Dubai Land Department (DLD) was founded in May 1960 to establish the most prominent real estate sector at regional and international levels.

DLD provides outstanding services to all its customers and develops the necessary legislation to propel the real estate sector in Dubai by organising and promoting real estate investment, and spreading industry knowledge. DLD seeks regional and worldwide innovation in real estate with the aid of its active sectors that include Real Estate Registration and Services, Real Estate Promotion and Investment Management, and Corporate Support, as well as with the aid of its active organisations that include the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, the Dubai Real Estate Institute, and the Rental Dispute Centre.

DLD was formerly known in the 1950s as the Land Registry Department. It was the first entity to handle properties and ownership affairs until HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, one of the Founding Fathers of the UAE and its Union rules, established the Land Affairs Commission, granting it the authority to document and audit certificates, and examine and map properties.

HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, a veteran and a man known for his expertise and insightful policy, issued the Land and Property Department establishment papers on 23rd January, 1960, founding the most important real estate sector in the Middle East and the world.