Dubai Off-Plan Payment Plans Explained (2026)
A payment plan is the real price of an off-plan home. Here is how the common structures work, and how to compare them without getting dazzled by a low deposit.
What a payment plan is
An off-plan payment plan splits the purchase price into instalments you pay over the construction period, and sometimes beyond it. Instead of paying in full, you put down a booking deposit and then pay in tranches — either linked to construction milestones or to fixed dates — with the balance due at or after handover.
Two projects at the same headline price can have very different plans. The plan decides how much cash you need and when, so it deserves as much scrutiny as the price itself.
The common structures
- 20/80: pay 20% during construction, 80% on handover. Low cash out during the build, large balance (often mortgaged) at completion.
- 40/60: 40% during construction, 60% on handover. More paid up front, smaller completion balance.
- 50/50: an even split between the build phase and handover.
- Post-handover plans: you keep paying a portion (say 20–40%) for one to three years after you get the keys, which eases cash flow but usually means a higher total or price.
- Construction-linked: instalments are released as the developer hits build milestones (foundation, structure, etc.) rather than on set dates — this ties your money to actual progress.
Don’t forget the DLD fee
Whatever the plan, you also pay the Dubai Land Department fee of 4% of the price, plus the Oqood off-plan registration fee. Some developers advertise a “DLD waiver” as an incentive — read it carefully, because it is a marketing offset, not a change to the law.
How to compare plans properly
- Look at total cash to handover, not the deposit. A tiny booking amount can hide a heavy mid-construction schedule.
- Map the instalments against your own cash flow and any mortgage you plan to take at completion.
- Compare price per sqft first, plan second. A generous plan on an overpriced unit is still an overpriced unit — check the district’s transaction data.
- Watch post-handover plans for a price premium baked into the flexibility.
See real plans across projects
Every project on Metrika shows its payment-plan summary alongside price per sqft and handover date, so you can compare the plan and the price together. Each project also has a dedicated payment-plan breakdown page.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 20/80 payment plan in Dubai?+
You pay 20% of the price in instalments during construction and the remaining 80% on handover. It keeps cash outlay low during the build, but leaves a large balance — often financed by a mortgage — due at completion.
What is a post-handover payment plan?+
A plan where you continue paying part of the price for a set period (commonly one to three years) after you receive the keys. It eases cash flow but usually carries a higher total price than a plan settled at handover.
Do payment plans include the DLD fee?+
No. The 4% Dubai Land Department fee and the Oqood registration fee are separate from the payment plan. Some developers offer a “DLD waiver” incentive, but that is a discount offset, not part of the instalment schedule.
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