What should Dubai conveyancing cover on an AED 4.661m duplex?

A

AdaHope

Homeowner
Established
I’m deciding whether to appoint one end-to-end conveyancing service or keep negotiation and transaction coordination separate for a Dubai duplex around AED 4,661,000. Providers seem to use “conveyancing” for very different scopes—anything from an introduction to support through closing.

What should the written scope reasonably include in the United Arab Emirates? I want clear fees, named accountability, response times, local knowledge, document handling and a fallback if the main contact disappears. Specific points to put in a quote request would be useful.
 
I would ask each provider to map its work from accepted offer to closing, rather than accepting a one-line “full conveyancing” description. The quote should say who examines the transaction documents, tracks conditions and payments, coordinates with the broker, seller, lender or developer where relevant, and attends or supports the final steps. It should also list exclusions and third-party charges separately.
 
Response time needs more detail too. “Prompt support” is meaningless. Ask who acknowledges a routine query, who handles something time-sensitive, and what happens outside that person’s availability. I’d also want every instruction and document request confirmed in writing, with a single current list of completed and outstanding items.
 
Is this duplex completed, financed, and being bought from an individual owner? Those facts could change the workload considerably. A cash purchase of a completed home is not the same assignment as one involving a lender, developer requirements or unresolved property documents. Without that information, comparing headline fees may give you a false bargain.
 
Camila is right about complexity, although I wouldn’t let providers avoid giving a usable quote. They can state assumptions and price any additional work separately. For example: base scope under the facts supplied, optional lender coordination, and an hourly or fixed amount for unexpected document problems. What matters is knowing which event triggers extra cost and obtaining approval before it is incurred.
 
I’m not convinced negotiation belongs inside conveyancing by default. Negotiating price and commercial terms may sit more naturally with the buyer and broker, while the conveyancing role concentrates on documenting what was agreed and flagging risks or inconsistencies. Combining everything can be convenient, but the quote should identify who is acting in each capacity and who is ultimately taking instructions from the buyer.
 
The document trail would be my priority. Ask for a written opening checklist, copies of material submissions and correspondence, a record of agreed changes, and a closing statement showing what is payable, to whom and when. Also ask how identity and payment instructions are verified. You should not have to reconstruct the transaction later from calls and scattered chat messages.
 
The cash downside is not just the fee. A missed deadline or unclear condition can leave a buyer making decisions under pressure. Before appointing anyone, ask them to identify the deadlines they will monitor, what they need from you to meet them, and how quickly they escalate a problem. The fallback plan should name another contact who can access the file rather than merely taking a message.
 
I’d send the same one-page request to every candidate and compare the answers in columns: included tasks, exclusions, fixed and variable fees, third-party costs, responsible person, response commitment, document storage, escalation contact and support through closing. Then ask for independent evidence that they understand transactions of this type in Dubai, without relying only on marketing claims. The cheapest quote may still win, but only after the scopes are made genuinely comparable.
 
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