OffplanCompare

UAE off-plan property glossary

Plain-English definitions of every term you'll encounter buying off-plan property in the UAE — from RERA and escrow accounts to payment plans, snagging and the Golden Visa.

Broker commission
Fee paid to a real-estate broker for arranging a transaction; in the UAE typically 2% of the price plus VAT for off-plan and secondary deals.
DLD fee
The 4% Dubai Land Department registration fee charged on every property transfer, payable on top of the unit price.
Ejari
Dubai's mandatory tenancy registration system; every Dubai rental contract must be registered on Ejari to be legally enforceable.
Escrow account
Project-specific bank account where off-plan buyer payments are held; funds are only released to the developer against verified construction progress.
Freehold
Ownership category that grants a buyer outright, perpetual ownership of the unit and a proportional share of the land.
Golden Visa
A 10-year renewable UAE residency granted to qualifying property investors, professionals and entrepreneurs.
Handover
The moment the developer completes construction, the unit passes inspection, and the keys (and title deed) transfer to the buyer.
Leasehold
Ownership category granting the buyer use of the property for a fixed term (commonly 99 years) rather than outright ownership.
NOC (No Objection Certificate)
Developer-issued letter required for transfers, mortgages, modifications or resales on a property still under the developer's master-community.
Off-plan property
Property bought before construction is complete, directly from the developer, usually paid for via an instalment plan tied to construction milestones.
Oqood
The DLD-issued off-plan sale certificate that records the buyer's interest in a Dubai project before the title deed is issued at handover.
Payment plan
Structured instalment schedule that splits the unit price into a down-payment, construction-linked stages, and a handover payment.
Post-handover payment plan
Instalment tail that continues after the unit hands over, letting the buyer pay a portion of the price over 1–5 years post-completion.
Rental yield
Annual gross rental income expressed as a percentage of the property's price; the primary investment-return metric for UAE buy-to-let.
RERA
The Real Estate Regulatory Agency, the Dubai authority that regulates developers, escrow accounts, brokers and the off-plan sales process.
ROI
Total return on investment, combining rental income with capital appreciation from purchase to sale.
Service charges
Annual fee paid by the owner to fund common-area maintenance, security and amenities in the development.
Snagging
Pre-handover inspection where the buyer (or a professional inspector) identifies defects for the developer to fix before keys are handed over.
SPA (Sales & Purchase Agreement)
The binding contract between buyer and developer that sets out the unit specification, price, payment plan and handover commitment.
Title deed
The official ownership document issued by the Land Department on handover, naming the buyer as the registered owner of the property.