Off-plan is now how most new homes in Dubai are sold. Dubai Land Department (DLD) figures reported by Betterhomes put off-plan at 76% of residential transactions in Q2 2026, up from 68% in Q1, even though off-plan volumes were 12% lower than a year earlier. More choice does not make the decision easier.
This guide compares ten projects on sale as of October 2026 by price, location, handover date and payment plan, and says what to check on each before you book. Nine are in Dubai. The tenth, Sobha City, is in Abu Dhabi: it is one of the UAE's largest new launches and international buyers often weigh it against Dubai options, so it is included and clearly labelled.
The list is ordered roughly by entry price, not by merit. 'Best' here means worth shortlisting. None of these projects come with guaranteed returns, and prices and availability change quickly, so treat the figures as a snapshot and confirm them before you commit.
Key takeaways
- Entry prices run from under AED 700,000 (studios at Binghatti Skyflame 1) to AED 6 million and above (Emaar villas and townhouses).
- Only the two Skyflame towers have a listed handover in 2027 (Q4). The other eight are completed between 2028 and 2030, so your money is committed for one to four years.
- Payment plans on this list range from 50/50 to 80/20, and some include payments after handover. The split matters as much as the price.
- Escrow rules protect how your payments are held. They do not protect you from delays or from a market value below what you paid.
- Several projects sit above the AED 2 million level linked to the Golden Visa, but eligibility depends on the DLD valuation and current rules. Confirm before relying on it.
What are off-plan properties in Dubai?
An off-plan property is a home you buy from the developer before it is finished, sometimes before construction starts. You pay in instalments linked to the build schedule and receive the keys and the title deed at handover. Our Dubai buying guide walks through reservations, payments, and timelines step by step.
Three Dubai rules do most of the work for foreign buyers:
- Freehold areas. Foreign nationals can own property outright in Dubai's designated freehold zones. The Dubai projects below are marketed as freehold; confirm this for your specific unit.
- Escrow. Under Dubai's escrow law (Law No. 8 of 2007), each registered project holds buyers' payments in a dedicated escrow account, so the money is tied to that project rather than the developer's general funds. Funds are released against certified construction progress.
- Oqood. Until the building is complete, your purchase is recorded with DLD through an interim registration called Oqood. It converts to a title deed at handover.
Beyond the price, budget for the 4% DLD registration fee (some developers waive it on selected launches, and offers vary by project and period), an Oqood registration fee of a few thousand dirhams, and service charges once the building is occupied. Dubai does not charge an annual property tax.
The 10 projects at a glance
The 10 best off-plan projects in Dubai to shortlist
1. Binghatti Skyflame 1, Majan
View: See unit types and prices for Binghatti Skyflame 1
At a glance: Binghatti · studios to four-bedroom apartments · from AED 699,999 · handover listed Q4 2027
Why it is on the list: it is one of the lowest entry points here and has the shortest wait. The building has 27 residential floors above a podium and 1,378 apartments (741 studios, 584 one-bedrooms, 52 two-bedrooms and one four-bedroom), plus 29 ground-floor shops.
What to check. A large, studio-heavy building puts many near-identical units on the rental and resale market at the same time after handover. Look at what comparable studios in Majan rent for today, and what the service charge will be, before relying on any yield figure.
2. Binghatti Skyflame 2, Majan
View: Binghatti Skyflame 2 payment plan and floor plans
At a glance: Binghatti · studios to two-bedroom apartments · from AED 799,000 · handover listed Q4 2027
Why it is on the list: the second phase is a single 29-floor tower with 782 apartments (406 studios, 332 one-bedrooms and 44 two-bedrooms) and 19 ground-floor shops. It is a smaller building than Skyflame 1 at a slightly higher entry price.
What to check. Buying in both towers doubles up on the same developer, location, and unit type. If you want to spread risk, pair one of them with a project in a different area.
3. Raw District II, Downtown Jebel Ali
View: Raw District II apartments in Downtown Jebel Ali
At a glance: Imtiaz Developments · apartments (the wider project also includes commercial space) · AED 666,666 to 1,900,000 · handover listed 2029
Why it is on the list: it has the lowest entry price on the list, in a mixed-use project on Sheikh Zayed Road with two blocks of up to 20 floors. It is marketed as close to the Metro, Expo City, and the Palm Jebel Ali corridor, with 50/50 and 60/40 plans that include payments after handover.
