Why buy off-plan
Why buy off-plan, and what to check first
Why off-plan
Buying before it is built, explained
Four things that set off-plan apart. Each one is general; ask us how it applies to a project you like.
Pay in stages
Off-plan payments are spread across booking, construction and handover, and some plans continue after handover.
Payments held in escrow
In Dubai, payments for an off-plan unit go into an escrow account for that project and are released to the developer as construction progresses.
First choice of units
Buying at launch usually means a wider choice of floors, views and layouts than once a building is finished.
Every emirate in one place
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, compared on the same terms.
In the data
What the current projects show
2368
projects from 490 developers
521
projects with payments after handover
2026–2031
expected handover years
Before you invest
Questions every off-plan buyer should ask
- 01
Is the developer registered, and the project too?
Check that the developer and the project are registered with the emirate’s regulator and that payments go into the project’s escrow account.
- 02
When do you pay, and how much?
Off-plan payments are spread across booking, construction and handover. Check each stage against your cash flow, including any payments after handover.
- 03
What must the developer deliver?
Compare the handover date, the escrow arrangement and the developer’s completed projects before you reserve.
- 04
What could change?
Prices, payment plans and handover dates can move. We confirm the current figures with the developer before you commit.
General information only, not financial advice. Property values and rental income can fall as well as rise, and past performance is no guide to the future.
Residency
Golden Visa and investor guidance
Some property investors in the UAE qualify for a long-term Golden Visa. The rules, including the minimum property value and how off-plan property is treated, are set by the authorities and change over time.
Read the Golden Visa guide- Current eligibility, checked before you reserve
- Whether an off-plan unit counts, and when
- The documents you will need
Register your interest
Clear advice, approved details
Tell us what you are looking for. An advisor will send a shortlist with current availability, floor plans and payment plans.