Dubai off-plan payment plans split the price between construction and handover. A 60/40 plan means you pay 60% of the price before handover, with the down payment and construction instalments, and 40% when you get the keys. In our own sample of 60 launches up to AED 700,000, about €170,000 or $190,600, reviewed in October 2026, the most common plans were 50/50, 20/80, 60/40 and 30/70. Post-handover plans leave part of the payment until after you receive the property.
In this guide7 sections
| Plan | Before handover | At handover | On AED 1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60/40 | 60% | 40% | 600,000 during construction · 400,000 at handover |
| 50/50 | 50% | 50% | 500,000 · 500,000 |
| 30/70 | 30% | 70% | 300,000 · 700,000 |
| 20/80 | 20% | 80% | 200,000 · 800,000 |
| 60/40 post-handover | 60% | 40% in instalments afterwards | 600,000 · 400,000 spread after handover |
What do the numbers in a payment plan mean?
The first number is what you pay up to handover, including the down payment. The second is what you pay when you receive the property or, in post-handover plans, in instalments afterwards. Each developer sets in the contract whether instalments follow dates or construction milestones.
This is a 60/40 plan with 10% down on an AED 1,000,000 home:
| Payment | AED | € | $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down payment, 10% | AED 100,000 | €24,238 | $27,229 |
| During construction, 50% | AED 500,000 | €121,192 | $136,147 |
| At handover, 40% | AED 400,000 | €96,954 | $108,918 |
| DLD fee, 4% | AED 40,000 | €9,695 | $10,892 |
Approximate figures, for illustration only.
Which plan suits me?
It depends on how you will pay. If you have the savings now, a plan with more paid during construction reduces what you need at handover. If you plan to pay the handover with a mortgage or by selling another asset, a 20/80 or 30/70 delays the outlay, and you will need that 70 or 80% ready on the handover date. How much banks lend to non-residents is in the non-resident mortgage guide. Try your case in the off-plan calculator, and see how much money you need to invest in Dubai by price.
Where do the payments go?
Off-plan buyers’ payments go into the project’s escrow account, and the bank releases the money to the developer as construction progresses. This is set by Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007. Always pay into that account. Its number is in your contract and in the Dubai REST app.
What if you need more time for an instalment?
The law gives you some room. The developer must notify the DLD, which gives you 30 days to catch up. If the payment still does not arrive, the developer can cancel the contract and keep up to 25% or 40% of the price, depending on how far construction has progressed, under Dubai Law No. 19 of 2020. So choose a plan you can meet with room to spare; see the off-plan buying guide.
Paying the instalments from the UK or the US
The plan is paid the same way wherever you live: transfers in dirhams to the escrow account, on the dates or milestones in the contract. What changes is the currency you pay from and, with it, what each instalment costs you. The methods are covered one by one in the payment methods guide.
How to pay a Dubai payment plan from the UK
Paying from pounds, each instalment costs a little more or less depending on the pound-dollar rate on the day, because the dirham is pegged to the dollar. Send each instalment a few days early and ask your bank to deliver the amount in dirhams. Dubai is 4 hours ahead in winter and 3 in summer.
How to pay a Dubai payment plan from the US
From a dollar account, each instalment costs the same every time: the 10% down payment on an AED 1,000,000 home is about $27,200. Send an international transfer to the escrow account with your name and unit in the reference. New York and Miami are 9 hours behind in winter and 8 in summer.
From anywhere else
The process is the same. Allow for your currency against the dollar when planning each payment.
Things to keep in mind
- Add the 4% DLD fee to the down payment.
- Check whether instalments follow dates or construction milestones.
- Always pay into the project escrow account.
- If you will pay the handover with a mortgage, get pre-approval in good time.
- If you pay in a currency other than the dollar, allow for the exchange rate.
- Choose a plan you can meet comfortably.
We help you review the numbers of each project’s plan before you book.
Frequently asked questions
Which off-plan payment plan is most common in Dubai?
In our own sample of 60 launches up to AED 700,000, reviewed in October 2026, the most frequent were 50/50, 20/80, 60/40 and 30/70.
Is the 4% DLD fee included in the plan?
No. It is paid separately, usually when the sale is registered, unless the contract says otherwise.
Can the payment plan be negotiated?
Sometimes. Some developers accept adjustments, especially for multiple units. We confirm it for each project.
What is a post-handover plan?
A plan where part of the price is paid in instalments after you receive the property, for example over 2 or 3 years.
Can I pay a Dubai payment plan from the UK?
Yes, by transfer in dirhams to the escrow account. Paying from pounds, each instalment moves a little with the pound-dollar rate.
Can I pay a Dubai payment plan from the US?
Yes, and paying in dollars there is no currency risk, as the dirham is pegged to the dollar.
