{"id":4377,"date":"2026-10-10T06:04:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T06:04:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/real-dubai.com\/buy-off-plan-dubai"},"modified":"2026-10-10T16:19:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T16:19:17","slug":"buy-off-plan-dubai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/real-dubai.com\/en\/buy-off-plan-dubai","title":{"rendered":"Buying off-plan in Dubai: how your money is protected with the developer"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Guide \u00b7 Buying from a developer<\/div>

Buying off-plan in Dubai: how your money is protected with the developer<\/h1>

Off-plan means you buy a home that doesn\u2019t exist yet \u2013 from the plans, directly from the developer. That has advantages, and it has risks. Dubai has strict rules that protect your money. Those who know them buy with peace of mind. Those who ignore them may, in the worst case, buy an empty promise.<\/p>

Updated: October 2026 \u00b7 Reading time approx. 7 minutes<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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In short:<\/b> When buying off-plan in Dubai, your money goes into a trust account (escrow) that may only be used to build your specific project. And the purchase must be entered in the Oqood register within 90 days \u2013 otherwise it is void.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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In this guide<\/strong>
  1. Why buy off-plan at all?<\/a><\/li>
  2. How buying from a developer works<\/a><\/li>
  3. The escrow account: your most important protection<\/a><\/li>
  4. Oqood: no registration, no valid purchase<\/a><\/li>
  5. Financing off-plan<\/a><\/li>
  6. Checklist before you sign<\/a><\/li>
  7. What does an agent cost for off-plan?<\/a><\/li>
  8. FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    Why buy off-plan at all?<\/h2>

    Three reasons speak for buying off-plan: you pay in instalments according to a payment plan, often over several years, instead of the full price at once. You get a new home built to today\u2019s standards. And you lock in today\u2019s price for a home that will only be finished in two or three years.<\/p>

    The price for that: you wait for completion, receive no rent in the meantime and have to trust the developer. Dubai has turned exactly this trust into rules. We explain the most important ones here.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t

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    How buying from a developer works<\/h2>
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    1. Sales contract:<\/b> You sign the Sale and Purchase Agreement directly with the developer. It sets out the price, the payment plan and the planned completion date.<\/li>\n
    2. Oqood registration:<\/b> The developer must register the purchase in the interim register, known as Oqood, within 90 days. You pay the 4% registration fee to the Dubai Land Department at this point, not at handover.<\/li>\n
    3. Payments according to the payment plan:<\/b> You pay in instalments, usually linked to construction progress \u2013 into the project\u2019s escrow account.<\/li>\n
    4. Completion and handover:<\/b> Once the project is finished, handover and registration as owner follow. Only then do you receive the title deed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>

      All costs at a glance: Buying costs for property in Dubai<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t

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      The escrow account: your most important protection<\/h2>

      A developer may only sell homes off-plan if the project is registered with the Dubai Land Department and an escrow account has been opened. Your payments go into this account and may only be used to build that specific project.<\/p>

      So that not just anyone can register a project, the developer must also provide one of three things:<\/p>