An off-plan project licence file combines financial, legal and engineering parts. The engineering part attracts the most comments, because it must match building permit requirements and serve as the basis of buyers' contracts. The drawing submitted to the authority is the same one the buyer sees and signs, and any error in it later becomes a dispute or compensation. This guide explains the engineering documents required for the marketing licence and the project licence, why drawings are the basis of contracts, what is added after licensing, and how to prepare the file so it passes the first time. For the full picture: The complete guide to the Wafi platform.
For the Marketing Licence
Article 8 of the regulations requires submitting the architectural designs and engineering drawings with the title deed and the marketing and development contracts, if any.
For the Project Licence
| Document | Reference in the regulations |
|---|---|
| A letter from the Etmam developer services centre or the building permit authority confirming the project complies with building permit requirements, engineering drawings and architectural designs | Article 11 (2) |
| The approved unit sorting record if the project contains sorted units | Article 11 (3) |
| Estimated construction data within the feasibility study | Article 11 (1) |
| The developer's agreement with the consulting office | The procedural guide and model contract (Article 19) |
Details of Each Document
- The compliance letter: requires complete, consistent drawings; any comments from the permit authority delay it. Read: The most common engineering file comments.
- The sorting record: defines the units and their shares of the common parts before sale. Read: Off-plan unit sorting.
- Construction data: a realistic cost and duration, because delay incurs compensation. Read: A delayed off-plan project.
- The consultant agreement: sets the scope of supervision and reports. Read: The consulting office in Wafi.
Drawings as the Basis of Contracts
The approved drawing is made public in the projects database, and approved construction drawings may not be modified without the approval of the authority and the buyers. So the engineering file must be complete and accurate from the start.
After Licensing
The developer adds to the project database the consulting office's reports, completion certificates, drawing amendment records and copies of the as-built drawings. Read: Progress reports in Wafi.
Read: Reviewing the Wafi engineering file and Why prepare the sorting plan before sales?.
Common Mistakes
- Unit areas that differ between the drawings, the sorting record and the contract templates.
- Inconsistent architectural, structural and MEP drawings. Read: Clashes between drawings.
- An unrealistic schedule in the feasibility study.
- General specifications whose compliance cannot be measured.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the building permit enough?
The regulations require a letter confirming compliance with permit requirements and drawings from Etmam or the building permit authority.
When is the sorting record required?
If the project contains sorted property units.
Can drawings be modified after licensing?
Approved construction drawings may not be modified without the approval of the authority and the buyers.
Does the buyer see the drawings?
Yes; the authority makes the approved drawing public in the projects database.
Who prepares the engineering file?
The design engineering office, and it is advisable to have it reviewed by an independent office before submission.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office that prepares the complete engineering file for the Wafi licence, from consistent drawings and the sorting plan to construction data, and follows the compliance letter until it is issued. See our Wafi licence file preparation 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.