What is a post-handover payment plan?

A plan where part of the price is paid in instalments after handover, usually over 1 to 5 years. It lowers upfront capital but the total price may be higher than the standard plan.

How much is the down payment on off-plan property in the UAE?

Booking deposits typically run 5% to 20% of the price depending on the developer and project. The figure is published per project on this site where released.

Are there extra fees beyond the payment plan?

Yes. Expect the land department registration fee (4% in Dubai), Oqood registration, possible broker fees, and service charges after handover.

How off-plan payment plans work in the UAE

By Dubainary Research · Updated 2026-09-05 · Buying off-plan

Ocean Tower by AAA Real Estate Development in Dubai Islands (Palm Deira) — Ocean Tower, AAA Real Estate Development | Dubai Islands (Palm Deira) · View project

A UAE off-plan payment plan splits the purchase price into a booking deposit, instalments linked to construction milestones, and a final amount at or after handover. Typical splits are 60/40 or 80/20; post-handover plans let you pay the balance over 1 to 5 years after moving in.

The standard structure

Almost every off-plan launch follows the same skeleton: a booking deposit (commonly 5% to 20%), instalments tied to construction milestones (for example 10% at foundation, 10% at structure, and so on), and a final payment at handover. The exact milestones and percentages are set per project and published in the payment plan section of each project page on this site.

Amalia Residences by Deyaar Development in Al Furjan — Amalia Residences, Deyaar Development | Al Furjan · View project

What 60/40 and 80/20 mean

The shorthand describes how much you pay before handover versus at or after it. A 60/40 plan means 60% during construction and 40% at handover. An 80/20 plan front-loads more of the price into the construction period. Neither is inherently better; the right one depends on whether you value lower upfront cash or a lower total financed amount.

La Violetta 2 by Dubai Properties in The Villa — La Violetta 2, Dubai Properties | The Villa · View project

Post-handover payment plans

A post-handover plan shifts part of the price to instalments after you receive the keys, typically over 1 to 5 years. These are common with developers competing on affordability. Projects offering them are flagged on this site and filterable from the listings page. Check whether post-handover instalments carry any premium built into the price.

Flow 25 by GAF Property in Abu Dhabi — Flow 25, GAF Property | Abu Dhabi · View project

Fees on top of the plan

Budget beyond the plan itself: the Dubai Land Department registration fee (4% of the price in Dubai), an Oqood registration fee for off-plan units, agency fees if buying through a broker, and later service charges. These are not part of the developer's payment plan.

Compare real plans

Every project page in this directory shows the actual payment plan timeline released by the developer, milestone by milestone. Use it to compare two projects before enquiring, and confirm the final plan in the sale and purchase agreement.