Dubai & Sharjah · Personally advised
Buying off-plan property in Dubai: a practical checklist
An off-plan purchase commits you to a home before it is complete. A clear comparison starts with the registered project, the exact unit and the contract—not only a brochure or a monthly payment headline.
By M Asif Qureshi · Published 7 October 2026
1. Define the purpose and budget
Decide whether the home is for your own use or a rental strategy. List your space needs, preferred locations and the money available at each stage. Keep a reserve for acquisition costs and ownership expenses instead of committing the entire budget to the advertised purchase price.
2. Check the registered project
Use Dubai Land Department’s project-status service or Dubai REST to check the specific project and its reported progress. Match the registered project details to the documents you receive. Ask for the appropriate project and escrow details before making payments, and verify them through official channels.
3. Compare the exact unit
Request the unit number, floor plan, area breakdown, orientation, parking allocation and written specification. Clarify which pictures show the actual delivery scope and which illustrate the broader community. Compare usable space and the surrounding setting, not only bedroom count.
4. Put every payment on a timeline
Record the reservation amount, construction instalments, handover balance and any post-handover payments. Ask whether milestones are linked to dates or construction progress. Obtain a written cost sheet and incentive conditions before relying on a fee waiver or reduced instalment.
5. Review the sale agreement
Read the sale and purchase agreement, including delivery terms, permitted changes, cancellation provisions and transfer restrictions. Ask qualified advisers about terms you do not understand. Keep copies of receipts and registration documents.
6. Plan for delivery and ownership
Ask about inspection, snagging, completion documentation, utility connections and ongoing charges. For a rental strategy, use current comparable evidence and deduct costs and vacancy when assessing the outcome. Neither rental income nor capital growth is guaranteed.
Reference: Official information. Project availability, costs and delivery terms must be confirmed for your chosen unit.
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