Buying Off-Plan in Dubai: A Guide for Executives

Who can buy in Dubai

Foreigners, including people who do not live in the UAE, may buy property in the areas of Dubai designated for them. Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah are among those areas. Location therefore matters first: before you look at a unit, confirm that the project sits in a zone open to foreign buyers.

Prices and official fees are quoted in UAE dirhams, the national currency, which is pegged to the US dollar. That peg is useful to know if your own accounts are held in dollars.

A short list rather than a long catalogue

Our approach is to narrow the market to a handful of new-build projects that suit a senior decision-maker with limited time. At the moment the page shows 41 projects in Dubai, with prices starting from AED 598,500. For orientation on pricing, the typical figure per square foot is AED 700-4,800.

Developer track record and buyer protection

A developer selling off-plan must be registered with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency of the Dubai Land Department. Registration is the minimum check, and we look at a developer's delivered work on top of it. Buyers' payments go into a project escrow account reserved for construction. This is the mechanism that links your instalments to the building of the project.

Every off-plan sale must be recorded in the Dubai Land Department's interim property register, known as Oqood. A sale that is not recorded there is void, so ask to see the registration before you rely on any contract.

Payment plans and handover

Payment plans during construction differ from one developer to another, and each is set out in the sales agreement for the project. Handover timing is likewise project-specific. We ask for the schedule in writing and compare it with what the developer has completed before, so you can judge it against their record.

Fees and running costs

Outside the Dubai International Financial Centre, which keeps its own register, a sale is valid only when recorded by the Dubai Land Department, which issues the title deed. Buyers pay Dubai Land Department registration and title deed fees and a registration trustee's service fee, plus any broker's commission. Once you own, you also pay service charges for shared areas. Budget for these alongside the purchase price.

Buying when you cannot be there

A buyer who cannot attend can complete the purchase through a representative holding a duly notarised power of attorney. For a busy executive this means the process can be handled without a trip, provided the document is prepared correctly and the representative is someone you trust.

Updated October 2026 · Data: Palmera