In short: set a clear brief, qualify the project and its developer, reserve the unit, sign the sale and purchase agreement, register it with the Dubai Land Department through Oqood, pay instalments into the project's escrow account, then inspect, complete and receive your title deed.
1. Set your brief and budget
Decide what the property is for (rental income, capital growth, residency, a future home) and how you will fund it. Your budget should cover the full cost, not just the price: registration fees, any mortgage costs, and the balance due at handover.
2. Short-list and qualify projects
Compare projects on the developer's delivery record, the location's demand and future supply, the product itself, the payment plan and your exit options. The comparison guide sets out the scorecard I use.
3. Confirm the project is registered
Before paying anything, confirm that the project is registered with the Dubai Land Department and has a dedicated escrow account. You can check through official Dubai Land Department channels such as the Dubai REST app. How escrow protects you.
4. Reserve the unit
Reservation usually involves a reservation or booking form and the first payment under the payment plan. Read what the form commits you to and what happens to the payment if the sale does not proceed.
5. Sign the sale and purchase agreement
The sale and purchase agreement (SPA) is the contract that matters. Before signing, check:
- the unit, its area and the specification the developer commits to
- the anticipated completion date and what happens if it is missed
- the full payment schedule and the escrow account it must be paid into
- the conditions and fees for reselling before handover
- what happens if a payment is missed
6. Register the sale through Oqood
Off-plan sales are registered on the Dubai Land Department's interim register, known as Oqood. The registration fee is 4% of the price, officially split 2% buyer and 2% seller, though in off-plan sales the developer usually passes the full 4% to the buyer. Check your sale agreement. Small administrative fees apply on top. Registration records your purchase officially until a title deed can be issued.
7. Pay instalments into escrow
Pay every instalment to the project escrow account named in your SPA, never to a personal or unrelated account, and keep every receipt. Instalments are usually tied to dates or construction milestones.
8. Follow construction progress
Track progress through developer updates and official channels. If milestones slip, the SPA and Dubai's off-plan regulations set out your position. This is where the developer's track record matters most.
9. Inspect, complete and take handover
Before handover, inspect the unit and record any defects (snagging) for the developer to fix. Settle the final payment, or arrange your mortgage drawdown, then collect the keys.
10. Receive your title deed
Once the project is complete and the property is fully paid, the Dubai Land Department issues the title deed in your name, replacing the interim Oqood registration.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Every project and contract is different. Talk it through with me before you commit.