What to check: Jebel Ali is still filling in: shops, schools, and tenants arrive over time, so early rental demand is harder to predict than in an established area. With post-handover payment options, ask exactly what you will still owe once you have the keys and whether rent would cover it.
4. DAMAC Maldives 1, DAMAC Islands
View: villa availability at DAMAC Maldives 1
At a glance: DAMAC Properties · villas · from AED 2,407,000 · construction start March 2025 · completion December 2028
Why it is on the list: It is a lagoon-themed villa community in Dubailand with the earliest listed handover among the villas here. Because construction began in March 2025, you can check actual progress on site rather than relying on renders.
What to check: Compare the project's registered progress with the promised schedule, and ask how DAMAC's earlier projects compared with their original handover dates. The entry price is above AED 2 million, the level linked to the Golden Visa, but whether a specific unit qualifies depends on its DLD valuation.
5. DAMAC Maldives 2, DAMAC Islands
View: Request the Maldives 2 price list
At a glance: DAMAC Properties · villas · price on request
Why it is on the list: It is another cluster in the same community, so you can compare it directly with Maldives 1 on price per square foot, plot position, amenities, and handover date instead of treating the two as the same product.
What to check: With price on request, the first step is a current price list. Ask for the payment plan and the handover date as they appear in the sales agreement, in writing.
6. DAMAC Islands townhouses, DAMAC Islands 2
View: Townhouse options at DAMAC Islands 2
At a glance: DAMAC Properties · townhouses · price on request · handover marketed around 2030 for the wider community
Why it is on the list: Townhouses are usually the more accessible way into a villa-style community than detached homes. Public marketing for DAMAC Islands 2 quotes entry prices from about AED 2.75 million; ask for the unit-level price.
What to check: At close to four years, this is the longest wait among the Dubailand options. Capital stays committed longer, and more homes are likely to be completing around the same time. That second point is our interpretation, so ask the sales team how many units are due in your handover year.
7. Selvara 3, Grand Polo Club & Resort
View: Selvara 3 villas at Grand Polo Club & Resort
At a glance: Emaar · four-bedroom villas · AED 6.94 million to 7.11 million · about 3,832 sq ft · completion May 2029
Why it is on the list. It is Emaar's equestrian-themed villa community in Dubai Investments Park 2, with polo fields, stables and a clubhouse in the masterplan. Quoted drive times to Dubai Marina and Downtown Dubai run from about 20 to 35 minutes.
What to check. Some portals list this phase as sold out, so the price may be a resale rather than the developer's price. If so, you would pay the earlier owner's premium, take over their payment schedule, and need the developer's approval to transfer. Ask which one you are being offered, and drive the route at rush hour.
8. Selvara 4, Grand Polo Club & Resort
View: Compare Selvara 4 pricing and handover
At a glance: Emaar · four-bedroom villas · from AED 6.4 million · about 3,832 sq ft · listed start November 2026 · completion May 2029
Why it is on the list. It is the newest phase in the same community, with a lower entry price than the Selvara 3-figure and the same completion year. If the Selvara 3 price is a resale, this is the developer-direct route into the same community.
What to check. At AED 6.4 million, each percentage point of the price is AED 64,000, so test the instalment schedule against your cash flow before you book.
9. The Heights by Emaar, Dubai South
View: The Heights by Emaar townhouses and villas
At a glance: Emaar · three to five-bedroom townhouses and villas · from AED 6 million · 80/20 payment plan · handover expected Q3 2030
Why it is on the list: it is a wellness-focused master community of about 81 million sq ft in Dubai South, and the closest project here to the Al Maktoum Airport expansion. An 80/20 plan typically means 80% during construction and 20% at handover.
What to check. Prices vary by phase and unit type, so ask which phase a quoted price applies to. At around four years, it is a long wait, and the area's story depends on the airport expansion arriving on schedule.
