Buying off-plan in Dubai: from booking to keys

Form, deposit, contract, escrow, registration: the process as a developer describes it.

Every developer has its own forms, but the process looks alike. Here is the one Citi Developers describes in the AGUA Residences file.

1. The reservation form

It sets out the basic terms of the sale, the chosen payment plan and your personal details.

2. The reservation deposit

Once the deposit is received, the chosen unit is reserved in your name. For a non-resident buyer, the document asks for 10% of the price, by card or cheque.

3. The sale contract (SPA)

You sign the Sales and Purchase Agreement and return it to the developer, with instructions to transfer the down payment to the project escrow account.

4. Registration

The unit is registered and a provisional ownership certificate, the “Initial Agreement for Sale”, is issued in your name. Dubai Land Department fees and admin costs apply at this step.

5. Subsequent payments

They follow the payment plan and the contract terms.

Documents to prepare

For a non-resident: passport copy and signature page, national ID where applicable, contact details and address. For a company the list is longer: articles, certificate of good standing, board resolution, English and Arabic translations.

Before step 3, run the brochure through the decoder: it is the moment you can still ask for written clarifications.