Replacement of Residential Plot of Land with Another Residential Plot of Land

The “Residential Land Swap Service” enables UAE nationals to request changing the location of a residential land plot previously granted to them across all areas of the Emirate, either through exchanging with other beneficiaries or with residential lands available with the Authority. The service aims to support family proximity or enable beneficiaries to obtain land with access to basic services, in accordance with clear conditions and regulations that ensure no material benefit is gained and that the exchange process is legally compliant, achieving suitable residential use and decent living standards.
Key Points:
First: Scope of the Land Swap Service 
The land swap is available across all areas of the Emirate with:
•    Other UAE nationals, or
•    Residential lands available with the Authority.
•    The lands to be exchanged must fall within the same geographic zone:
•    Abu Dhabi Island, including its affiliated islands.
•    Other areas affiliated with the Abu Dhabi region.
•    Al Ain Region.
•    Al Dhafra Region.
Second: General Conditions for Eligibility: 
•    The applicant must be a UAE national and hold a Family Book (Khulasat Al Qaid) issued by one of the Emirates.
The land to be exchanged must:
•    Be residential.
•    Not be subdivided.
•    Be free of construction works, except for fencing.
•    Be free from construction obstacles, except for the lack of basic services.
•    Be free of legal impediments and third-party rights such as mortgages.
•    If the land was acquired through sale and purchase:
•    The citizen must not fully own any other residential land.
•    Written consent from the wife/wives is required.
•    Jointly owned lands may be accepted if all partners submit the request and meet all conditions.
•    A widowed female citizen may request a swap of residential land inherited from her deceased husband if she is the sole heir with her minor children; if there are adult children or other heirs, their approval is required as per the inheritance certificate.
Third: Conditions for Swaps Between Citizens: 
•    The exchanged lands must be of suitable size to achieve proper residential use and decent living standards.
•    The purpose of the swap (for one or both parties) must be family proximity.
•    No material benefit, direct or indirect, may be obtained by any party.
The applicant must submit a written undertaking that includes:
•    Committing to visit the competent municipality, pay the prescribed fees, and complete ownership transfer procedures.
•    Not claiming any increase in the alternative land area or any other form of compensation.
•    Not requesting another land swap in the future.
•    Declaring that no financial consideration or any form of compensation other than the alternative residential land has been paid or received.
Fourth: Conditions for Swaps with Government Lands: 
•    The applicant must not fully own any other residential land in the area where the swap is requested within the specified geographic scope.
The purpose of the swap must be:
•    Obtaining land with basic services, or
•    Achieving family proximity.
The applicant must submit a written undertaking that includes:
•    Handing over the residential land to be swapped.
•    Not claiming any increase in the alternative land area or any form of compensation.
•    Not requesting another land swap in the future.
Fifth: Beneficiary Regulations:  
•    A swap request between citizens is not accepted if one of them has previously swapped another citizen’s land with their own; it may be accepted if the previous swap was with government land.
•    A request to swap with government land is not accepted if the applicant previously obtained the land through a prior swap with government land or another citizen’s land.
•    The approval is revoked if any party is found to have obtained a material benefit of any kind, without prejudice to criminal, civil, or administrative liability.
•    The applicant may not withdraw a request to swap with government land after approval is issued.
•    The approval decision is cancelled if any of the exchanging parties or their heirs refuse to pay the prescribed fees or proceed with ownership transfer procedures
 

Official text issued by the competent authorities:
Replacement of Residential Plot of Land with Another Residential Plot of Land
It allows a UAE national to apply for replacement of a residential plot of land previously granted to him/her in any district in the emirate either with another residential plot of land granted to another beneficiary or with another residential plot of land available with Abu Dhabi Housing Authority.

General Conditions for Eligibility for Replacement of Residential Plot of Land with Another Residential Plot of Land:
1.The applicant shall be a UAE national and shall hold a civil entry certificate from one of the UAE's emirates.
2.The plot of land to be replaced shall be residential.
3.The plot of land to be replaced shall not be subdivided.
4.The plot of land to be replaced shall be free of any building, except for a wall.
5.The plot of land to be replaced shall be free of any impediments to construction, except for the lack of basic services.
6.The plot of land to be replaced shall be free of legal impediments and third-party rights, such as mortgage rights, that would prevent the replacement process.
7.In the event that the plot of land to be replaced is acquired through "sale and purchase” process, the applicant shall not solely own any other plot of land.
8.The wife’s/wives’ consent in writing for the replacement.
9.The plots of land to be replaced shall be located within the same geographical area of the following districts:
Abu Dhabi Island, including its affiliated islands.
Other areas affiliated to Abu Dhabi.
Al Ain.
Al Dhafra.
10.An application for replacement of jointly possessed plots of lands may be accepted in the event that the application is submitted by all partners and they meet all the general and special conditions, as appropriate.
11.A UAE widow's application for replacement of a residential plot of land she inherited from her deceased husband may be accepted in the event that she and her minor children are the only heirs of the deceased husband. In the event that either she has adult children or she and her minor children are not the only heirs of the deceased husband, the consent of the other heirs is required, as per the determination of heirs' certificate

Special Conditions for Eligibility for Replacement of Residential Plot of Land with Another Residential Plot of Land:
Application for Replacement of Residential Plot of Land Previously Granted to a Beneficiary with Another Residential Plot of Land Granted to Another Beneficiary:
1.The area of the two residential plots of land be replaced with each other shall be suitable for a use that achieves a decent standard of living.
2.The purpose of one or both parties to the replacement agreement shall be to have a housing closer to where his/her parents reside.
3.There shall be no direct or indirect material benefit of any form to one or both parties to the replacement agreement.
4.The applicant for replacement of residential plot of land previously granted to him/her with another residential plot of land granted to another beneficiary shall submit an undertaking in writing including the following:
A. Commitment to follow up with the relevant municipality, pay the prescribed fees, and complete the ownership transfer procedures.
B. Refraining from claiming any increase in the area of the replacing residential plot of land or any other form of compensation for the replacement.
C. Refraining from applying for replacement of the residential plot of land again.
D. Acknowledging that he/she has not paid or received any financial compensation or any other form of compensation for replacement of the residential plot of land

Application for Replacement of Residential Plot of Land with Government-owned Residential Plot of Land:
1.The applicant shall not solely own a residential plot of land in the area in which the residential plot of land to be replaced, within the geographical area specified in Clause (9) of the General Conditions.
2.The purpose of the replacement shall be either to obtain a plot of land having basic services, or to have a housing closer to where the applicant’s parents reside, or any other purpose accepted by Abu Dhabi Housing Authority.
3.The applicant for replacement of a residential plot of land previously granted to him/her with a government-owned residential plot of land shall submit an undertaking in writing including the following:
A. Handing over the residential plot of land to be replaced.
B. Refraining from claiming any increase in the area of the replacing residential plot of land or any other form of compensation for the replacement.
C. Refraining from applying for replacement of the residential plot of land again

Controls for Beneficiaries of Replacement of Residential Plot of Land with Anther Residential Plot of Land Service:
•    Application for replacement of residential plot of land previously granted to a beneficiary with another residential plot of land granted to another beneficiary shall not be accepted in the event that one of the two beneficiaries has previously replaced his/her residential plot of land with a residential plot of land granted to another beneficiary. However, the application may be accepted in the event that one of the two beneficiaries has previously replaced his/her residential plot of land with a government-owned residential plot of land.
Reference: https://www.iskan.abudhabi/en/Our-Services/Replacement-of-Residential-Plot-of-Land-with-Another-Residential-Plot-of-Land