Real estate unit sorting is a service provided by the Real Estate General Authority (REGA), which describes it as dividing buildings and real estate complexes into independent units, determining each unit's share of the land and common areas, then issuing an independent deed for each unit. With an independent deed you can sell, mortgage or finance the apartment like any independent property. But not every building can be sorted straight away; there are official requirements and technical ones that are often discovered late. This guide explains the official requirements, which properties can be sorted, the conditions that hold up old buildings, and how to assess your building before applying.
Official Requirements
According to REGA's "electronic sorting request" service page:
- An electronic deed. Read: Updating a paper deed to electronic.
- A building permit.
- An electricity meter for each unit and a meter for the common parts.
The sorting service also requires a plan of the property in AutoCAD format.
Properties That Can Be Sorted
REGA notes the variety of properties that can be sorted: commercial, residential and mixed-use, and the variety of unit types that can be sorted. Read: Sorting commercial units and offices.
Table: The Requirement and What to Check
| Requirement | What to check | Common problem |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic deed | Updated and matching the ground | A paper deed or a different area |
| Building permit | The building matches the permit | An extra floor or unlicensed changes |
| Separate meters | A meter per unit and one for common parts | One meter for several apartments |
| AutoCAD plan | Matches the as-built building | Old drawings that do not reflect reality |
What Does a "Separate Meter" Mean?
Each unit needs its own electricity meter, and the common parts need a separate meter. This is one of the conditions most often discovered late in old apartment buildings. Read: Design mistakes that prevent sorting a building.
The Building Permit
A building permit is one of the requirements. Buildings without a permit, or that violate their permit, need to be resolved first. Read: Bought a building without a permit?.
How to Assess Your Building Before Applying
- Review the deed and the permit.
- Survey the as-built building and compare it with the permit.
- List the meters and the common parts.
- Prepare the sorting plan in AutoCAD format.
To assess your building: Is your building eligible for sorting?, and for the steps: Unit sorting application steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can villas be sorted into apartments?
Sorting is for buildings and complexes divided into independent units; the office determines whether this is possible based on the building and the permit.
Who submits the sorting request?
The owner or developer through the online page, and the engineering office surveys the property and submits the request.
Must all the apartments be complete?
Sorting relies on an as-built building matching the sorting plan; off-plan projects have a different route. Read: Off-plan unit sorting.
How long does sorting take?
Read: Unit sorting duration.
Why are sorting requests rejected?
Usually for missing documents or a building that does not match. Read: Sorting documents and reasons for rejection.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office that assesses your building's eligibility for sorting, surveys it, prepares the sorting plan in AutoCAD format, and submits and follows the request until the deeds are issued. See our residential and commercial unit sorting drawings service, or contact us.
Regulatory information is based on the Balady platform and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and procedures may be updated by the competent authority. Last reviewed: October 2026.