1. Passport
2. 20-25% deposit (including Dubai Land Department fee)

1. Passport
2. 20-25% deposit (including Dubai Land Department fee)
3. Emirates ID

Each developer has different payment plans available, but most require 20% down payment and then full payment before handover which is broken up over the time period before handover.

4% Property Registration Fee (Dubai Land Department)
AED 3,000 Oqood Registration (Dubai Land Department)

An off-plan property is an unconstructed property purchased directly from a developer. It’s a property that is yet to be built or in some cases is in the early stages of being built.
In order to purchase this type of property buyers rely on brochures and other marketing material to learn about the project and the exact property they are buying. Purchase is usually made with a 20% down payment and the signing of the SPA (Sales Purchase Agreement). Depending on which developer the rest of the payments made can and do vary but are usually linked to construction.

To help ensure an off-plan project is completed, RERA has introduced numerous measures which must be met by the developer. One of these stipulates that the developer must own 100 percent of the land belonging to the project.
Along with this, the developer must either make a down payment of 20 percent as a bank guarantee, deposit 20 percent in an escrow account, or complete 20 percent of construction before selling off plan. Together with the above measures, RERA requests contractors to submit a 10 percent performance guarantee.
Along with these measures, it’s imperative buyers do their own research and look into developers they are considering buying from. We recommend looking at the developer’s track record as well as reputation.

Generally speaking an off plan property can be sold once the buyer has repaid 30% of the property price.

Numerous measures have been put in place in order to ensure the Dubai market is a stable and secure market to invest in. One of these measures has a direct impact on buyers who look to sell their off plan property before completion.
Dubai’s largest developer Emaar Properties now requires owners to have 30% of their off-plan property paid off before it can be sold to a new owner. This figure of 30% does vary from developer to developer so it’s important to check with each developer.
Once the minimum repayment threshold has been met the process of selling an off-plan property is very similar to selling a ready property. Buyers and sellers agree to price and terms, sign contracts and apply for NOC where the new buyer is registered with the developer and ultimately takes over all the outstanding payments once the transfer is complete.
It is also worth noting that contrary to popular belief, the new buyer is responsible for the 4% DLD Transfer Fee regardless of the fact that this has already been paid by the first buyer.

There are a number of off plan property types available in Dubai. These typically fall into 3 categories; apartments, villas, and townhouses. All of these have different characteristics as well as different advantages and potential disadvantages. Which one is the best option will depend purely on the buyer’s personal needs and wants and of course investment goals.
See our comprehensive Dubai off-plan property Buying Guide for all you need to know when considering an off-plan project.

The purpose of maintenance and service fees is to ensure all common areas are well-kept and maintained to the required standard. This is for the benefit of all current and future residents and owners. The service fee rate is based on the yearly costs required to maintain the common areas. It’s worth noting that this amount is approved and set by RERA and will naturally be different for every project.

Getting a mortgage for an off plan property is definitely possible in most cases and almost always when it comes to the big developers in Dubai. Different lenders will set their own qualifying criteria however this is very similar to what would be applicable for a ready property.
It is worth noting that the maximum loan for an off plan property is 50% of the purchase price.

Buying an off plan property at launch in Dubai involves buying a property as soon it is released or within the following 24-hour period.
It’s something that is often talked about in Dubai simply because buying at launch is often the only time prospective buyers have the opportunity to buy in high-demand projects and/or areas.

Buying a property at launch can be a little tricky, especially in ultra popular projects where there are more buyers than there are units.
To avoid disappointment it’s key to have an experienced and well-connected agent working on your behalf. He/she will have experience working with the developer, an in-depth understanding of the buying cycle and required documents for the sale.
Whilst there are never guarantees, having the support of an experienced agent will put you in a better position to acquire prime units.