In off-plan sales projects, the progress report is not an internal report for the developer; it is a document the authority requires and makes public, and on which disbursement decisions are based. The buyer reads it to see how far their project has come, the authority uses it to monitor adherence to the schedule, and the accountant links expenditure to it. So a vague or exaggerated report harms everyone, the developer included. This guide explains who prepares the reports and when, what a good report contains, the reports' public disclosure, and their link to escrow disbursements.
Who Prepares Them?
Article 25 of the regulations states that the authority may request a project progress report from the consulting office, the chartered accountant or the bank. The engineering side, meaning actual progress percentages, falls to the consulting office. Read: The engineering consultant in Wafi.
When?
| Case | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Built-up area over 5,000 m² or more than 30 units | Monthly |
| Government projects | Monthly |
| Projects in government development zones | Monthly |
| Any other case the authority specifies | Monthly |
| Otherwise | Every three months |
What Does a Good Report Contain?
- Actual versus planned progress for each main element.
- Work completed during the period with dated photos.
- Deviations from the schedule and their causes.
- Technical comments and their resolution status.
- What was disbursed during the period and its technical justification.
How Is the Progress Percentage Calculated?
- Dividing the project into main elements (structure, services, finishes, external works).
- Giving each element a weight of the total value or effort.
- Measuring what has actually been built of each element on site.
- Summing the weighted percentages for overall progress.
Progress reports on ordinary projects follow the same principle. Read: The progress report and contractor payments and What supervision reports contain.
Public Disclosure
The authority makes progress reports and the reports of the consulting office and chartered accountant public in the projects database. So buyers read what the consultant writes, and any exaggeration shows up when compared with reality.
The Link to Disbursement
The disbursement document states the amounts and their justification, and is certified by the consultant and accountant. An accurate progress report is what justifies the disbursement. Read: The escrow account.
Reports as an Early Warning
Repeated deviation from the schedule in the reports is the first sign of delay, and allows intervention before it becomes a troubled project. Read: A delayed off-plan project and Supervising off-plan sales projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a small project's reports be submitted monthly?
The minimum in the regulations is quarterly for smaller projects, and the authority may request them monthly in cases it specifies.
Does the contractor prepare the report?
The regulatory report comes from the consulting office, accountant or bank, not the contractor.
Can a buyer dispute the progress percentage?
The reports are public, and the buyer may contact the authority if they see cause.
Are photos attached to the report?
It is advisable to document completed work with dated photos supporting the progress percentages.
What if the report is submitted late?
Late reports may delay disbursement decisions and raise the authority's questions, so the deadlines are kept.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office that prepares progress reports for Wafi projects with weighted site measurement and photographic documentation, links them to escrow disbursement documents, and keeps to the authority's monthly or quarterly deadlines. See our progress reports and escrow 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.