Buying off-plan in Dubai can work very well, and it can go wrong when buyers skip the basics. Use these 12 checks before you pay any deposit. If any answer is vague, ask for it in writing.
The developer
Has this developer delivered before?
Ask for handed-over projects and visit one. Compare the promised handover date with the real one, and look at build quality and service charges.
Is the project registered?
Ask for the project registration and advertising permit numbers and check them with Dubai Land Department (RERA). A genuine project has them.
The money
Do payments go to an escrow account?
Instalments should go into the project’s escrow account, never to the developer’s or an agent’s personal account. Ask for the account details in writing.
Get the full payment schedule in writing
Dates, percentages and what triggers each instalment. Check how the instalments follow construction progress, and what the booking deposit is.
Know the total cost, not just the price
Ask for the full list of fees on top of the price (Dubai Land Department registration, agency fee, mortgage costs if you borrow, and service charges after handover). Fees and rates change, so ask for the current ones.
Ask about refunds
Get the booking deposit terms in writing: what is refundable, until when, and on what conditions.
The paperwork
Check the Oqood registration
Off-plan sales are registered with Dubai Land Department (Oqood). Ask for your registration and keep a copy.
Read the sale and purchase agreement
Look at the handover date, the delay clauses, the specification, and the rules if you want to sell or assign your unit before handover.
The home
Confirm the exact unit
Unit number, floor, size, view and parking, matched to the price list and the floor plan you were shown.
Compare the price per sqft with real sales
Use recorded sales for the area, not the brochure. Our Dubai prices page shows 12-month Dubai Land Department sales for 101 areas.
Separate what exists from what is planned
Roads, metro, schools and shops: which are already open, and which are promised for later?
Your plan
Decide your exit before you buy
Will you live in it, rent it or resell it? Check expected rent, resale rules and, for non-residents, mortgage options.
Send us the project you are considering
A Throne specialist will check it against this list and send you the answers: developer record, payment plan, fees and price per sqft. Free, no obligation.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Rules, fees and requirements change; confirm the current ones for your purchase.
