Buying off-plan in Dubai, step by step.

What buying off-plan means

Buying off-plan means reserving a property before or during construction, directly from the developer. You pay in stages, following a schedule set out in the contract, and you receive the keys at handover.

The appeal is twofold: an entry cost spread over time, and a price fixed at launch on a brand-new home. The risk sits with the developer, the timeline and the market at the moment of handover. That is why choosing the project matters more than anything else.

What protects the buyer

Dubai has built a dedicated framework for off-plan sales. Law No. 8 of 2007 requires buyers' payments to be made into an escrow account opened for the project. The money is released to the developer as construction progresses, under the supervision of RERA.

The project must be registered with the Dubai Land Department, and your purchase is entered in the interim register known as Oqood. This is what makes your right enforceable well before handover.

• Developer and project registered with the DLD and RERA
• Payments into the project's escrow account, never into a personal account
• The sale recorded in the Oqood register
• Construction progress visible in the official Dubai REST app

The steps of a purchase

It all starts with the reservation: a booking form, a copy of your passport and a deposit paid into the project account. The sale and purchase agreement (SPA) is then sent to you, and is often signed electronically, wherever you live.

The developer registers the sale in Oqood, which triggers the Dubai Land Department fee: 4% of the price, plus administrative fees. You will find the full breakdown in my guide to Dubai property buying costs. The payment-plan instalments then follow until handover.

• Reservation and deposit
• Signing the sale and purchase agreement (SPA)
• Oqood registration and DLD fee
• Instalments during construction
• Inspection, final balance and handover of the keys

How I choose a project

I look first at the developer: its delivery track record, the quality of the buildings it has already handed over, and its financial strength. Then the location: genuine rental demand in the area, upcoming supply, and access.

Finally, the numbers: the price per square foot compared with completed homes nearby, the payment plan, the expected service charges, and an exit scenario, whether renting or selling. A beautiful showroom never replaces those lines.

Reselling before handover

Most contracts allow you to assign your unit before handover, once a share of the price set by the developer has been paid. The developer then charges a transfer fee, stated in the contract.

This option is useful, but it should never be the only plan. I always show you a scenario in which you keep the property through handover and beyond.

Simulate before you book

Before any reservation, simulate your instalments and the cash you will need along the way. The free OffPlanSimulator shows every payment, from booking to keys. To learn how to read the schedule itself, see how off-plan payment plans work.