Buying off-plan means you pay before the building exists, so the question “who is behind it?” matters. The good news: in Dubai much of this can be checked in official sources in an evening. Here is the order I suggest.
Step 1. Is the developer registered?
Developers who sell off-plan must be registered with RERA, the real estate regulator under the Dubai Land Department (DLD). Before you sign, check on the DLD website that the developer is registered, and that the name in your reservation form and contract matches the registered company exactly.
Step 2. Is the project registered?
Off-plan sales need a registered project. Ask the seller for the project registration details and verify them with DLD rather than relying on a brochure. If the name, plot or number differ between documents, ask why.
Step 3. Is there an escrow account?
The developer must open a separate escrow account for the project with an escrow agent accredited by DLD. Ask for three things: that the project has an escrow account, its number, and the name of the agent. Your instalments should go only to this account, and the details must match the contract. Payments to a personal account, a different company or in cash are a reason to stop.
You can read more about how payments are protected in our guide to buying off-plan in Dubai.
Step 4. Look at the track record
Look at what the developer has already built and handed over. Open the developer’s official website: when it was founded, which projects are completed, in which areas. Ask yourself: has it delivered projects of a similar size? Are the handover dates of earlier projects reflected honestly? Visit a completed building if you can, or ask for photos taken recently, not renders.
Be careful with “best developer” rankings and reviews on the internet: they can be paid or outdated. Official data and the buildings themselves are better evidence.
Step 5. Read the contract (SPA)
Check the handover date, the payment schedule, what happens in case of delay, the unit number and area, and which fees are on you. If anything is unclear, ask for it in writing before you pay. For the complete list of costs, see how to buy off-plan and, for instalments, payment plans.
Step 6. Follow progress after the purchase
DLD’s Dubai REST application gives off-plan buyers project information, including the percentage of completion, photos and the escrow account number. Keep your contract, receipts and registration confirmation in one folder.
What registration does not do
Registration, escrow and RERA oversight add transparency and protection, but they do not promise a delivery date or a return. Construction can still be delayed. That is why the track record and the contract matter.
Projects on this site
For the projects I work with, I can send you the developer details and help you check them against the official sources before any payment. For example, South Lofts in Dubai South starts from AED 549,000, and Gateway Residences in JVC from AED 950,000. Prices and availability change, so please confirm current terms before you reserve. You can also read about the areas: Dubai South and JVC.
Ask me before you pay
Send me the developer and project name, and I will go through the checklist with you. Message me on WhatsApp - Svetlana, a Dubai real estate consultant with more than 20 years in the UAE.
