Payment plan and handover day: what you owe, and when

A payment plan is one of the best features of buying off-plan in Dubai. You pay in stages while the building goes up, instead of paying everything at once. The part that deserves your attention is the end of the plan, because that is where the larger amount often sits.

The simple picture

In a plan such as 35/65, the smaller part is paid during construction and the larger part is due at handover. In a 70/30 plan it is the other way round. Neither is better in general. Which one suits you depends on how much cash you want committed during construction, and what your finances will look like on handover day.

What handover day usually involves

• The developer tells you the home is ready.
• You inspect it. This is often called snagging: you look for defects, such as a door that does not close well or a finish that is not right, and you list them for the developer to fix.
• The final payment is due according to your contract.
• Once the property is complete and the purchase is settled, you move towards the title deed, which is the document that shows you own the home. Before that, off-plan buyers hold the Oqood, the registered contract of sale.

Exact steps and timing differ by project, so I ask for them in writing early.

Questions I would ask

• How much is due at handover, and by what date?
• If I use a mortgage, when does the bank need to confirm it, and what does it need from me?
• What are the first-year service charges, and when are they billed?
• What does the contract say if the handover is late?

For family offices and larger investors

Larger positions deserve a funding calendar. List every instalment and the handover payment by date, and decide in advance where each one will come from. If a bank is involved, ask early what it needs. A plan that is comfortable on paper but depends on one sale or one transfer arriving on time is more fragile than it looks. I also suggest keeping a reserve for the first year of ownership costs, so that handover is a calm day and not a scramble.

My view

A payment plan is a tool. Used well, it lets you hold a good property without tying up all your capital at once. Know the final number from the beginning, and handover day becomes something to look forward to.

If you would like to talk it through before you decide, you are welcome to contact me.

Sources: Dubai Land Department, Request to register the initial sale (dubailand.gov.ae). Checked on 24 October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm for your own purchase.