Facts checked on October 18, 2026
What does off-plan mean in Dubai?
Off-plan means buying from plans, often before construction starts. You sign a sale and purchase agreement with the developer and pay in stages until handover, sometimes after it too.
A developer may only sell once it is registered, holds the land and has written approval from the Dubai Land Department. Contracts signed without that approval are void under the law.
Oqood: registering your purchase
Every off-plan sale must be entered in the Dubai Land Department's interim register, known as Oqood. A sale that is not registered there is void.
The developer files the application through the Oqood portal and you receive the registration certificate by email. The fee is again 4% of the price, split equally between buyer and seller by law.
Always ask for this certificate. It is your proof that the sale is officially on record.
Escrow: where your money goes
Law No. 8 of 2007 requires a developer to open an escrow account per project at an accredited bank. All your payments go into that account and may only be spent on building that project.
The developer's creditors cannot attach that money. After completion the bank retains 5% until one year after the units are registered in the buyers' names.
Never pay into a personal account or an ordinary company account. If the account number differs from the escrow account, stop and ask why.
Dubai off-plan payment plans and what happens if you cannot pay
The payment plan is set in your contract and differs per project. A mortgage covers at most 50% of the value of an off-plan property, and the bank uses your own contribution first.
If you fall behind, the Dubai Land Department first gives you 30 days to pay. After that, the outcome depends on how far construction has progressed.
At 80% or more, the developer may keep all payments and claim the balance. Below that, it may terminate and keep part, up to 40% or 25% of the contract value. It must refund the rest within a year, or within 60 days of reselling the unit.
Reselling before handover is governed by your contract, not by law. Read that clause before you sign.
What to check before you sign
In my conversations I go through these points with every buyer, even when the project is well known.
- The project status on the Dubai Land Department website or in the Dubai REST app: registration date, planned completion, escrow bank and inspections.
- That the listing has a valid QR code and the broker holds a RERA card.
- The payment plan and what the contract says about construction delays.
- The rules for reselling or assigning the contract before handover.
- The expected service charges and the jointly owned property declaration.
- Whether you plan to live in it, rent it out or sell it later, since that decides which project fits.
After handover
After the completion certificate, the developer moves the unit to the main property register. It goes into your name once you have met the contract. Any increase in area cannot be charged extra after delivery.
The developer is liable for structural defects for ten years and for minor defects for one year, both from the completion certificate.
Frequently asked questions
What does off-plan mean in Dubai?
Off-plan means buying a property from the developer before it is completed. You pay in instalments under a payment plan, into the project's escrow account.
Is buying off-plan in Dubai safe?
The law protects buyers through mandatory escrow accounts, Oqood registration and ten years of developer liability for structural defects. Delays remain a risk, so check the project and the contract carefully.
How do Dubai off-plan payment plans work?
You pay the developer in stages set out in the sale contract, usually during construction and at handover. Each project has its own plan, and all payments go into escrow.
Can I get a mortgage for an off-plan property in Dubai?
Yes, but under Central Bank rules a bank lends at most 50% of the value for off-plan. You pay the rest from your own funds.
