancing the quality of services provided and presenting an integrated model of collaborative government work.
Read more: Digital wallet launched by UAE MoHRE, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank for corporate customers
Access to valuation systems for enhanced efficiency
Under the memorandum of collaboration, designated personnel from the Inheritance Department at the Foundation will gain access to Dubai Land Department’s Ejari valuation system to verify rental contracts related to deceased individuals, minors, and those under similar legal statuses. The shared system between the Foundation and the Department will also be enhanced to allow for the issuance of specific orders, such as requests for cancellation studies, registration requests, endowment registration requests, and land valuation requests. Furthermore, users will be able to view all detailed data related to endowments, including land coordinates and attachments. The system will also be further developed to streamline the process of approving the sale of assets belonging to minors and those under guardianship.
Building Classification Project criteria for real estate excellence
The Dubai Land Department’s Building Classification Project is based on five key criteria to achieve the highest levels of survey accuracy. These criteria include engineering and technical standards, sustainability, documentation, health and safety, and management and finance.
Each criterion comprises a set of questions designed to extract detailed data and assign each building an appropriate classification based on a star rating system ranging from 1 to 4 stars, with an additional 4+ rating for buildings meeting the highest standards of green sustainability. The classification also considers available facilities and the quality of the building’s maintenance, such as parking, elevators, air conditioning, façade quality, and more.
The project offers a wide range of proactive services and solutions designed to serve real estate sector stakeholders, benefiting various groups, including investors, property owners, tenants, real estate developers, government entities, and private sector companies.
