Buying from abroad
How you buy, step by step
Choose
We review live developer availability together on a video call.
Reserve
You pay the booking amount, usually 10%, plus the 4% DLD registration fee and the developer's admin fees, to the developer's official accounts. I confirm the exact amounts in writing before you pay.
Identity and source of funds
The developer runs anti-money-laundering checks. Have your passport, proof of address and proof of funds ready.
Sign
The developer sends the Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) for digital signature.
Register
The developer registers the sale with the Dubai Land Department and issues the Oqood (off-plan registration) certificate in your name.
Pay as you go
You pay the remaining instalments on the developer's schedule into the project's escrow account.
Buying from overseas. Your bank may hold a large transfer to the UAE for checks. I'll send you a document checklist in advance so payments go through smoothly.
Before you sign
The risks, honestly
Off-plan can work well, but it has real risks. You should know them before you sign.
Delays
Handovers can slip. Each SPA sets out what happens if they do. Plan your cash flow for a later handover.
Money paid before handover
On a 75/25 plan you pay 75% during construction. Make sure the instalments suit your finances.
Reselling before handover
Developers usually require a minimum percentage to be paid before you can resell (assign) your contract, and they charge a fee. I'll show you the policy for each project.
Market cycles
Prices go down as well as up. I don't promise returns.
Currency
The dirham is pegged to the US dollar, so if you earn or save in another currency, your costs move with that currency's rate against the dollar.
What I filter out. I don't present standalone towers from first-time developers or projects with untested contractors. I focus on established master-planned communities.
Residency
The 10-year UAE Golden Visa
Under current rules, a property in Dubai valued at AED 2,000,000 (about US$545,000) or more may qualify you for a 10-year renewable Golden Visa, including some off-plan properties. Eligibility depends on DLD valuation, registration and current GDRFA rules, so we check each unit before you buy.
Price alone does not decide eligibility. I confirm it for the specific unit before you reserve.