Guide to Buying Off-Plan Property in Dubai: Insights and Tips
Dubai Real Estate market has been the Centre of attention for almost a decade now. In 2024, only Dubai real estate sector recorded transactions of AED761 billion. Even in the first quarter of 2025, the market saw an increased trend with 45,474 transactions valued at AED 142.7 billion. That denotes a 22 per cent increase in transaction volume and a 30 per cent increase in total value as compared to the Q1 of 2024. The market has successfully attracted potential clientele from around the globe who are mainly invested in secure investment policies, zero taxes, and high returns on investments. Out of all these exciting incentives, off-plan properties, which are indeed very popular among investors, played a key role in boosting the real estate market of Dubai. Let’s explore why buying off plan property in Dubai has proven to be a better investment option as compared to ready-to-move projects.
What are off-plan properties?
Off-plan property projects in Dubai refer to the properties that are yet to be constructed. Developers only propose the location, area, type of properties, and what type of units are planned to be constructed. Such properties usually take 3 to 4 years to complete. The client gets the privilege of easy access into the market, flexible Payment plans for off-plan projects, and the advantage of choosing his desired unit with preferred layouts and designs.
Why choose off-plan properties?
As a first-time investor, the most recurring question that can occur in your mind is whether you should buy an off plan or ready to move properties and which one is better in terms of capital gains. Well, it largely depends upon your requirements and needs. If you are ready to move to Dubai as an expatriate, ready to move property or rental property can be your gig. But if you’re an investor, whether a first-time investor or a seasoned one or even if you have just taken a first step into the thriving and booming economy, it is highly advisable to buy property off plan in Dubai. In this investment journey you can take services from a well-known partner agency such as PFOC Properties.
We are in partnership with the best real estate developers in Dubai, giving you the best options available in the market and all that, keeping in mind your needs, requirements and your budgeting goals. Get an Expert’s advice to make your Dubai off-plan investment seamless and hassle-free. The key highlights that make off plan residential property in Dubai stand out are:
- Low entrance cost
- Flexible payment plan
- Customization options
- Easy resale and flip
- Access to more strategic locations
Why are Off-Plan Projects a better investment option?
When we talk about off-plan properties, we consider several opportunities associated with them. But why should off-plan properties be your first choice. In Off-plan properties the returns are maximum with added value advantages that cater to your financial needs giving you your dream home. Let’s dive deep into the benefits, opportunities and Property handover risks Dubai that are associated with buying off plan property in Dubai process.
Lower entrance cost and flexible payment plan
Off-plan properties come with the flexibility of lower entrance cost and payment plans for off-plan projects. For off-plan properties developers usually require 20% of the downpayment; 4 % DLD fee is also required. The remaining payments are paid by the client on achieving certain milestones in construction. Many real estate developers in Dubai are now offering post-handover payment plans. in which the client can pay for their home after completion and handover. Many investors take full advantage of this opportunity and pay their remaining payments through rental income. Some of the top investment opportunities that offer post-handover payment plans include Timez by Danube properties and Samana Barari Heights by Samana Developers, etc.
Booking Incentives
Off-plan properties offer great discounts and lucrative incentives such as waivers of DLD fees (promotional discounts), etc., at the time of their launches, particularly at their launch events. Clients can also buy whole floors or bulk deals and can get great discounts as a result. Off-plan property in Dubai is a great catch for clients who would like to have great value for money and like to cash exclusive premium opportunities.
Strategic locations
New off-plan properties in Dubai are often located in the best areas for off-plan property, primarily in off-plan properties in Dubai South, motor city, JVT etc. Due to the strategic location such properties hold great potential for maximum property appreciations and ROI in Dubai real estate, in the perspective of future developments that will be there, new areas, new opportunities and thus larger attraction for an increased number of populations. Both in terms of residential and commercial gains. Some of the best Off-plan vs ready-to-move properties in Dubai that are currently floating in the market are Takaya by Union Properties, Ananda by Tiger Properties, etc.
Prime Units
When the project is about to launch or has recently launched, there are great chances of getting the most premium unit with a good layout and great views. Since the maximum number of inventories is available, you have a variety of options to choose from.
Customization options
Off-plan properties give you the freedom to create your dream home as per your likings. The customization option that comes with buy off plan property in Dubai usually includes customizations related to furniture, wallpaper detailing, tiles and wood color schemes, etc.
Easy resale and flipping opportunities
The most common way to get prompt appreciations on properties is to flip or resale them during the construction phase. This type of strategy is applicable on achieving certain milestones in your payments, and the percentage of payment after which you can resale your property varies from developer to developer typically 50 % of payment is required to avail the resale policy during construction.
