Selling your apartment in Abu Dhabi: a step-by-step guide

Your Key Property Management LLC ("Your Key") is a licensed real estate brokerage in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This guide is for Abu Dhabi apartment owners preparing to sell, covering pricing, advertising, agreement and transfer. For Dubai, see our Abu Dhabi and Dubai selling guide. Your Key is a real estate brokerage, not a property management company.

Your Key was founded in 2018 by Founder & CEO Abdul Shakoor, who has worked in UAE real estate since 2016 and is RERA certified (Dubai) and ADREC certified (Abu Dhabi). Since 2018 the team has served 2,500+ clients and handled more than AED 2B in transactions, and the firm is rated about 4.8 on Google from around 170 reviews.

Step 1: Get a realistic price

Compare recent sales and current listings in the same building or community. Size, floor, view and condition matter, as does whether the apartment is vacant or tenanted. These details make a comparison useful; an asking price from a different kind of unit does not answer the pricing question on its own.

A realistic price usually sells faster than one that has to be reduced later. Ask how the suggested price relates to comparable homes and distinguish asking prices from completed sales. The aim is to decide what is reasonable for your actual apartment, not to rely on a figure disconnected from its condition or tenancy position.

Step 2: Appoint a licensed brokerage

Use a brokerage agreement with an Abu Dhabi-licensed brokerage and check that the agent is ADREC-registered. Confirm the brokerage commission in writing. A clear agreement gives you a record of the brokerage relationship before the property is advertised and viewings begin.

Your Key helps owners with the sale and with leasing where needed. That role does not include running the building or providing ongoing property management. Keep the scope of the brokerage agreement clear so that selling support is not confused with services after the transfer.

Step 3: Madhmoun listing permit

Madhmoun is ADREC's verified listing system. A property advertised in Abu Dhabi must carry a Madhmoun permit obtained by the broker through DARI, Abu Dhabi's official real estate platform under ADREC. The permit ties the advert to a real unit and owner, and only a limited number of brokers may advertise the same property.

The permit number should appear on the advert. Treat the permit as part of preparing the listing rather than an administrative detail to address after marketing begins. Check that the advertised apartment and owner information correspond to the actual property being offered for sale.

Step 4: Marketing and viewings

Marketing should use accurate details and photographs, with the apartment presented on the main property portals. Accompanied viewings and pre-qualified buyers help keep the process focused on people considering the real unit and its terms.

Make sure the description reflects the apartment's size, floor, view, condition and whether it is occupied. The information used in an advert should be consistent with what buyers see at a viewing. Clear presentation makes it easier to discuss offers without having to correct expectations created by inaccurate details.

Step 5: Offer and sale agreement

The sale agreement should set out the price, deposit, who pays which fees and the target transfer date. Review these points together. An offer is not just a price: timing and the allocation of costs also form part of the arrangement you are accepting.

Make sure the written terms match the negotiations. If a mortgage or tenancy affects the transfer, address that before relying on a proposed date. Keep the agreement available as the reference for the remaining steps, rather than allowing different conversations to create different expectations about what was agreed.

Step 6: Clear the mortgage and tenancy

A mortgage must be settled and its release registered before or at transfer. Coordinate the timing with your bank and the buyer so that the release and sale steps fit together. Do not assume that agreeing a price removes the need to deal with the existing finance.

A registered tenancy stays valid against the new owner. Agree whether the sale is with the tenant in place and check the lease on Tawtheeq. The buyer needs to understand the tenancy position, and the sale agreement should reflect that understanding rather than describing a tenanted apartment as though it were vacant.

Step 7: Transfer on DARI

The sale is registered on DARI and the buyer receives a new title deed. DARI's selling guide lists documents such as a recent valuation certificate, a recent title deed and a developer letter. The property must be free of an unreleased mortgage, a long-term lease or a court order.

Confirm the applicable documents before the transfer stage. If a mortgage or lease needs attention, discuss how it affects the sale rather than leaving the issue unresolved. Keep the transfer records alongside the agreement so there is a clear record of the completed transaction.

Fees to know

Registering a sale on DARI costs 2% of the contract value plus an e-services fee, shared as the contract says. Mortgage registration or release fees may apply, including release fees when existing finance is settled. Brokerage commission should be agreed in writing, and there is a Madhmoun permit fee for advertising. Community service charges vary.

Fees can change, so confirm current charges on official DARI service pages. Ask for a written breakdown showing who pays each cost. That makes it easier to understand the sale proceeds and the obligations around transfer without assuming every transaction has the same charges.

Related guides

• How to sell an apartment in Abu Dhabi or Dubai
• Buying property on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi: a buyer's guide
• Buying property on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi: a buyer's guide
• Leasing your apartment in Abu Dhabi or Dubai
• Contact Your Key for a valuation

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.