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Buying off-plan
Protections when you buy before a building is finished.
Last checked 2026-10-06
General information, not legal advice. Laws and fees change: confirm with the authority named on this page before you act.
The regulator
The General Authority for Real Estate Sector Regulation (Aqarat), set up by Amiri Decree No. 28 of 2023, oversees developer licensing, escrow accounts and off-plan sales.
Before you pay
- Confirm the developer and the project are licensed
- Confirm your payments go into the project's escrow account
- Read the payment schedule, handover date and what happens if handover is late
- Keep every receipt
Confirm before you act
Ask Aqarat or the developer for the project's licence details, and check them before signing.