10. Sobha City, Al Bahyah, Abu Dhabi
View: Sobha City apartments and villas in Abu Dhabi
At a glance: Sobha Realty · one to two-bedroom apartments, three to four-bedroom garden villas and four to six-bedroom estate villas · apartments from AED 1.5 million, villas from AED 4.69 million · 60/40 plan with 20% booking · handover December 2029
Why it is on the list: It is an AED 40 billion, roughly 38 million sq ft community near Yas Island and Zayed International Airport, with about 4,000 apartments and 2,500 villas planned and around 60% of the site given to green space, including a 20 km wellness loop and a 2 km waterfront promenade. Sobha manages design, engineering and construction in-house.
What to check. This is Abu Dhabi, with its own registry, fees and visa process. The DLD, Oqood and Dubai Golden Visa points in this guide do not apply directly. For a first UAE purchase, decide on the emirate before you pick the project.
Explore Off-Plan Properties in Dubai
Choosing the right project means comparing prices, payment plans, rental potential, and long-term value.
Benefits of off-plan properties and the trade-offs
Benefits
- Staged payments. You commit in instalments rather than paying the full price up front.
- Choice. At launch, you pick the unit, floor, view, and layout.
- Payment protection. Escrow ties your money to the project and releases it against certified progress.
- Possible incentives. Some developers waive the 4% DLD fee or offer extended plans on selected launches. These vary by project and period and should never be the only reason to buy.
- A possible visa route. Property valued at AED 2 million or more can support a Golden Visa application, including off-plan, subject to current DLD rules.
Trade-offs
- Delays. Handover dates are targets. Check the delay clause in your sales agreement before you sign.
- Value at handover. The property may be valued below what you paid. That matters if you plan to take a mortgage on completion or to sell.
- No rent during construction. Instalments are due whether or not the market moves in your favour.
- Limited exits. Selling before handover depends on the developer's transfer rules and, usually, on how much you have already paid.
- Supply. Many launches in the same areas can weigh on rents and resale prices. This is our interpretation, not a measured figure, so look at how many similar units complete in your handover year.
Emerging districts for upcoming projects in Dubai 2027
Emerging districts usually offer lower entry prices in exchange for a longer wait while shops, schools and transport catch up. Four matter for the projects above.
Dubai South. The district is built around Al Maktoum International Airport, where an expansion valued at AED 128 billion is under way. One brokerage report published in July 2026 described Dubai South as among Dubai's top five performing areas for eight months running, driven by off-plan sales, and Khaleej Times reports that passenger operations at the expanded airport are expected to begin in 2032. Our reading is that housing demand follows jobs, so the airport matters, but the timeline is long, and The Heights does not hand over until 2030. Our Dubai South area guide covers the district in more detail.
Jebel Ali. Raw District II sits on Sheikh Zayed Road between Expo City and the Jebel Ali port and free zone, with Palm Jebel Ali under development nearby. Port and free-zone employment give the area a working base. In our view, residential amenities are still catching up.
Dubailand (Majan and DAMAC Islands). Dubailand is very large, with several communities at different stages. Prices are generally lower than in central areas, and the trade-off is distance and the number of competing launches. In practice, check how many similar units will complete in the same year as yours.
Dubai Investments Park 2 (Grand Polo Club & Resort). A low-density, villa-led community on the Dubai South side of the city. Test the commute to wherever you or your tenants will work.
Established areas such as Dubai Marina, Business Bay, and Dubai Hills Estate typically cost more per square foot, but they have rental histories you can check.
Best developers for off-plan projects in Dubai in 2027
- Emaar. One of Dubai's largest developers, behind Grand Polo Club & Resort (Selvara) and The Heights on this list.
- DAMAC. Developer of DAMAC Islands, the Maldives clusters, and the DAMAC Islands 2 townhouses.
- Binghatti. Known for distinctive facades; developer of both Skyflame towers.
- Imtiaz Developments. Developer of Raw District II. It says it designs, builds, furnishes, and manages its projects in-house.
- Sobha Realty. Vertically integrated: design, engineering, and construction are managed in-house. Sobha City is its first Abu Dhabi community.
A famous name does not replace your own checks. For any developer, confirm that the project and its escrow account are registered with DLD, compare past handover dates with what was promised, check the project's current construction status, and read the delay and cancellation clauses before you sign.
