Buyer guide · Dubai

How to buy off-plan property in Dubai

Step by step: from the first shortlist to the keys — what happens, what you sign and where your money goes.

Ask a question on WhatsAppOff-plan projects in Dubai

The purchase in six steps

1Brief and shortlistBudget, area, bedrooms, handover year, for living or for rent. We send three to five projects with price lists and floor plans.
2Choosing the unitFloor, view and layout decide the price inside one project. We check the unit on the master plan and what will be built in front of it.
3BookingYou sign the booking form and pay the down payment — usually 5–20% of the price — to the escrow account of the project.
4Contract and registrationThe sale and purchase agreement is signed, and the purchase is registered with the Dubai Land Department (Oqood). The 4% registration fee is paid at this stage.
5InstalmentsYou pay by the plan — by construction stages or by dates. Every payment goes to the escrow account.
6HandoverInspection of the unit, the final payment, the keys and the title deed in your name.

How your money is protected

Every payment for an off-plan unit goes to the escrow account of the project, and the purchase itself is registered with the Dubai Land Department. If the regulator cancels a project, the payments are refunded. After the handover the developer answers for structural defects for 10 years and for mechanical, electrical and sanitary installations for one year.

What you need

  • A passport — a foreigner can buy in the freehold areas without a residence visa.
  • The down payment and the 4% registration fee.
  • You do not have to fly in: the documents can be signed remotely, and we show the project on a video call.

What it costs to work with us

Nothing extra for the buyer: when you buy from the developer through us, the developer pays our commission, and the price is the same as in the developer's price list.

Questions and answers

Can I sell an off-plan unit before the handover?

Usually yes, after you have paid the share of the price set by the developer. The exact share is written in the contract — we check it before you book.

What if I stop paying?

The developer may terminate the contract through the Land Department and keep a part of what you have paid, depending on how far the building is completed. Tell us in advance — there are usually ways to solve it.

More guides

Off-plan payment plans in Dubai explainedThe cost of buying property in Dubai: all feesDubai Golden Visa through propertyOff-plan or ready property in Dubai: what to chooseWhere off-plan is being built in Dubai: the areas with the most projectsRenting out property in Dubai: the rules for landlordsA will for a foreign property owner in DubaiBuying property in Dubai from abroadBelow-market property deals in Dubai: how they workHow to sell your property in Dubai

Have a question about buying in Dubai?

Write to us on WhatsApp — we answer the same day, check the availability and send the floor plans and the payment plan.

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