How to resell an off-plan unit before handover
By Dubainary Research · Updated 2026-09-05 · Buying off-plan
Reselling an off-plan unit before handover is called an assignment: you sell your contract to a new buyer. Most developers allow it once you have paid a minimum share of the price (often 30% to 40%), subject to a No Objection Certificate and an admin fee.
How assignment works
You do not own a finished unit yet, so what you sell is your position in the contract. The new buyer takes over the remaining payment plan. The developer issues a No Objection Certificate (NOC) once conditions are met, and the land department registers the transfer of the contract.
Typical conditions
Common requirements: a minimum percentage of the price paid (frequently 30% to 40%, set per project), all instalments up to date, an NOC/admin fee paid to the developer, and in some projects a resale restriction period after launch. The exact terms are in your sale agreement.
Pricing a resale
The realistic benchmark is the developer's current price for remaining units in the same project plus recent assignment prices, not the original launch price alone. If the developer still sells similar units cheaper, an assignment must price below that to attract a buyer.
Costs to expect
Budget for the developer's NOC fee, the land department transfer fee (in Dubai, 4% applies on the transfer value), and any broker commission. Confirm whether the original registration fee is recoverable in the transfer.