What is a DLD Approved Valuer in Dubai? Why It Matters for Gifting, Golden Visas, and More

Whether you're applying for a Golden Visa, transferring property to a family member, or preparing documents for a mortgage or audit, the accuracy of your property valuation matters. In Dubai, that valuation must often come from a DLD-approved valuer - but many people don’t fully understand what that means or why it's so important.

In this article, we explain what a DLD-approved valuer is, when you're required to use one, and how the right valuation partner can save you time, reduce risk, and ensure regulatory compliance.

What Does DLD-Approved Mean?

A DLD-approved valuer is a real estate valuation firm or professional that has been officially accredited by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) and its regulatory body, RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Agency). This approval confirms that the valuer meets strict requirements for:

• Professional qualifications
• Independence and objectivity
• Technical standards and valuation methodology
• Compliance with RICS, IVS, and DLD valuation frameworks

Only firms on the official DLD valuer register are authorised to issue reports that are accepted for key transactions such as gifting, Golden Visa applications, legal disputes, probate, and Taqeemi certificate issuance.

Why Does It Matter?

Using a non-approved or broker-linked party for valuation might result in reports being rejected by authorities or challenged during transactions. A DLD-approved valuer ensures:

• Your Golden Visa application meets the AED 2 million market value requirement
• A property gift transfer is supported by an official, government-recognised valuation
• You can obtain a Taqeemi Certificate from DLD without delay
• Banks, auditors, and courts will accept your valuation as compliant and professional

In short, approval by DLD gives your valuation legitimacy - and helps prevent regulatory complications or transaction delays.

When is a DLD-Approved Valuation Required?

There are specific situations where DLD-approved valuation is not just advisable - it is mandatory. These include:

• Golden Visa applications using real estate as the qualifying investment
• Gifting property in Dubai between family members, such as parent-to-child transfers
• Taqeemi Certificate issuance for regulatory, planning, or ownership records
• Divorce settlements and estate inheritance cases where property needs to be valued objectively
• Mortgage processing where banks require independent third-party valuations
• Corporate audit and IFRS compliance reporting where property is a balance sheet item

In many of these scenarios, the DLD requires a valuation from a firm listed on their authorised panel - not just any real estate company or developer.

Why Use Archers?

At Archers, we are a DLD-approved valuation firm and RERA-licensed real estate advisory company, with deep experience in Golden Visa valuations, gifting, probate, mortgage, audit, and commercial advisory.

We don’t just issue valuation certificates - we guide you through the full process:

• We inspect the property in line with RICS Red Book Global Standards
• We prepare clear, audit-ready valuation reports for Golden Visa eligibility
• We assist with gifting submissions and liaise with trustees and legal counsel
• We provide advisory support for high-value or complex assets requiring Taqeemi certification
• We deliver fast turnarounds for time-sensitive legal or visa applications

Whether you're an individual, investor, bank, or law firm, our reports are designed to meet both technical and regulatory expectations.

Valuation vs Taqeemi Certificate – What’s the Difference?

It’s important to note that a valuation report from a DLD-approved firm like Archers is not the same as a Taqeemi Certificate - but it can support the application for one.

• A valuation report is produced by a licensed private valuation firm for use in transactions or advisory purposes
• A Taqeemi Certificate is a formal document issued by the DLD, often based on the valuer’s submitted report, and used in public record or government processes

For example, if you're gifting a property or applying for a Golden Visa, the DLD will often require both the valuation report and the Taqeemi certificate as part of their due diligence.

Final Thoughts

Not all valuation reports are created equal. In Dubai, choosing a DLD-approved valuer isn’t just best practice - it's often a legal requirement. Whether you're structuring a family property transfer, applying for a residency visa, or preparing for a corporate audit, working with a qualified and accredited valuation partner ensures your documents are recognised, your process is efficient, and your risk is minimised.

At Archers, we combine regulatory insight with practical advisory experience - so our clients don’t just get a number on paper. They get clarity, compliance, and confidence.

Contact us at archersmena.com to learn more or request your valuation.