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By theme · off plan properties
Dubai off-plan property - projects sold before completion, paid via developer payment plan, handed over 18-48 months from launch. Every project below is RERA-registered, escrow-protected, and scored by Oliva on the six dimensions that determine return: developer reliability, location quality, value-per-sqft, yield outlook, handover risk, resale liquidity and market timing.
You sign an SPA with the developer, pay an initial 10-20% deposit into a RERA-supervised escrow account, and follow a payment plan tied to construction milestones (foundation, structure, finishing). Funds release to the developer only when the trustee certifies the milestone. At handover you pay the 4% DLD transfer fee and take title. The DLD Oqood system records your interest from day one.
Off-plan handover slips by 6-18 months across the Dubai market on average; some developers exceed 24 months. The Oliva Score's handover-delay dimension uses each developer's rolling on-time-delivery record from DLD project trustee filings. We mark any project whose developer is below 50% on-time delivery in red. Cancellations are rarer (RERA escrow protects deposits) but the recovery period can run 90+ days - we flag developer cancellation history too.
Off-plan = lower entry price + payment plan + appreciation upside, traded against handover risk + 18-48 months until first rent. Ready = sticker premium + immediate income, traded against thinner appreciation runway. The right pick depends on your hold period and whether you need cash flow now.
Price range in this segment: AED 799k - AED 300.0m
Off-plan can deliver 12-25% capital appreciation between purchase and handover when you buy at the right project + right area + right developer + right launch tier. Oliva's Score compresses those four variables into one number. Buying a 75+ scored project significantly improves your odds of being above-market on every dimension. Below 55, the math typically breaks against you.
Typical first payment is 10-20% of the property price. Add the 4% DLD transfer fee at handover, plus admin fees (~AED 4,200) and broker commission. Some developers offer 1% / month plans or post-handover plans, which reduce the upfront ask.
Yes - anywhere inside a designated freehold zone. Roughly 95% of new off-plan projects are inside freehold zones (Downtown, Marina, JVC, Business Bay, etc.). Verify with RERA project status before signing.
RERA project trustees release escrow funds back to buyers, typically within 60-90 days. The protection is real - but cancellation does happen (less than 1% of projects historically). Pick developers with zero cancellation history; we flag this on each developer scorecard.
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