Off-Plan Properties & New Projects in Dubai

Buying off-plan property in Dubai: a guide

An off-plan property is one you buy from the developer before it is finished, often before construction starts. You pay in stages while the building goes up, and you receive the keys at handover. Buyers choose it for the lower entry price, the payment plan, and a brand-new home in a newly planned community.

Right now we list 1,163 off-plan projects from 314 developers across 80 communities, with prices starting at AED 460,000 and a typical starting price of about AED 1,745,848.

How buying off-plan works

1. Choose the project and unit. Compare the developer's track record, the location, the floor plan and the expected handover date.
2. Reserve it. You pay a booking deposit, usually 10% to 20% of the price, to take the unit off the market.
3. Sign the sale agreement (SPA). It sets the price, the payment schedule, the handover date and what happens if either side is late.
4. Register with the Dubai Land Department. Off-plan sales are recorded in the Oqood register, and the DLD fee of 4% of the price is paid at this stage.
5. Pay the instalments. Payments go into the project's escrow account, which RERA oversees, not straight to the developer.
6. Take handover. Inspect the unit for defects (a snagging check), pay any balance due, and receive the keys and the title deed.

Payment plans

Each developer sets its own plan. A common shape is a deposit, instalments tied to construction milestones, and a final payment at handover, for example 60/40 or 70/30. Some projects offer post-handover plans, where part of the price is paid over one to five years after you move in. Plans differ between projects and even between launches of the same project, so ask us for the current terms on any project you are considering.

The costs to plan for

• DLD fee: 4% of the purchase price, plus a small admin fee for the Oqood registration.
• Service charges: start once the building is handed over.
• Mortgage costs: only if you finance the balance at handover.

Off-plan or ready property?

Off-plan usually costs less at the start and spreads the payments over time, and a good project can rise in value before it is finished. The trade-off is the wait: you cannot live in it or let it until handover, and completion dates can slip. A ready property costs more up front but can be lived in or rented out straight away. If you need rental income now, buy ready. If you can wait two to four years, off-plan gives you more home for the same deposit.

How to choose a project

• The developer: look at what they have already delivered, and whether it was on time. Our developer pages list each one's projects.
• The location: check transport, schools and what is planned nearby. Our community guides cover each area.
• The handover date: match it to when you need to move in or start renting out.
• The budget: start from the budget bands above, and leave room for the 4% DLD fee.

Off-plan questions buyers ask us

For the wider Dubai off-plan market, visit our sister portal OffPlans.com.