Off-plan payment plans
Plans are written as two numbers. In 60/40, 60% is paid during construction and 40% at handover. Some plans also push part of the balance after handover. Our guide to how 60/40 and 50/50 plans work for UK investors goes deeper into the mechanics.
A worked example: take an AED 2,000,000 apartment on a 60/40 plan with a 20% booking payment. You pay AED 400,000 to book, a further AED 800,000 in instalments during construction, and AED 800,000 at handover. The 4% DLD fee adds AED 80,000 unless the developer waives it, plus the Oqood fee. Before you receive the keys, you will have paid AED 1.2 million in instalments plus roughly AED 80,000 in fees, all on the developer's schedule.
Who should invest in off-plan projects in Dubai
Off-plan tends to suit:
- Investors with a one- to four-year horizon who can fund every instalment from savings or income, without relying on a sale.
- Buyers who want a newer home and a say in the unit, floor and layout.
- Buyers planning to live in the property after handover.
- Buyers whose budget reaches the AED 2 million level, if the Golden Visa is part of the plan.
It is a weaker fit if you need rental income soon, cannot absorb a delay, or are counting on selling before handover.
If you plan to finance the final payment, look at financing early; our mortgage guide explains the options for residents and non-residents. Buying from abroad also raises currency, tax and remittance questions, and we have separate guides for investors from the UK, India, the USA and Australia.
Conclusion
There is no single best off-plan project in Dubai. The right one depends on four things: how much capital you can commit and for how long, how far from central Dubai you are comfortable, how much construction risk you will carry, and whether a visa or a future move is part of the plan.
Smaller apartments such as Skyflame and Raw District II suit smaller budgets and shorter waits. Villa communities by DAMAC and Emaar suit buyers who can commit AED 2.4 million and upward for two to four years. Sobha City is a separate decision because it is in Abu Dhabi.
If you would like help testing these options against your budget and timeline, book a discovery call with our team, or browse current off-plan listings.
Frequently asked questions
1. Is buying off-plan in Dubai safe for foreign investors?
Dubai's escrow and registration system gives buyers real protections: payments for a registered project go into a dedicated escrow account, and your purchase is recorded with DLD through Oqood. It does not remove delay risk or market risk. Before paying, check that the project and its escrow account are registered, and read the delay and cancellation clauses in the sales agreement.
2. Which areas are best for off-plan investment in Dubai?
There is no single best area. This guide covers Dubai South, Dubailand (Majan and DAMAC Islands), Downtown Jebel Ali, and Dubai Investments Park 2, which offer lower entry prices and longer waits. Established areas such as Dubai Marina, Business Bay, and Dubai Hills Estate typically cost more but have rental histories you can check.
3. How much deposit do I need to buy off-plan?
Many launches ask for a booking payment in the region of 10% to 20% of the price, followed by instalments. Sobha City, for example, asks for 20% to book. The exact figure is in each project's payment plan, so confirm it in writing.
4. What extra costs come with off-plan property?
The 4% DLD registration fee (sometimes waived by the developer), an Oqood registration fee of a few thousand dirhams, and service charges after handover. If you take a mortgage, there is also a DLD mortgage registration fee, typically 0.25% of the loan, plus bank fees.
5. Can I get a Golden Visa with an off-plan property?
Property valued at AED 2 million or more can support a 10-year Golden Visa application, and off-plan can qualify. Sources describe the exact test differently (certified value versus amount paid), and the rules were updated in 2026, so confirm eligibility for your specific unit with DLD before relying on it. Of the Dubai projects here, only the DAMAC villas, Selvara, and The Heights start above AED 2 million.
6. What happens if the developer delays handover?
Dubai's off-plan rules include remedies when projects are delayed or cancelled, but the specifics depend on your sales agreement and the project's status with the regulator. Read the delay clause before you sign, and ask your advisor to explain it in plain terms.
7. Can I sell an off-plan property before handover?
Sometimes. Developers set their own transfer rules and usually require a minimum amount to be paid first, plus an approval and fee. Our Dubai flipping guide explains how it works and where it can go wrong. Treat a pre-handover sale as a possibility, not a plan.
8. Are rental returns guaranteed on off-plan projects?
No. Yields quoted in marketing are projections. Compare them against actual rents for similar units in the same area, subtract service charges and vacancy, and run your own numbers with our ROI calculator.
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