15 Questions to Ask Your Agent Before Signing an Off-Plan Deal in Dubai

Buying off-plan in Dubai is easy. The showroom is beautiful, the payment plan is flexible, and the agent has an answer for everything.

The hard part comes three years later, at handover, when you find out which of those answers held up.

At Homevy, we manage properties for owners after that moment. We see what the sale promised and what the market delivers. And again and again, the gap comes down to questions nobody asked before signing.

So here they are. Fifteen questions to ask your agent before you commit to an off-plan property in Dubai.

TL;DR: Ask These Questions Before Buying Off-Plan in Dubai

1. Off-plan made up 76% of Dubai residential transactions in Q2 2026, so most buyers face these questions.
2. Check the project’s registration, escrow account and the developer’s record on handovers before anything else.
3. Ask for the total cost, not just the price: the 4% DLD fee, registration costs and service charges of around AED 8 to AED 30 per sq ft a year.
4. Ask whether any ROI figure is gross or net, and whether it’s based on today’s rents or the market at handover.
5. Around 55,600 homes hand over in Dubai in 2026 and more than 60,000 in 2027, so ask what’s being built near you.
6. If you plan to rent the unit, ask whether the building allows holiday homes. Homevy, an Airbnb management company founded by property owners, manages short stays across Dubai.
7. This isn’t financial or legal advice. Speak to a licensed professional before you buy.

Questions About the Developer and the Off-Plan Project

Start with the developer and the project, because nothing else matters if the building isn’t delivered properly. Ask for the RERA project registration, the escrow account, the developer’s handover record and what the contract says about delays. These four answers tell you whether the project is protected before you look at price or returns.

1. Is the project registered, and what’s the registration number?

Every off-plan project in Dubai must be registered, and the number should appear in the ad alongside a RERA advertising permit. Check it through the Dubai Land Department’s official channels.

2. Which escrow account will my payments go into?

Off-plan payments in Dubai go into a registered escrow (trustee) account linked to the project. Off-plan ads are required to show that account number, per Gulf Business.

3. Has this developer handed over past projects on time?

Ask for two or three completed projects and visit one. How do the finishes look after a few years? How is the building run?

4. What happens if handover is late?

The sales and purchase agreement (SPA) defines the completion date and any grace period. Read that clause yourself, because your rental income can’t start until you have keys.

Questions About the Price and the Off-Plan Payment Plan

The price on the brochure is never the full cost of buying off-plan in Dubai. Ask for the complete payment schedule, every fee on top of the price, the expected service charge and the rules on reselling before handover. You want one number: what this property costs you from deposit to the day it starts earning.

5. What’s the full payment schedule, including after handover?

Many plans split payments across construction, handover and sometimes years after handover. If there’s a post-handover portion, ask how the monthly amount compares with the rent you can expect.

6. What’s the total cost on top of the price?

Budget for the 4% Dubai Land Department fee, registration and admin fees, and any agency fee. Add furnishing if you plan to rent it out.

7. What will the service charge be?

Service charges in Dubai run from around AED 8 to AED 30 per sq ft a year, depending on the building, according to Real Estate Club Dubai. They start at handover and come out of your return every year.

8. Can I resell before handover, and on what terms?

Some developers only allow a resale once a set percentage has been paid, and some charge a fee for the transfer. Get this in writing before you rely on a quick exit.

Questions About Rental Income and Off-Plan ROI in Dubai

If you’re buying to rent, the ROI question decides everything. Ask whether the figure is gross or net, whether it uses today’s rents or the market at handover, how many towers are handing over nearby, and what similar finished units earn now. A credible answer comes as a range with workings, never a single headline number.

9. Is that ROI gross or net?

Gross ROI ignores costs. Net ROI is what reaches your account. The average gross rental yield for Dubai apartments was 5.53% in Q2 2026, per Global Property Guide, so a 12% quote needs strong evidence.

10. Is it based on today’s rents or on the market at handover?

This is the question I’d ask first. A projection built on today’s demand says nothing about the towers handing over around you before your unit is ready.

11. How many projects are handing over near this one?

Dubai expects around 55,600 handovers in 2026 and more than 60,000 in 2027, per Khaleej Times. If there are five towers in your square mile today and fifteen by handover, your rent will be set by all fifteen.

12. What do finished units like this earn right now?

Ask for a range from completed comparables, not a promise. You can sense-check short-stay income with our free Airbnb income calculator.

Questions About Renting Your Off-Plan Unit After Handover

After handover, your property competes with every other unit in the building and the area. Ask whether the building allows holiday homes, who else is buying in it, what the amenities are, and how this unit’s price compares with similar towers. These answers shape both your rent and your resale value.

13. Does the building allow holiday homes?

Short stays in Dubai need a DTCM holiday home permit, and some buildings have their own rules. Our guide on whether Airbnb is legal in Dubai explains the basics.

14. Who’s buying in this building: investors or end users?

In many Dubai towers, my rough guess is that only 10% to 20% of owners live in their units. That’s an estimate, not a statistic… but if most of your neighbours are investors, most of them will be competing with you for tenants and guests.

15. What are the amenities, and how does this unit’s price compare with similar towers?

Bedroom count is only part of the answer. I could buy a two-bed in Business Bay for AED 1.5 million or another for AED 3.5 million. Furnish the cheaper one well and it may earn only a little less, which means a higher ROI. Amenities guests value, like a co-working space, a kids’ playroom or a bookable event room, also help a unit stand out.

Homevy Tip: Bring these 15 questions to your viewing and write the answers down. If an agent gets impatient with them, that tells you something too.

Here’s how good answers compare with red flags on the five questions that matter most:

FAQs About Buying Off-Plan in Dubai

Is buying off-plan in Dubai a good idea in 2026?

It can be, if the developer, price and payment plan stack up and you plan around net returns. Off-plan made up 76% of Dubai residential transactions in Q2 2026, per Betterhomes, but more supply is coming, so the unit and its management matter more than ever.

What fees do I pay when buying off-plan in Dubai?

Expect the 4% Dubai Land Department fee, registration and admin fees, and sometimes an agency fee. After handover, you’ll pay annual service charges, plus furnishing and management if you rent the unit out.

How do I know an off-plan project is safe?

Check the project registration number and the escrow (trustee) account through official Dubai Land Department channels, research the developer’s past handovers, and read the delay clause in your SPA.

What rental yield can I expect from an off-plan apartment in Dubai?

The average gross rental yield for Dubai apartments was 5.53% in Q2 2026. Your net yield depends on service charges, fees, vacancy and how well the property is managed.

Can I rent my off-plan unit on Airbnb after handover?

Usually, yes, with a DTCM holiday home permit and if the building allows it. Homevy handles the permit, furnishing, pricing and guest care as part of our Airbnb property management in Dubai.

I’m an agent. Can I refer my buyers to Homevy after handover?

Yes. Through Homevy for Partners, you earn 5% of the property’s revenue for the life of the referred property. Commission depends on the property’s actual revenue. Occupancy and income vary by unit, area and season, and there is no fixed guarantee of earnings.

The Bottom Line on Buying Off-Plan in Dubai

The best off-plan deal in Dubai is the one where you asked the awkward questions before signing, not after handover. Fifteen questions. Maybe an hour of your time. Against a commitment that runs for years.

If you’re planning to rent your unit when it’s ready, we’d love to help you plan around honest numbers. Homevy is the best short-term rental management company in Dubai at the 2026 Arabian Best of the Best Awards, with a flat 20% fee and no onboarding charges (see our fees).

Request a callback on +971 56 496 6100, or talk to us on WhatsApp before you sign.

Ciao!