How to present an off plan property in Dubai

An off plan buyer is paying for something that does not exist yet. They want to know who is building it, where their money goes and when they get the keys. A good listing answers those questions before the first call.

What off plan buyers ask first

• Who is the developer, and what have they finished before?
• Where does my money go?
• What is the payment plan, and how much is due at booking?
• When is handover, and what happens if it is late?
• Is my purchase registered?

When your page answers these, the first call is about the unit, not about whether to trust you.

Escrow, in plain words

Dubai law (Law No. 8 of 2007) requires off plan payments to go into an escrow account for the project, not straight to the developer. Money is released to the developer as construction moves forward. Tell buyers this. Many overseas buyers do not know it, and it is one of the main reasons they feel safe buying off plan in Dubai.

Oqood registration

When an off plan unit is sold, the sale is registered with the Dubai Land Department through Oqood, its system for off plan sales. This gives the buyer an official record of the purchase while the building is still going up. The title deed follows after handover.

Showing the payment plan

Developers usually give payment plans as percentages: a share at booking, instalments during construction, and the rest at handover or after it. Write the plan as a short list, with a percentage and a moment for each payment. Then add the amounts for this unit, so the buyer does not have to work them out.

For example: 10% at booking, 50% during construction in five instalments, 40% at handover. Say that this is the developer’s plan, that it can change, and the date you checked it.

Always show the full price as well as the booking amount. Leading with the booking amount alone makes the unit look cheaper than it is, and buyers who find out later stop trusting you.

Handover dates

Use the date the developer gives, and say that it is the developer’s estimate. Do not round it to sound sooner. Buyers remember the date you told them.

Setting it up on My Property Pages

Put the payment plan and the handover date in the highlights, so they appear near the top of the page. Upload the developer’s brochure as a PDF, so buyers can download it from the page. Add the permit number, which every UAE listing needs. If you sell several unit types in one project, make one page for each type, so each page has the right size and price.

This page is a plain guide, not legal or financial advice. Buyers should read the sale agreement and check the developer and project with the Dubai Land Department.

More guides

• What a Dubai property advert must show
• Answering overseas buyers as a Dubai agent
• My Property Pages for agents in the UAE

At a glance

Escrow	Law No. 8 of 2007. Payments go into the project’s escrow account.
Registration	Oqood, the Dubai Land Department’s system for off plan sales.
Payment plan	A short list of percentages, with the amounts for this unit.
Handover	The developer’s date, shown as an estimate.
Permit	Required on the advert, as for any Dubai listing.
Brochure	The developer’s PDF, as a download on the page.

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Questions

Is off plan property safe for overseas buyers in Dubai?

There are real protections. Payments go into a project escrow account under Law No. 8 of 2007 and are released as construction moves forward, and the sale is registered with the Dubai Land Department through Oqood. Buyers should still check the developer’s record and read the sale agreement carefully.

What is Oqood?

It is the Dubai Land Department’s system for registering off plan sales. It records the buyer’s purchase before the building is finished.

Should I show the full price or the booking amount?

Show both. A page that leads with the booking amount alone makes the unit look cheaper than it is.

Does an off plan listing need a permit?

Yes. Any property advertised in Dubai needs a Trakheesi permit, whether it is ready or off plan.