Off-Plan Payment
Calculator

The 60/40 plan is the most common Dubai off-plan payment structure, used by a majority of mid-market developers. Under this plan, buyers pay 60 percent of the property price during construction across milestone installments (typically booking, construction start, 20 percent, 60 percent, and 80 percent completion triggers) and the remaining 40 percent on handover when keys are exchanged. The structure balances developer cash flow needs with buyer risk, since a meaningful portion is deferred until delivery. ZARIN's founder has been investing in Dubai real estate since 2005 and has seen this plan survive multiple market cycles as the industry default.

Missing an off-plan payment triggers a defined sequence under UAE real estate law. The developer typically issues a written notice giving the buyer 30 days to cure the default. If the payment remains unpaid after that window, the developer may terminate the Sale & Purchase Agreement, deduct up to 40 percent of the amounts already paid as compensation, and refund the balance. The exact percentage retained depends on how much of the total price has been paid — under AED 60 percent paid means 40 percent can be retained, while above AED 60 percent paid means only 10 percent can be retained. ZARIN advises clients to maintain a cash buffer equal to two upcoming installments to avoid this scenario.

Yes, to a limited extent. Developers typically publish a standard payment plan per project (most often a 60/40 or 70/30 structure) but are open to negotiated variations for premium buyers committing to high-value units or buying multiple units at once. Common customizations include shifting the booking deposit from 10 percent to 20 percent in exchange for a 2-4 percent price discount, extending the post-handover tail by 6-12 months, or aligning installments with the buyer's known income events. All customizations must be written into the SPA and registered with DLD. ZARIN negotiates these terms on behalf of clients as part of standard advisory.

The DLD (Dubai Land Department) transfer fee is a mandatory 4 percent of the property purchase price, payable to the Dubai Land Department at the time of property registration. For off-plan property, this fee is paid at the Oqood pre-registration stage — typically within 30 to 60 days of signing the SPA — and is in addition to the property price. The fee is paid into the project's escrow account or directly to DLD via the developer's conveyancing team. There are no exemptions or reductions for off-plan buyers; even first-time buyers pay the full 4 percent. ZARIN ensures all clients are aware of this cost before signing.

Yes, the 4 percent DLD fee is a separate government charge levied on top of the agreed property price. If you buy an off-plan apartment for AED 2,000,000, you will pay AED 80,000 in DLD fees at registration, plus a small admin fee (AED 4,000) and a title deed issuance fee (AED 580). Some developers advertise properties as 'DLD-free' or '4 percent DLD included' as a promotional incentive — in those cases the developer effectively absorbs the 4 percent by discounting the list price. ZARIN's calculator includes the 4 percent DLD fee by default (toggle it off if you are evaluating a DLD-free promotion).

Yes, but with structural differences from ready-property mortgages. During construction you typically pay installments from your own funds into the project escrow account. A mortgage can then be arranged to fund the handover balance, with UAE banks offering up to 50-80 percent loan-to-value depending on the property value and your residency status. Some developers partner with specific banks to offer in-house financing with streamlined approval. The mortgage registration fee is AED 4,020 plus 0.25 percent of the loan amount. ZARIN coordinates with major UAE lenders including Emirates NBD, Mashreq, and ADCB to secure competitive terms for off-plan clients.

A post-handover payment plan spreads a portion of the purchase price over a defined period (typically 1-3 years) after key handover. The most common structure is 50/50 post-handover, where 50 percent is paid during construction and 50 percent is paid in equal installments across the post-handover period. This reduces buyer cash flow pressure because rental income from the handed-over unit can be used to subsidize the remaining payments. DAMAC, Select Group, and Ellington are among the Dubai developers most associated with post-handover plans. The trade-off is that headline prices are typically 8-15 percent higher than equivalent 60/40 plans, reflecting the developer's cost of carrying buyer debt.

After you see your results, the next step is a 30-minute advisory call with a ZARIN off-plan specialist who will review your schedule, confirm the plan type matches your cash flow profile, and shortlist two to three vetted projects that offer the structure you have modeled. The call is complimentary and carries no obligation. If you choose to engage ZARIN, we move into project selection, SPA review, escrow verification, and milestone monitoring through to handover. ZARIN was established in 2023 to deliver this end-to-end advisory, building on our founder's experience investing in Dubai real estate since 2005.