UAE off-plan glossary

Escrow account

Project-specific bank account where off-plan buyer payments are held; funds are only released to the developer against verified construction progress.

Under UAE law every off-plan project must have a dedicated escrow account at a RERA-approved bank. Buyer payments flow into this account, and the developer can only withdraw funds against engineering-verified construction milestones. This structure is the main consumer-protection mechanism in the UAE off-plan market — if the developer fails to deliver, escrowed funds remain available for completion or refund.