Off-plan
Seven checks before you commit to an off-plan launch
Launch events in Dubai are designed to make you decide on the day. Our advice is the opposite: decide before the day, with seven questions answered in writing.
1. Is the project registered and in escrow?
Every off-plan project in Dubai must be registered with the Dubai Land Department and take payments into a regulated escrow account. Ask for the project number and the escrow account details, and check them against the official register. Never pay into an account that differs from the one on the register.
2. What has this developer delivered before?
Look at the last three projects: were they handed over on time, did the finish match the show apartment, and how have they resold? A well-known name is not enough; delivery is what matters.
3. Does the payment plan suit your cash flow?
A 60/40 plan means 60% is paid during construction. Map every instalment against your own cash flow, including the 4% land department fee due at reservation. A cheap entry price on a plan you can’t fund is not a bargain.
4. When can you resell, and at what cost?
Most developers allow resale after 30–40% of the price is paid, sometimes with a transfer fee. Know the threshold and the fee before you buy; it shapes your exit.
5. What are finished homes nearby worth today?
Compare the launch price per square foot with finished resales in the same community. If the launch is priced above them, the growth story has already been paid for.