Off-plan, Q4 2026
Buying property in Dubai, off-plan or ready
Two different purchases with different money flows. Below: how each works, what it costs, how your money is protected and what I check before you sign.
Off-plan or ready: the short version
Off-plan
- 10 to 20% at booking, the rest in instalments
- Lower entry price than a ready unit nearby
- Capital growth by handover, resale possible before keys
- No rent until handover, usually 2 to 4 years
- Agency fee paid by the developer
Ready
- Full price on transfer, cash or mortgage
- You see exactly what you buy, view and finishes
- Rent from the first month, 6.5 to 7% net on average
- Mortgage up to 80% for residents
- 2% agency fee and trustee fees
Off-plan: what I check before you book
Dubai has over 700 off-plan projects on sale at any time. Most of them look the same in a brochure. The difference shows up in the numbers.
- The developer: delivered projects, delays, quality of handed-over buildings
- Escrow and RERA registration of the project
- Launch price against registered DLD sales of ready units in the area
- Payment plan against your cash flow, including the handover payment
- The exit: who will buy or rent this unit and at what price
How much and when you pay
Off-plan payment plan
AED
years
, to pay at booking
Average monthly instalment during construction
Example of a typical plan: 10% booking plus 4% DLD, then instalments until handover. Real schedules are tied to construction milestones and differ by project.
Ready property: what the process looks like
A resale purchase in Dubai takes about 30 days in cash and up to 60 days with a mortgage. Each step has a standard document, which makes the process predictable.
- Viewings and an offer, I negotiate the price on real deals
- Form F (MOU) signed and a 10% deposit cheque held by the agency
- NOC from the developer confirming no service charge debt
- Mortgage valuation and final approval, if you borrow
- Transfer at the Trustee Office, new title deed the same day
Prices by area, from DLD deals
Median price per square foot of apartments actually sold in the last six months. Ready and off-plan are counted apart: off-plan in the same area usually costs more.
| Area | Ready, AED/ft² | Off-plan, AED/ft² | Sales in 6 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai South | 1,088 | 1,716 | 9,441 |
| JVC | 1,248 | 1,585 | 4,375 |
| Business Bay | 1,811 | 2,476 | 1,844 |
| Dubai Islands | few deals | 2,723 | 1,133 |
| JLT | 1,436 | 2,465 | 1,111 |
| Majan | 1,363 | 1,419 | 1,070 |
| Dubai Creek Harbour | 2,281 | 2,592 | 1,070 |
| Downtown Dubai | 2,377 | 3,564 | 839 |
| Meydan, MBR City | 1,956 | 2,137 | 786 |
| Dubai Marina | 1,954 | 4,142 | 776 |
| Arjan | 1,373 | 1,669 | 615 |
| Dubai Hills Estate | 2,212 | 2,443 | 529 |
| JVT | 1,200 | 1,697 | 498 |
| Palm Jumeirah | 2,566 | 5,605 | 404 |
Dubai Land Department, apartment sales for the six months to 3 November 2026.
What the purchase really costs
Fees are paid once, at purchase. After that the main running cost is the service charge.
Buying costs calculator
AED
Also budget for
- Service charge: about AED 10 to 30 per sq ft a year, paid to the building
- DEWA deposit: AED 2,000 for an apartment, AED 4,000 for a villa
- Furniture and moving in, if you plan to rent it out furnished
- Off-plan: the handover payment and the first service charge at keys
,
DLD registration fee, 4%
DLD admin and title deed
Trustee Office, with VAT
Agency fee 2% + VAT
Mortgage registration 0.25%
Bank arrangement fee, up to 1%
Bank valuation
Typical 2026 fees. For a mortgage the calculator assumes an 80% loan. Off-plan: the agency fee is paid by the developer, Oqood admin varies by developer.
On sale right now
A few units from our current stock of 199 properties for sale. Each one has a DLD permit; the full list with photos and layouts is on our catalogue site.
Off-plan, Q4 2026
Off-plan, Q1 2026
AED 1.5M ≈ $408,441
Apartment · 1 BR · 761 ft²
Jumeirah Village Triangle
Ready
AED 1.8M ≈ $490,129
Apartment · 1 BR · 644 ft²
Dubai Creek Harbour (The Lagoons)
Ready
Ready
Ready
Off-plan, Q4 2026
Ready
What you can buy
Apartments
Studios to four-bedroom units and penthouses, in towers with pools, gyms and concierge.
Most liquid
Villas and townhouses
Family homes in gated communities with parks, schools and clubs.
In short supply
Branded residences
Homes run by hotel brands such as Accor, Marriott or Four Seasons.
About 30% premium
Offices and retail
Offices, shops and showrooms leased to companies or used by your own business.
Longer leasesTop 5 for November
Every month I pick five projects and resale units I would show my own family: a fair price against registered deals, a developer with a track record, a clear way out. Tell me your budget and goal and I will send the list to WhatsApp or Telegram within a day.
Or browse ready selections by budget
How the law protects your money
Escrow for every project
Under Law No. 8 of 2007, payments reach the developer only as construction progresses.
Registered with the DLD
Every off-plan sale is recorded in the Oqood register under Law No. 13 of 2008.
An active regulator
RERA licenses projects, brokers and ads, and fines violators up to AED 500,000.
Freehold for foreigners
In designated areas you own the property outright, with a title deed in your name.
Prices you can check
Every sale is registered with the DLD, so any price can be compared with real transactions.
Developers held prices
Of 717 off-plan projects launched since July 2023, only 28 trade below launch (fäm Properties, 2026).
Buying fully remotely
01
Reserve the unit
Booking deposit and KYC online, no need to fly in.
02
Sign the SPA
Electronically or through a power of attorney.
03
Pay into escrow
Instalments by bank transfer to the project account.
04
Registered with the DLD
The sale is recorded in the Oqood register.
05
Keys and title deed
Then I can rent the unit out or resell it for you.
Questions clients ask
Off-plan or ready: which is better?
Off-plan suits capital growth and a smaller first payment, ready suits rental income from day one and certainty. Many clients combine both. It depends on your main goal and when you need the money back.
What is a typical off-plan payment plan?
A booking of 10 to 20% plus the 4% DLD fee, then instalments during construction, the rest on handover. Popular splits are 60/40 and 70/30; some developers offer post-handover plans over 2 to 5 years.
Can I resell off-plan before handover?
Usually yes, after you have paid a share set by the developer, often 30 to 40%. The developer charges a transfer fee and the buyer takes over the remaining payments.
How long does a resale purchase take?
Around 30 days for a cash deal from signing Form F to transfer, and 45 to 60 days with a mortgage, because the bank needs time for valuation and final approval.
Does buying property give me a visa?
Yes. Property from AED 2 million gives a 10-year Golden Visa, family included. Since April 2026 a registered property owned by one person gives a renewable 2-year residence visa at any value.
Tell me what you need
A name and a contact are enough. I reply within an hour in working time, in English or Russian, and say honestly whether I can help.
Deals, launches and market notes on Instagram@orlov.dubai
+971 50 108 6910
Onyx Tower 2, Level 5, office 505
The Greens, Dubai, UAE