A parent to child transfer is the gifting of property from a parent to their child, registered at the DLD as a gift between first-degree relatives. It is one of the most common qualifying gift transfers and attracts the reduced gift fee.
Where you’ll see it
You’ll see this transfer used in family and estate planning, to pass property to the next generation during the parent’s lifetime. It is registered like other transfers, but on a gift basis, with attested proof of the parent-child relationship.
Why it matters
Transferring during the parent’s lifetime can simplify matters compared with leaving the property to be dealt with through inheritance, and it benefits from the reduced gift fee. But it is a real transfer of ownership, so the parent gives up the property — a decision with lasting consequences worth careful thought.
What it is not
A parent to child transfer is not an inheritance — it happens during the parent’s lifetime, not on death. It is also not a sale; no price is paid, and the reduced gift fee reflects that.
Example
A parent gifts a villa to their adult child, registering the transfer as a first-degree gift at the reduced fee, supported by an attested birth certificate proving the relationship.
Connected documents and parties
Gift deed, attested birth certificate, title deed, IDs; parent, child, DLD.
Going deeper: for arranging a lifetime family transfer, see a Dubai conveyancing specialist.
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