Off-plan means buying a home from the developer before it is finished, and paying for it in stages. It is how many buyers enter the Dubai market, because the price is fixed at launch and the payments are spread over the build. This guide explains the common payment plans, how your money is protected and what to check before you sign. Figures are as of September 2026.
The common payment plans
| Plan | During construction | On handover | After handover |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60/40 | 60%, in instalments | 40% | None |
| 80/20 | 80%, in instalments | 20% | None |
| 50/50 | 50%, in instalments | 50% | None |
| Post-handover | For example 40% | For example 20% | The rest over one to three years |
Instalments are linked to dates or to construction milestones, such as the completion of the structure. A plan with more to pay on handover keeps your money with you for longer, and suits buyers who intend to take a mortgage when the home is finished. A post-handover plan lets rent from the finished home help with the last payments.
Worked example: AED 1,500,000 on a 60/40 plan
| When | What you pay | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| On booking | 20% of the price | AED 300,000 |
| On registration | 4% Dubai Land Department fee | AED 60,000 |
| During construction | 40% in instalments | AED 600,000 |
| On handover | 40% | AED 600,000 |
The agency commission on an off-plan purchase is normally paid by the developer, not by the buyer. For the full list of fees, see what it costs to buy property in Dubai.
How your money is protected
- Registered projects only. Off-plan sales are regulated by RERA. A developer must own the land and register the project before selling.
- Escrow. Your payments go into an escrow account for that project, not to the developer’s general funds. Money is released against construction progress.
- Your purchase is on record. The sale is registered with the Dubai Land Department, so your right to the home is recorded from the start, long before the title deed is issued at handover.
What to check before you sign
- The developer’s record. What have they delivered, and was it on time? We only place clients with developers whose delivery record we know.
- The sale and purchase agreement. The handover date, what happens if it is late, and the specification of the finished home.
- The payment schedule in full. Every date and amount, including what is due on handover.
- The estimated service charge. It decides your net return once the home is let.
- The exit. The share of the price you must have paid before you are allowed to resell, commonly 30% to 40%.
Selling before handover
You can usually sell an off-plan home before it is finished, once you have paid the minimum share set by the developer. The developer issues a no-objection certificate and the new buyer takes over the remaining payments.
Financing the handover payment
Banks lend against a finished home, so a mortgage can cover the payment due on handover. Start the pre-approval three to four months before the handover date. Our in-house mortgage specialist arranges this.
See the launches we are placing clients into, read about the developers we work with, or ask us to compare the payment plans of the projects you are considering, side by side.
Опубликовано September 28, 2026 · обновлено September 28, 2026 · Savos Realty, офис RERA № 41486