High property appreciations
Off-plan properties stand out from the rest of the available options in the market because of the high potential of maximum property appreciation they hold. Off-plan property projects in Dubai come at a much lower cost as compared to ready-to-move properties. That makes your capital worth investing in. The typical percentage we can get in Dubai off-plan properties is 30-50 % and in case of luxury properties with high quality development and most sought-after locations the property can appreciate up to 100% and in some cases 2x of the total property price. This lucrative incentive is one of the many reasons why internationals are so drawn towards this type of property option in Dubai.
Secure payments through escrow account
UAE’s government is deeply invested in making UAE the world’s most stable economy, and the goal is to add Dubai among the top 3 cities in the world. The policies are well calculated and stringent in this regard. To ensure the smooth and strategic prosperity and evolution of Dubai’s real estate market, Dubai government has introduced Property registration in Dubai through escrow accounts monitored by DLD and RERA that provides an additional layer of security and bound developers to deliver projects on time.
True reflection of your taste your brand-new home
Off-plan properties give an edge to those clients who like the feeling of a brand-new home, tailored to their needs and requirements. Brand new homes offer modern designs, finishings and layouts with top notch exclusive amenities available in the project. This strategy helps developers compete in the thriving, innovative real estate market in Dubai.
Potential risks associated with off plan
When we are talking about the good stuff and advantages associated with off-plan properties, there are certain cons as well that as an investor you should be cautious about. As a first-time investor make sure you do a thoroughly the ongoing market trends as well as prioritize real estate developers in Dubai based on their previous track records regarding on-time delivery, maintenance of quality standards and resale values etc. Let’s explore potential risk in detail and how to avoid them, but when your aim is to invest in a diverse market like Dubai it is best to take expert advice like we at PFOC Properties we help you to find the best options in market and also mitigate potential risks associated with it.
Delay in handover
The most common risk that can be evaluated beforehand is the delay in the delivery timelines of the project. Delays in handover can put your financial patterns at risk if you’re planning ROI in Dubai real estate in terms of rental income or want property appreciation gains by reselling it. The situation can cause hassle if you’re planning to utilize your property for your own residential purposes. To avoid such situations, it is recommended to know the developer’s reputation well, their financial history, their track record in terms of project deliveries and final finishings of the projects, the qualities, the standards etc.
Finished project snagging
The final inspection of the finished project is called “snagging.” At the time of the handover, it is advisable to take a thorough look at the product being handed over. The process is called snagging. You can either do it by yourself or you can use third-party services. In case of any flaws or defects, a written intimation should be submitted to the developer so that they can work on the things that need to be fixed.
Scrutiny through developer’s reputation
Knowing the developer’s reputation in this regard is a must. See whether the developer whose project you are going for is suitable for your requirements and needs. The key considerations should be the developers’ financial history, delivery timelines, track records and final product quality, and above all the type of Payment plans for off-plan projects that are being offered by the developer, and which suit well with your budgeting goals. For example, there are real estate developers in Dubai like Samana Developers and Danube Properties that come with post-handover payment plans, etc.
Final word
Off-plan properties in Dubai are a great investment option, because of the number of associated benefits. The properties are proven to be a great asset in maximizing capital gains. The properties give the huge advantage of strategic location, new developments with modern architects and layouts, and added exclusive amenities to beat the competitors. The cons cannot be underestimated, but the best possible way to tackle all of that is to consult a trusted sales agency like PFOC Properties so that you can get complete market research, current trends and which property can be the best match for you. We are in partnership with all the top real estate developers in Dubai, so here you can explore different available options.
FAQs
What are off-plan properties in Dubai?
Off-plan properties refer to properties that are yet to be constructed. For such properties you pay the cost along with the construction of the property or on achieving certain milestones in construction phase. In Dubai such properties are launched approx. 3 years before their handover timeline. You can either book such properties during their launch or construction phase, subject to their availability. You can explore recent launches by the top developers of Dubai.
Is it safe to buy off-plan property in Dubai?
Yes, it is safe to buy off-plan properties in Dubai. The process is secured and streamlined through an escrow account, which is monitored by a government body Dubai Land Department commonly Known as DLD. Your payments are safe and secure and directly go into an escrow account that binds the developer for the timely delivery of the project and provides ease of mind to the client.
What are the main risks of buying off-plan in Dubai?
Although the process of buying an off-plan property in Dubai is safe, secure and hassle free but still some risk factors such as delay in handover, some minor flaws in the final product (that can be fixed through an easy streamlined procedure) should be kept in mind.
What are the benefits of buying off-plan property in Dubai?
Buying off–plan property gives you many benefits such as opportunity to get best units, access to best views the project has to offer, easy entrance into the market, flexible payment plans, high potential for ROI in the form of rental yields and property appreciations, unmatched top strategic locations in Dubai
How do I verify the legitimacy of a developer or project?
The real Estate market in UAE is regularized through govt bodies such as REAR and DLD. Investment procedures are secure and well managed. If you want to check the credibility of any project or developer, you can simply go to official DLD Website and check any required details.