Buying Off-Plan in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: A Guide for International Buyers
Buyers of any nationality can own off-plan homes freehold in Dubai's designated areas and in Abu Dhabi's investment zones. In both emirates the steps follow the same order: reserve, sign, register, pay into escrow, then take handover. What changes is the registry. Dubai registers the sale in Oqood at the Dubai Land Department, and Abu Dhabi registers it with the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre. We sell at zero commission, and the developer pays us.
Fact sheet
| Dubai | Abu Dhabi | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can own | Buyers of any nationality, in designated freehold areas | Buyers of any nationality, in investment zones |
| Off-plan registry | Oqood, at the Dubai Land Department | The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) |
| Buyer payments | Into the project's escrow account | Into an ADREC-approved escrow account |
| Registration fee | 4% of the price plus the Oqood fee | 2% of the price plus AED 450 |
| Mortgage on off-plan | Up to 50% of the value | Up to 50% of the value |
| Selling before handover | With a No Objection Certificate from the developer | With a No Objection Certificate from the developer |
| Golden Visa | From AED 2 million, after the down payment | From AED 2 million, once AED 2 million is paid |
The six steps, in both emirates
| Step | Dubai | Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Choose a registered project | The developer is on the Dubai Land Department's approved list | The project carries an ADREC Project ID and a Madhmoun licence to sell off-plan |
| 2. Reserve | Pay the booking amount set by the developer's plan | Pay the booking amount set by the developer's plan |
| 3. Sign the SPA | The developer and the buyer sign the sale and purchase agreement | The developer and the buyer sign the sale and purchase agreement |
| 4. Register the sale | The developer registers it in Oqood, usually within one business day, and the buyer receives it by email | The developer registers the SPA with ADREC, and the buyer can view it on ADREC's online platform |
| 5. Pay the instalments | Into the project's escrow account, on the dated schedule | Into the project's escrow account, on the dated schedule |
| 6. Take handover | The sale moves from the Oqood register to the title deed register | The unit is handed over and registered in the buyer's name |
Step 1. Choose a registered project
In Dubai, the Dubai Land Department publishes its list of approved developers and lets buyers track the status of registered projects. In Abu Dhabi, every project receives a Project ID on ADREC's verified project register. A developer can advertise and sell off-plan only once it holds a Madhmoun licence.
Steps 2 and 3. Reserve and sign
The booking amount and the instalments follow the payment plan on each project. Our project pages set out the dated schedule and the booking amount in dirhams for every home we sell.
The sale and purchase agreement is signed by the developer and the buyer. For a Dubai registration, a buyer who lives outside the UAE provides a copy of their passport.
Every plan type, and all 41 plans we sell, are set out in our guide to off-plan payment plans.
Step 4. Register the sale
Dubai's Oqood system is the register for off-plan sales. It records the contract before the property moves to the land registry, which protects the buyer's rights. The developer submits the registration online, and the certificate reaches the buyer by email.
In Abu Dhabi, the developer registers each SPA with ADREC within the required timeframe. Each registered SPA appears on ADREC's online platform for the buyer to view.
Step 5. Pay into escrow
Every developer selling off-plan in Dubai must hold buyer payments in the project's escrow account. In Abu Dhabi, buyer payments go into an escrow account with an ADREC-approved bank trustee.
Step 6. Take handover
On completion, the Dubai sale moves from the Oqood register to the land registry, and the Dubai Land Department issues the title deed. In Abu Dhabi, the unit is handed over and registered with ADREC in the buyer's name.
Ask an advisor about the fees on a specific home.
Speak to an advisorWhere international buyers can own
In Dubai, non-UAE citizens can own property in the areas designated by the Ruler of Dubai, under Law No. 7 of 2006 on real estate registration. There is no age limit to own property in Dubai.
In Abu Dhabi, non-UAE nationals can own property in the emirate's investment zones, under the amendment to the real estate law passed in 2019. Every Abu Dhabi project we sell sits in an investment zone and is sold freehold.
What you pay
Registration in Dubai is 4% of the price plus the Oqood fee. In Abu Dhabi it is 2% of the price plus AED 450. Our guide to off-plan costs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi sets out every fee in both emirates, at four price points.
Mortgages and the Golden Visa
UAE banks can lend up to 50% of the value of a home bought off-plan. On a completed first home, an expatriate can borrow up to 80% below AED 5 million and up to 70% above it. The longest mortgage term is 25 years.
A home worth AED 2 million or more qualifies its owner for the 10-year Golden Visa. In Dubai, an off-plan buyer can apply after the down payment. In Abu Dhabi, the payments made to the developer need to reach AED 2 million. Our guide to the Golden Visa through property covers both emirates.
Selling before handover and buying from abroad
Selling before handover
An off-plan home can be resold before it moves to the land registry, once the developer issues a No Objection Certificate. Each developer sets the payment threshold for that certificate.
Buying from abroad
A power of attorney signed outside the UAE is accepted in Dubai once it is ratified in four steps. It goes to a notary public and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country of origin. It then goes to the UAE Embassy there and to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Buying from outside the UAE? Our guide to buying off-plan in Dubai as a foreigner sets out every step and check.
Where to start
Our Dubai off-plan hub and our Abu Dhabi off-plan hub list every project we sell, with its prices, payment plan and handover date.
Buying Off-Plan in Dubai and Abu Dhabi — Questions buyers ask
Can foreigners buy off-plan property in Dubai?
Yes. Buyers of any nationality can own property freehold in Dubai's designated areas, under Law No. 7 of 2006.
Can foreigners buy off-plan property in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Non-UAE nationals can own property in Abu Dhabi's investment zones.
What is Oqood?
Oqood is the Dubai Land Department's register for off-plan sales. The developer registers each sale there, and the buyer receives the certificate by email.
How is my money protected when I buy off-plan?
In both emirates, buyer payments go into the project's escrow account with an approved bank. The sale is also registered with the government registry.
How do I check that a project is registered?
In Dubai, check the developer on the Dubai Land Department's approved list and the project's status on its website. In Abu Dhabi, look for the project's ADREC Project ID and its Madhmoun licence.
What fees do I pay when I buy off-plan?
4% of the price plus the Oqood fee in Dubai, and 2% plus AED 450 in Abu Dhabi. Our costs guide sets out every fee.
Can I get a mortgage on an off-plan property?
Yes. UAE banks can lend up to 50% of the value of a property bought off-plan, over a term of up to 25 years.
Can I sell my off-plan property before handover?
Yes. Resale before handover needs a No Objection Certificate from the developer, issued once its payment threshold is met.
Can I buy off-plan without visiting the UAE?
Yes, through a power of attorney. One signed abroad must be ratified by a notary, the foreign ministry of the country of origin, the UAE Embassy there and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Does buying off-plan qualify me for the Golden Visa?
Yes, at AED 2 million or more. In Dubai you can apply after the down payment, and in Abu Dhabi once AED 2 million is paid to the developer.
What happens at handover?
In Dubai, the sale moves from the Oqood register to the land registry and the Dubai Land Department issues the title deed. In Abu Dhabi, the unit is handed over and registered with ADREC.
Is there an age limit to own property in Dubai?
No. There is no age limit to own property in Dubai.
Price your own deal
We sell in both emirates at zero commission. Send us the project and we will work out the whole bill — the percentage, the fixed fees, and the ones the tables get wrong.