Buying property in Dubai is safest when 5 facts are confirmed before the first payment. The project is registered with the Dubai Land Department, the developer holds the land and approvals, buyer money goes into a project specific escrow account, the sale is entered in the Interim Property Register, and the broker is RERA registered. An off plan sale missing from that register is void. Registration costs 4% of the price, and the 10 year Golden Visa starts at property worth AED 2 million.
Dubai Property Buying Process Step by Step
The Buying property in Dubai process has 6 steps, and money only moves at step 5.
- Pick a freehold area. Foreign nationals can own freehold property only in designated areas.
- Confirm the project and the developer on the official record.
- Confirm the broker is RERA registered and sign the standard broker appointment form.
- Read the reservation form and the sale contract line by line.
- Pay only into the account named in the contract.
- Get the sale entered in the register, then follow progress until completion.
How to Check a Developer in Dubai Before Paying
Search the project in the Project Status Enquiry on the Land Department website or in the Dubai REST app. The record shows the developer, completion percentage, registration status, every RERA inspection report and the escrow bank.
Five questions need clear answers before signing. Is the project registered with RERA? Is there an escrow account, and what are its number and agent? What is the completion percentage and expected date? Does the developer own the land or hold a development agreement? Does it hold the approvals to sell here? Ask for the Disclosure Statement and the service charges as well.
The law backs these checks: a developer cannot sell off plan before it holds the land and approvals, and a private contract signed before approval is void.
Escrow Account Rules for Off Plan Property in Dubai
Law No. 8 of 2007 requires a separate account for every project, opened in the project name and used only to build that project. Buyer payments go into it, and the developer’s creditors cannot attach the money.
Only 5% of total sales can be spent on marketing, and a 5% retention is held for 1 year after completion. If a project stalls, the escrow agent must either get it finished or refund depositors. Never pay into a personal, broker or general company account.
Oqood Registration and the Interim Property Register
Off plan sales, mortgages and leases are entered on the Interim Property Register, which buyers know as Oqood. Under Law No. 13 of 2008, a transfer that is not entered there is void.
That entry is not final ownership. The deed is issued when the project is completed and the unit is registered in the buyer’s name.
Documents Required to Buy Property in Dubai
- Identity: valid passport copy.
- Reservation form: should name the unit and the account that receives payment.
- Sale contract: the standard sale contract, where extra terms are allowed only if they do not conflict with the standard ones.
- Broker appointment: the Land Department standard form, signed when a broker is involved.
- Project papers: the RERA project number, approvals, payment plan schedule and floor plan.
Dubai Property Buying Costs and Fees
The registration fee is 4% of the sale price, and the buyer pays it through the developer, who completes the registration. A mortgage adds 0.25% of the loan value for registration. Some developers cover part of the fee as a launch offer, so the reservation form should say who pays.
What Happens If You Miss Off Plan Payments in Dubai
Article 11 of Law No. 13 of 2008, as amended by Law No. 19 of 2017, sets the steps. The developer informs the Land Department, which gives the buyer 30 days to pay. After that, the developer’s options depend on how much is built.
- Above 80% built: the developer can keep the contract and claim the balance, ask for the unit to be auctioned, or end the contract and keep up to 40% of the unit value.
- 60% to 80% built: the developer can end the contract and keep up to 40% of the unit value.
- Below 60% with work started: the developer can end the contract and keep up to 25% of the unit value.
- Work not started for reasons beyond its control: the developer can keep up to 30% of the amount paid and must refund the rest within 60 days.
If RERA cancels a project, the developer must refund all buyer payments under the escrow law.
Off Plan Resale Rules in Dubai
Units entered in the register can be sold, mortgaged or transferred. A transfer needs a no objection certificate from the developer or owners association manager, and developers cannot charge resale fees beyond administrative costs approved by the Land Department. The sale contract sets the minimum share of the price the first buyer must have paid before a resale.
Dubai Golden Visa Through Property: Requirements and Fees
The Land Department application asks for property valued at AED 2 million or more at the time of purchase, wholly owned in the applicant’s name. Required documents are the passport, a title deed or e-certificate of title, a photo and the current residence permit if there is one. Mortgaged property needs a bank letter showing the amount paid and the balance, and the applicant must attend in person.
Listed fees for the 10 year permit total AED 9,884.75, including AED 4,020 in Land Department fees. The application page does not mention off plan contracts, and the deed arrives only after completion, so off plan buyers should confirm eligibility with the Land Department first.
How to Check Dubai Project Registration and Inspection Dates (2026 Examples)
Early records show where a project stands, so check them before booking. The RERA inspection of Faro Emaar at The Heights Country Club & Wellness on 26 March 2026 recorded 0% construction. Sanctuary by Prestige One at Meydan Horizon Dubai was registered on 20 April 2026 and lists construction starting on 1 November 2026.
