Buying an off-plan unit is a big decision: you pay today for something you will receive in a year, two or more. The law and regulations give the buyer broad protection, from the escrow account to compensation for delay to the right to the actual drawings, but benefiting from it starts with knowing the steps and what to do at each. This guide takes you through the whole journey in seven steps, from checking the licence before signing to receiving the independent deed, with what to watch at each step.
1. Before Signing: Check the Licence
- An off-plan project may be advertised only if it is licensed, and the authority makes project data public: the project name, title deed, approved drawing, number of units, developer's name and classification, consulting office, accountant, bank and project duration.
- Make sure payment will go into the project's escrow account. Read: The escrow account and buyer protection.
- Review the approved drawing of your unit, its area and its share of the common parts. Read: Off-plan unit sorting.
2. The Contract
The authority prepares a model contract that includes: the payment schedule, provisions on buyer delay, provisions on compensation and market rent for developer delay including termination, the construction period and additional periods, and joint ownership provisions. The developer may amend it with the authority's approval.
3. Payment
The developer deposits buyers' payments directly into the escrow account, and each deposit has a reference number stating the unit number. You may request your unit's accounting record and receive it within 10 working days.
4. During Construction
Follow the progress reports and the consulting office's reports made public. Read: Progress reports in Wafi and Supervising off-plan sales projects.
5. In Case of Delay
Compensation of no less than the unit's market rent set by an accredited valuer if the developer is late without a cause beyond its control. Read: A delayed off-plan project.
6. Handover
- The developer must provide you with all the actual drawings of the unit as built.
- Inspect the unit before accepting it. Read: Pre-purchase building inspection.
- Defects in construction or finishing documented by a licensed expert's report prevent release of the amount retained in the escrow account.
7. The Deed
After sorting, an independent deed is issued for your unit. With the authority's approval, title may be transferred to the buyer before the unit is completed. For properties in the real estate registry, contracts and dispositions are recorded in the off-plan sales register at the Real Estate Registry. Read: The sorting certificate.
Table: The Step and What You Check
| Step | What you check |
|---|---|
| Before signing | The licence, the developer, the approved drawing and the escrow account |
| Contract | Payment schedule, construction period, compensation and specifications |
| Payment | Deposit into the escrow account with the unit reference number |
| Construction | Published progress reports |
| Handover | Inspecting the unit and its conformity with the drawing and specifications |
| Deed | Issue of the independent deed and the unit's details |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check the project's licence?
From the project data the Real Estate General Authority makes public.
Can I see the final drawings?
Yes; the developer must provide the buyer with all the actual drawings of the unit as built.
Do I need an engineer at handover?
An independent engineering inspection is advisable, because defects documented by a licensed expert's report prevent release of the retained amount.
Can my unit's specifications be changed after signing?
Modifying approved drawings needs the approval of the authority and buyers; private changes are subject to agreement and the regulations.
What if the project becomes troubled?
The authority has measures including bringing in a replacement developer, and your money stays in the escrow account. Read: The stages of an off-plan project.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office that carries out an independent engineering inspection of your unit at handover, checks it against the drawings and specifications, and prepares a documented defects report that protects your rights before the retained amount is released. See our structural inspection reports service, or contact us.
Regulatory information is based on the Balady platform and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and procedures may be updated by the competent authority. Last reviewed: October 2026.