Summary
Step-by-step verification of an electronic deed on Najiz and the Real Estate Registry, how to match it against the property, and the risks the online check alone will not reveal.
The electronic deed: what it is and what it proves
The Ministry of Justice has converted most paper deeds into electronic deeds recorded in its system, and the electronic deed is now the recognised document for proving and transferring ownership. It shows the registered owner, the property description (location, plan, plot number, area, boundaries and side lengths), and the deed's date and origin.
It does not necessarily prove that the property is free of obligations, that what is built on it is permitted, or that the registered owner is the only actual owner where heirs or partners have not been updated. The gap between "who owns on paper" and "what is the property's real status" is the core of due diligence.
Step 1: check on Najiz
The Najiz platform offers a real estate deed verification service. Enter the deed number and the owner's ID number as provided by the seller, and the deed's status and basic data appear. Confirm that the deed is "valid" rather than cancelled or replaced, that the name and ID number match the seller's original ID in front of you, and that the deed number and date match the copy you were sent.
Do not rely on a deed image sent over WhatsApp. Images are easily edited; the official enquiry is what counts. If the seller refuses to give you the deed and ID numbers for the check, that is a warning sign in itself.
Step 2: the Real Estate Registry
The Real Estate Registry is being rolled out in phases by region and district, with the aim that the registry entry becomes the final reference for ownership and rights over a property. In regions already covered, the property is also checked in the registry and its data matched against the deed.
If the property lies in a covered area but has not yet been registered, ask why and make registration part of the sale conditions, because an unregistered property inside an announced zone may face restrictions on disposal later.
Step 3: match the deed to the ground
Compare the deed's area, boundaries and side lengths with the approved plan and the actual property. Common gaps: a built area larger than the deed (encroachment on neighbouring land or on the statutory setback), a deed for vacant land where the building is unpermitted, or a deed for an apartment without an approved subdivision plan. Every discrepancy must be explained and resolved before the purchase, not after.
For large properties or land, a licensed surveyor produces a survey matched to coordinates, a small cost compared with a boundary dispute that lasts years.
What the online check alone will not show
Even after verifying the deed on Najiz and the registry, risks remain that no enquiry screen shows: a bank mortgage or disposal ban, an enforcement seizure over the owner's debts, a pending lawsuit over the property, un-updated heirs' shares, an expired or insufficient power of attorney, municipal violations or a demolition order, outstanding white-land fees, or a registered lease that limits when you can take possession.
These are the searches a lawyer runs with the competent authorities and sets out in a written report. A valid deed is the starting point of due diligence, not the end. See the complete due diligence guide, or request a property check before you pay.