Which Guide to Read First
If you are new to off-plan, start with Off-plan vs ready to decide whether buying early suits you. Then read Escrow and Oqood, because it explains how your payments are protected and registered. Payment plans comes next, once you are comparing offers.
Buyers living abroad should read Foreigners buying off-plan before choosing a location, since eligibility depends on the area and emirate.
Every Buying Guide at a Glance
The table lists each off plan buyer guide for the UAE with the question it answers.
| Guide | What it answers | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Payment plans | How instalments and post-handover plans work | Read the payment plans guide |
| Escrow and Oqood | How buyer payments and registration are protected | Read the escrow and oqood guide |
| Foreigners buying off-plan | Where non-residents can buy and what they need | Read the foreigners buying off-plan guide |
| Off-plan vs ready | Trade-offs between buying early and buying completed | Read the off-plan vs ready guide |
| Delayed or cancelled projects | What happens when handover slips or a project stops | Read the delayed or cancelled projects guide |
| Service charges | How annual community and building fees are set | Read the service charges guide |
| Reselling before handover | Rules and costs for assigning a unit early | Read the reselling before handover guide |
| Golden Visa through off-plan | How property value relates to residency eligibility | Read the golden visa through off-plan guide |
Guides for Risks and Ongoing Costs
After you have signed
Delayed or cancelled projects covers what your contract and the escrow rules say when handover slips. Service charges explains the annual fees you will pay once the building is complete, which matter as much as the purchase price over time.
Guides for Exit and Residency Plans
Reselling before handover explains when you can assign a unit and the costs involved. Golden Visa through off-plan covers how property value relates to residency eligibility. Both depend on developer and authority rules, so check the current conditions before relying on them.
Area and developer guides are also listed on this page, each linking back to the full project list for that location or company.