How to Research a UAE Property Developer

When you buy off-plan, you are buying a promise as much as a property. The developer behind that promise deserves the same scrutiny you would give any business you hand a large sum of money to. Brand recognition helps, but it is not research.

1. Confirm the project is registered

In Dubai, a developer selling off-plan must register the project and open a dedicated escrow account under Law No. 8 of 2007 before taking buyers’ payments. Check the project through official Dubai Land Department channels rather than relying on a brochure.

2. Check the advertising permit

Property advertisements in Dubai carry permit numbers. A listing without one is a warning sign.

3. Look at what the developer has already delivered

• Visit completed buildings, ideally a few years old.
• Look at common areas, lifts, façades and landscaping.
• Talk to residents or building managers if you can.

Finishes in a show apartment tell you about marketing. A five-year-old building tells you about the developer.

4. Compare promised and actual completion dates

Many projects finish later than first advertised. A developer’s history of delays — and how buyers were treated — is often more informative than its newest launch.

5. Understand the master plan

If the project sits within a larger community, find out who the master developer is, what infrastructure is already built and what is still planned. Your building may be finished long before the school, park or retail around it.

6. Read the sale and purchase agreement

Look for: the specification schedule, permitted variations in size, payment schedule, delay provisions, termination rights, resale restrictions before completion, and service charge estimates. Have the contract reviewed if you are unsure.

7. Ask direct questions

• What percentage of construction is complete, and how is that verified?
• What happens if handover is delayed?
• Can I resell before completion, and on what terms?
• What are the estimated service charges?

8. Remember: a directory listing is not an endorsement

Our developer directory exists to help you research. Inclusion does not mean HAG Realty Group represents or has a partnership with a developer, and no developer is right for every buyer.

General information only — not legal or financial advice.