New developments

What off-plan means, and how it differs from ready property

Off-plan means buying a unit before construction is finished, usually directly from the developer, at the price and payment plan set out in that project's own documents. Ready property is already built: title can be transferred immediately, and the buyer can move in or rent it out right away, without waiting for handover.

How a payment plan works, and what "30/70" and "post-handover" mean

Every off-plan project has its own payment schedule, set by the developer and published on that project's own page, not here. "30/70" is a common shorthand on this market for a payment structure where the first share is paid before handover and the second closer to or after it. "Post-handover" means part of the price can be paid after the buyer already holds the keys, spread over months or years past completion. The exact percentages, milestones and whether a project offers post-handover terms at all are set by each developer, and Republic only publishes them once a project's official page confirms them.

How a buyer's money is protected

In Dubai, money paid for an off-plan unit must go into an escrow account, a bank account tied to that specific project, from which the developer can only draw funds for construction of that project. This requirement comes from Law No. (8) of 2007 concerning real estate development escrow accounts, administered by the Dubai Land Department (DLD). Before paying, a buyer can check a project's registration and escrow account through DLD's "Project Status" service (Mashrooi), available on dubailand.gov.ae and in the Dubai REST app: it shows completion percentage, developer, managing company and the escrow bank.

• Law No. (8) of 2007 on escrow accounts, dubailand.gov.ae
• DLD "Project Status" service (Mashrooi), dubailand.gov.ae

Source: dubailand.gov.ae, accessed 22 Sep 2026.

Risks, and what happens when timelines slip

The main risk of off-plan sits with the developer: the unit exists on paper for now, and construction can be delayed or, in rare cases, stopped. An escrow account and DLD registration reduce the risk of losing money outright, since the developer can't spend it outside that project, but they don't guarantee a handover date. Treat a launch-stage handover date as expected, not final, and check current status through the same DLD Project Status service before making large payments.

Where off-plan pays off, and where it's riskier than ready

Off-plan typically has a lower entry price at launch, a payment schedule stretched over months or years, and room for the price to rise by handover, but the buyer can't view or rent out the unit until construction finishes, and the timeline depends on the developer. Ready property can be inspected before you commit and occupied or rented immediately, but it's usually paid in full up front, at a price that's no longer a launch price.

How to choose by developer and by area

A developer's track record and an area's fundamentals matter as much as the project itself. Republic has a page for each developer, with history, DLD registry status and delivered projects, and a page for each area, with infrastructure, transport and who else is building nearby.

Frequently asked questions

Does buying off-plan qualify for a UAE residency visa?

Residency visa rules for property investment are set by UAE migration authorities, not by a developer or by Republic, so we don't publish specific thresholds on this page without an official, dated source. Check current requirements with GDRFA Dubai (gdrfad.gov.ae) or ICP (icp.gov.ae), or with our team at the point of purchase.

What happens if the developer misses the handover date?

Remedies for a delayed handover are set out in the sale and purchase agreement with the developer, not by one market-wide rule. DLD tracks registered projects through the Project Status service referenced above, which is a way to check current progress, not a guarantee. Read the agreement's delay clauses before signing.

Are there costs beyond the unit price?

Registration fees and other transaction costs are collected in our buyer costs guide and one-off costs calculator, not repeated here, so the numbers don't drift out of sync in two places.

Can an off-plan unit be resold before handover?

Assignment, reselling an off-plan unit before handover, is generally possible but needs the developer's consent and DLD paperwork, usually after a share of the price has been paid. That share and any transfer fee are set by each developer and project; we don't publish one market-wide figure without a source.