A plan that spreads part of the price over the years after handover makes an off-plan unit easier to buy. It does not make it cheaper, and the instalments still due once you hold the keys are where most buyers get caught. This guide is what we tell clients on the phone, written down, with the numbers that applied the week it was last reviewed.
The short version
A plan that spreads part of the price over the years after handover makes an off-plan unit easier to buy. It does not make it cheaper, and the instalments still due once you hold the keys are where most buyers get caught. This guide is what we tell clients on the phone, written down, with the numbers that applied the week it was last reviewed.
Step by step
- Read the whole schedule, not the headline split. Booking, construction instalments, handover payment and every post-handover month.
- Check the rent covers the post-handover instalments. If it does not, the gap comes out of your pocket every month.
- Budget for the upfront costs. The 4% DLD fee and admin fees are paid when you book, not when you get the keys.
- Confirm the handover date in the SPA. A late handover pushes back the rent, not the instalments already due.
- Register properly. Oqood registration at the DLD now; title deed and Ejari after handover.
What it costs
| Item | Typical amount |
|---|---|
| DLD registration (Oqood) | 4% of the purchase price |
| Developer admin / Oqood fees | approx. 1,000 – 5,000 |
| Agency commission | usually paid by the developer on primary sales |
| Service charges | from handover – ask for the developer’s estimate per sq ft |
| Mortgage at handover (if used) | ~1% arrangement fee + valuation 2,500 – 3,500 |
Where people go wrong
The three most expensive mistakes we see on post-handover plans: assuming the rent will cover the instalments, forgetting the handover payment is a lump sum, and trying to sell before the plan is paid off without checking the developer’s resale rules. None of those are hard to avoid once somebody points them out.
If a broker cannot show you the full payment schedule in dirhams, line by line, they are not close enough to the deal to advise you.
What to do next
Send us your budget, your timeline and whether this is for living in or letting out. You will get a shortlist with the numbers attached, and an honest note about which one we would drop.