Property portals must avoid displaying any data that could reveal owner details.
If you’re planning to sell your home, keep in mind that under new regulations, unit numbers can no longer be shown in listings.
Dubai: Property portals in Dubai are now required to take extra precautions when advertising properties for sale in the secondary market. Under new regulations, these platforms can no longer display ‘unit numbers’ in property listings.
Previously, unit numbers were used to provide specific details about a property’s transaction history and other related information. However, this practice also made ownership details publicly accessible. With the removal of unit numbers, property portals will now comply with the UAE’s Personal Data Protection Law, ensuring greater privacy for property owners.
Moving forward, property listings will only include general location information, such as the building and area, along with the asking price. Specific unit numbers will be excluded to safeguard privacy.
“At the end of the day, investors trust us with their confidential data. It is our responsibility to live up to that, especially in a data-driven world.”
Hanishka Gehani of Zabadani Real Estate.
Data Protection Priority:
Hanishka Gehani, Director of Zabadani Real Estate, emphasized the importance of maintaining confidentiality in a data-driven world. “At the end of the day, investors trust us with their confidential data. It is our responsibility to uphold that trust, especially as privacy concerns grow.”
Under the UAE Data Protection Law, individuals have greater control over how their personal information is used publicly. In the context of secondary property sales, showing unit numbers allowed real estate agents to access transaction and ownership records, which could compromise owner privacy. The new rule by the Dubai Land Department aims to protect this sensitive information.
This is part of broader efforts by the Dubai Land Department to regulate property advertising practices. In recent months, the department has also introduced requirements for brokers to obtain pre-approval before listing properties for sale, as well as limits on the number of agents allowed to market a particular property.
Preventing Misuse Of Ownership Information:
Industry experts note that displaying unit numbers could lead to misuse by brokers and other real estate entities. For instance, brokers could access ownership details from the Land Department records and initiate unsolicited calls to property owners, even if they had already contracted another agent.
By removing unit numbers from advertisements, this practice of cold calling is expected to decrease significantly. As Gehani stated, “With the removal of unit numbers from ads, much of that unwanted outreach will disappear.”
The new directive reflects Dubai’s ongoing commitment to improving data protection and ensuring privacy for property owners, enhancing trust within the real estate sector.
