Property listing websites in Dubai have been encouraged to integrate their systems with the Dubai Land Department’s (DLD) website to ensure that all listings are genuine and not fraudulent.
Haider Khan, CEO of Bayut and Dubizzle Group Mena, stated that integrating the platform with DLD’s system significantly benefits all stakeholders in the UAE real estate market.
“Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, it will significantly increase trust amongst property seekers. Users can be confident that the properties they see are genuine and accurately reflect what’s available in the market. This not only eliminates the frustration of encountering unavailable or outdated listings but ultimately saves valuable time and effort,” said Khan.
Secondly, he said it would streamline the process for real estate agents. “By allowing them to directly check their listings through the integration, agents can ensure their listings are accurate, reducing the risk of fines and ensuring a smoother experience for both agents and their clients.”
On February 14, 2024, the DLD requested that real estate agents in Dubai remove all properties that were not available for sale or rent from their digital platforms within three days. They were also asked to remove any property advertisements that were no longer for sale or rent.
Noncompliant agencies have been fined Dh50,000 as a deterrent measure. Several property brokerages in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have received fines for breaking local laws.
Bayut claims it has reduced its inventory by more than 26% by eliminating a large number of inaccurate listings.
Paul Kelly, operations director at Allsopp and Allsopp, said the DLD initiative to provide live API information to verify listings as well as remove listings once they have sold or let, “is music to the ears of buyers, tenants, investors and owners.”
“From a property seeker point of view, it’s a huge step forward in eradicating the scourge of fake listings and all the frustrations that they bring to buyers and tenants, making a property search easier, more efficient and giving seekers more trust in what they are seeing online,” said Kelly.
“From an owners’ perspective, their listings are getting fair coverage and exposure in the market, and not having to compete with fake listings, which often undercut on price and give the impression of a greater supply in the market,” he added.
Buyers demand accurate listings.
Importantly, property buyers increasingly seek accurate and genuine information about listings.
“Property seekers demand accurate and genuine information and by rigorously checking the authenticity of property listings, we can do our part to ensure that users encounter genuine properties, effectively eliminating misinformation and fostering trust between users and the market. This not only streamlines the process for agents and seekers but also strengthens the integrity of the entire ecosystem,” Khan added.
The Bayut chief said that matching details like permit numbers, property type, price, and location ensure that the properties are genuine, giving users authentic information and accurate prices.
“We have been proactively engaging with agencies and agents, emphasising the urgency and importance of taking corrective action,” he added.
