In an ordinary project, supervision protects the owner's interest. In an off-plan sales project, it also protects the interests of dozens or hundreds of buyers who paid before anything was built. Every payment out of the escrow account is linked to progress verified by the supervisor, and every report it submits is made public. So supervision here is not occasional visits, but a system of documentation, measurement and certification. This guide explains the scope of supervision, project progress reports and their timing, documenting as-built drawings, and how supervision protects buyers' payments.
Scope of Supervision
- Verifying construction against the approved drawings and the specifications agreed in the contracts and feasibility study.
- Accepting work at critical stages. Read: Stages where concrete must not be poured without the supervisor.
- Measuring actual progress percentages.
- Verifying the justification of disbursement documents before certification.
- Monitoring delays and violations and notifying the authority when necessary.
Project Progress Reports
Article 25 of the regulations states that the authority may request a project progress report from the consulting office, accountant or bank every month if the built-up area exceeds 5,000 m² or the number of units exceeds 30, or the project is governmental or in government development zones, and every three months otherwise. Read: Progress reports in Wafi.
Table: How Supervision Is Linked to Buyers' Money
| Step | The supervisor's role | Protection for the buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Completing a stage of work | Site inspection and acceptance | Confirming quality and conformity |
| Requesting a payment | Verifying progress and the amount's justification | Paid only against completed work. Read: The escrow account |
| Periodic report | Measuring and documenting progress | Transparency through the public database |
| Detecting a violation or delay | Notifying the authority within the statutory period | Early intervention before the problem grows |
| Handover | Inspecting defects and documenting the as-built | No release of the retention while defects remain |
As-Built Drawings
The developer must provide the buyer with all the actual drawings of the unit as built, and add copies of the as-built drawings and drawing amendment records to the database. Good supervision documents this as work proceeds, not at the end of the project.
Read: What is different about supervising Wafi projects? and The stages of an off-plan project.
Tools for Effective Supervision
- A detailed schedule against which progress is measured.
- Standard acceptance forms for each stage.
- Dated photographic documentation of the work.
- A log of changes and their approvals. Read: What supervision reports contain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does supervision cover financial matters?
The chartered accountant audits the financial side, and the consultant verifies technical progress and the justification for disbursements.
Are supervision reports published?
The authority makes progress reports and the consulting office's reports public in the database.
Is supervision by periodic visits enough?
It depends on the project's size; large projects usually need resident supervision. Read: When is a resident engineer necessary?.
What if the supervisor finds a defect after a payment has been made?
It documents it and requires it to be fixed, and defects prevent release of the retained amount.
Can buyers see progress percentages?
Yes, through the progress reports available in the projects database.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office that supervises the construction of off-plan projects on site, measures and documents progress, verifies the justification for disbursements, and prepares periodic reports in line with the regulations. See our Wafi construction supervision 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.