Buying off-plan in Dubai: a simple checklist

Buying off-plan — purchasing a home before it is built — is how much of Dubai's property market works. It can be a straightforward and rewarding way to buy, as long as you check the right things before you sign. Here is a simple checklist.

1. Check the developer and the project registration

Start with who is building. Look at the developer's track record: what have they delivered before, and how did those handovers go? Then confirm that the project itself is registered with the Dubai Land Department. Off-plan projects in Dubai must be registered, and your payments are protected by law through an escrow account — which brings us to the next point.

2. Confirm the escrow account

Your instalments should never go to the developer's general account. By law, off-plan payments go into a project escrow account, and the developer can only draw from it as construction progresses. Ask for the escrow account details and verify them before transferring anything.

3. Read the SPA before you sign it

The sale and purchase agreement — the SPA — is the document that governs everything: the price, the payment plan, the handover date, what happens if there are delays, and what happens if either side withdraws. Read it fully, including the annexes. If anything is unclear, ask questions before signing, not after.

4. Understand the payment plan and the handover date

Make sure the payment schedule in the SPA matches what you were told verbally. Note the expected handover date and check what the contract says about delays — most contracts allow the developer a grace period, and you should know how long it is.

5. Budget for the costs on top of the price

The advertised price is not the final number. The Dubai Land Department charges a 4% registration fee when the contract is registered. Developers have their own administrative fees for booking and contract issuance. And once you own the property, annual service charges apply for the upkeep of the building and its amenities — ask for the current or estimated rate per square foot so there are no surprises later.

6. Work with a licensed broker

A licensed broker is registered with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency and works under its rules. They can verify project registration, explain the paperwork, and flag anything unusual in the contract. Ask to see the broker's card, and never hand money to anyone who cannot show a licence.

7. Keep every document

Keep the booking form, receipts for every payment, the SPA and all correspondence. If a question ever arises about what was agreed, your file is your protection.

The short version

Verify the developer and the project registration, pay only into the escrow account, read the SPA, know the real total cost including the 4% registration fee and service charges, and work with someone licensed. Do those things and off-plan buying becomes a calm, manageable process.

If you are considering an off-plan purchase, browse our properties and send us an enquiry — we will help you check every item on this list for the project you have in mind.