Off-plan or ready? Six checks before you pay a developer.
Dubai has some of the strongest off-plan buyer protections anywhere. They only work if you check that they apply to the project in front of you.
Off-plan lets you buy at today's price and pay in stages while the building goes up. Ready property gives you a home or rental income from day one. The right choice depends on what the money is for, but the checks on an off-plan project are the same every time.
How they compare
The escrow law protects your money from being spent elsewhere. It does not protect you from a building that is finished late.
Six checks before you pay
The project is registered, and the advert carries a permit
Off-plan projects must be registered with RERA, the DLD's regulator, before sales start. Property adverts in Dubai must show a Trakheesi permit number and QR code. Scan it and check it matches the project.
Your money goes into the project escrow account
Under Law No. 8 of 2007, payments for an off-plan unit go into an escrow account for that specific project, held by an approved bank. Check the account named in your contract, and never pay into a personal or general company account.
The construction progress is real
The DLD publishes the status and completion percentage of registered projects, which you can check in the Dubai REST app. Compare it with what the payment plan says should have happened by now.
Your purchase is registered on Oqood
Under Law No. 13 of 2008, an off-plan sale must be entered in the DLD's interim register. Ask for your Oqood certificate after you sign and pay the 4%. It is your proof of ownership until the title deed is issued.
The developer has delivered before
Look at their last three handovers. Were they on time, how is the finish holding up, and how do resale prices compare with launch prices?
You understand the contract
Read the sale and purchase agreement for the handover date, what happens if it slips, and the developer's rules and fees for reselling before completion.
Stress-test the handover payment. On a 60/40 plan, 40% is due at handover. If you plan to fund it with a mortgage, the bank lends against its own valuation, not the price you agreed.
Budget for service charges from handover, not from when you move in or find a tenant.
Selling before handover usually needs the developer's consent, and often a minimum share of the price paid first. Check this if your plan is to sell early.
Which suits you
Off-plan tends to suit buyers with a longer horizon who want to spread their payments, or who want a new home in a community that is only available off-plan.
Ready property suits buyers who need to move in or earn rent straight away, who need a mortgage now, or who want to apply for a Golden Visa without waiting on a project.
Common questions
Is off-plan property safe in Dubai?
Dubai's escrow law and the Oqood register give off-plan buyers real protection, provided the project is registered and your payments go into its escrow account. They do not prevent delays.
What is Oqood?
The Dubai Land Department's interim register for off-plan sales. It records you as the buyer of the unit before the title deed exists.
Do I pay an agency fee on off-plan property?
Usually not. Developers normally pay the agent's commission on off-plan sales.
Can I sell off-plan property before handover?
Often yes, with the developer's consent. Many developers require a minimum share of the price to be paid first, and charge a fee.
Law No. 8 of 2007 on Real Estate Development Escrow Accounts in the Emirate of Dubai
Law No. 13 of 2008 Regulating the Interim Real Property Register in the Emirate of Dubai
General information, correct as of November 2026. Rules and practices change, so confirm the current position before you commit. AHR Real Estate does not give legal advice.
Weighing up an off-plan project?
Send us the project name. We will run these six checks and tell you plainly what we find.