Shahrukhz Residences by Danube at Dubai Maritime City first appeared in regulatory records in September 2026, and Bay Estate by Nakheel at Dubai Islands lists instalment dates from October 2026 to January 2031. Compare these dates with the handover date in your contract.
Red Flags in Dubai Off Plan Property
- The project cannot be found in the Land Department record.
- The developer will not name the escrow agent or share the account number.
- You are told to pay any account other than the one named in the contract.
- The completion percentage in the brochure differs from the official record.
Off Plan Projects in Dubai to Consider in 2026
These 4 projects suit different budgets, from studio apartments to townhouses and villa plots.
Off Plan Apartments at Dubai Maritime City by Danube
- Project: Shahrukhz Residences by Danube at Dubai Maritime City
- Developer: Danube Properties
- Price: not confirmed until sales launch
- Bedrooms: Studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments
- Location: Dubai Maritime City, 5 minutes from Port Rashid and 15 minutes from Downtown Dubai
The 1,126 unit building of Shahrukhz Residences by Danube has 571 studios, 412 1 bedroom, 119 2 bedroom and 24 3 bedroom apartments. The page lists a 10% booking, 20% construction and 70% handover plan with handover planned for Q2 2030, but also says no price or handover date is announced. The project is at the planning stage, and registration, project account and approvals are confirmed at sales launch, so ask the sales team for written terms. It is a separate residential building from the Danube office tower in Al Sufouh 1.
Villas at The Heights Country Club and Wellness by Emaar
- Project: Faro Emaar at The Heights Country Club & Wellness
- Developer: Emaar Properties
- Price: not yet announced
- Bedrooms: 3 and 4 bedroom villas
- Location: Al Yelayiss 5, 10 minutes from Expo City Dubai and Al Maktoum International Airport, 30 minutes from Downtown Dubai
Buyers looking at Faro Emaar at The Heights Country Club & Wellness choose between 145 villas with 3 bedrooms and 146 with 4 bedrooms. The Land Department project number is 4450, the escrow bank is Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, and handover is planned for 30 June 2030. Planned amenities include the Wellness Lake, the Yoga Lake, 38 km of cycling and jogging tracks, and padel and tennis courts.
Apartments in Meydan Horizon by Prestige One
- Project: Sanctuary by Prestige One at Meydan Horizon Dubai
- Developer: Prestige One Developments
- Price: 1 bedroom from AED 1.8 million, 2 bedroom from AED 3 million, 3 bedroom from AED 4.8 million at launch
- Bedrooms: 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, 655 to 2,561 sq ft
- Location: Meydan Horizon, Mohammed Bin Rashid City, 5 minutes from Meydan Racecourse and 12 minutes from Downtown Dubai
The 20 floor tower Sanctuary by Prestige One at Meydan Horizon Dubai has 125 apartments, split into 68 1 bedroom, 49 2 bedroom and 8 3 bedroom homes, plus 41 commercial units. It is registered as project 4332, completion is listed for 31 August 2029, and buyer payments go to Mashreq Bank. The plan is 20% on booking, 45% over 8 instalments and 35% on handover.
Townhouses and Villa Plots on Dubai Islands
- Project: Bay Estate by Nakheel at Dubai Islands
- Developer: Nakheel
- Price: from AED 5.9 million
- Bedrooms: 3 and 4 bedroom townhouses and villas, 3,054 to 5,262 sq ft, plus beach and waterfront plots
- Location: Dubai Islands, 18 minutes from Dubai International Airport and 28 minutes from Downtown Dubai
Under the 20:40:40 payment plan of Bay Estate by Nakheel at Dubai Islands, the down payment is scheduled for October 2026 and handover for Q1 2031. The community has 3 collections named Cala, Verda and Agora, with 2 swimmable lagoons, a beach club and a marina. Plot buyers manage design, contractors and permits themselves and follow Nakheel building rules.
One Last Look Before You Book
Project details above reflect the latest published information and change as developers release updates. Keep a screenshot of the project record next to your payment receipt.
Read more: https://blog.shahrukhzresidencesdanube.com/
FAQs
Can foreigners buy property in Dubai?
Yes, with freehold ownership in designated areas.
Where do off plan buyers pay?
Into the account named in the contract, never a personal or broker account.
When is the title deed issued?
When the project is completed and the unit is registered in the buyer’s name.
How long does a buyer have to fix a missed payment?
The Land Department gives 30 days after the developer files its notice.
Where can a project be checked?
In the Project Status Enquiry on the Land Department website or in the Dubai REST app.
Is there a separate registration fee for a mortgage?
Yes, it is 0.25% of the loan value.
