A new-build apartment in Dubai is bought directly from the developer, on a payment plan that spreads the price across the construction period, paid in stages as the building goes up. Buying early gives you first choice of floor, orientation and, on many projects, elements of the finish.
Advantages of new-build over existing stock
Buying new-build means buying at the developer's launch price, before the building exists to walk through. In exchange, you get current construction standards, energy-efficient systems, current architecture and a warranty on structural defects that a resale rarely carries.
Buying early also gives you first pick of the best floors, orientations and layouts. A corner unit on a high floor with open views is chosen well before a standard unit on a lower level, so an early buyer sees the full plan while the site is still largely unsold.
Payment plans: how do they work?
Developers set their own payment plan and write it into the Sale and Purchase Agreement: a deposit at reservation, further instalments tied to construction milestones or fixed dates, and a balance at handover. Splits such as 60/40, 70/30 or 80/20 between the construction period and handover are common in the market, and some projects run "1% a month" instalments instead.
A growing number of developers also offer instalments that continue after handover, so part of the price is paid once you already hold the keys and, if you choose, are already letting the apartment. Every payment made before handover sits in the project's escrow account and is released to the developer only against certified construction progress, whichever structure you choose.
Our team in Dubai reads the payment schedule in the SPA with you line by line before you sign, so you know exactly what falls due and when.
Leading projects and developers
Emaar Properties is Dubai's largest and most established developer, behind Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and Dubai Hills Estate; current projects include The Valley, Rashid Yachts & Marina and further phases of Dubai Creek Harbour.
Sobha Realty is known for its finishing standard, with Sobha Hartland and Sobha Hartland II in MBR City. DAMAC Properties runs a wide range of projects and payment structures, including DAMAC Lagoons and DAMAC Hills.
Select Group builds in Dubai Marina, including the Marina Gate towers, and Azizi Developments works at volume in the mid-market, with projects in Dubai Healthcare City and Al Furjan. Our team in Dubai holds accounts with all of them, and with the developers beyond this list.
Protection for off-plan buyers
Every off-plan project in Dubai is registered with RERA, and the developer must open an escrow account at an approved bank before selling a single unit; every buyer payment goes into that account and may be used only for that project's construction, under Law No. 8 of 2007.
A developer must also show it owns the land, or holds a long-term leasehold, and that the project is funded before sales open. RERA tracks construction progress against the payments released and can act against a developer that falls out of line.
What should you look out for with new-build?
Check the RERA project number against the DLD's own listing before you commit to anything, and look at the developer's own track record: were previous projects delivered close to the promised date, and what is the finishing like in the buildings already handed over?
Ask what the service charge is expected to be, and treat the launch estimate as just that: an estimate, which can move once the building is running. Comparing the price per square foot against comparable completed projects nearby is the more reliable check on whether a launch price is realistic.
Our team in Dubai checks all of this before we bring a project to you, and we work only with developers whose track record we have reviewed ourselves.