Buying off-plan in Dubai can mean a lower entry price and a flexible payment plan, but the paperwork carries real legal weight from the moment you sign. The Sale and Purchase Agreement, or SPA, is the document that defines almost everything that matters later: payment milestones, handover timelines, and what happens if either side falls short.
Read the payment plan against the construction milestones, not the calendar
Many SPAs tie instalments to construction progress rather than fixed dates. That protects buyers in theory, but only if the milestones are clearly defined and independently verifiable. Vague language here is one of the most common sources of dispute once a project slips.
Oqood registration is not optional
Oqood is the Dubai Land Department's interim registration for off-plan units. It is what gives a buyer a recorded, enforceable interest in the unit before the title deed can be issued at handover. Skipping or delaying this step leaves a buyer with a contract but no registered protection if the developer runs into difficulty.
Before you sign, confirm
- The developer and project are registered with the Dubai Land Department and RERA.
- The payment plan is tied to verifiable construction milestones, not just calendar dates.
- Handover delay penalties and escalation clauses are spelled out, not left to “reasonable efforts” language.
- The unit specifications annexed to the SPA match what was marketed.
We regularly review SPAs for buyers before they sign, and register Oqood interests on their behalf. A short review at the outset is far less costly than a dispute after milestones start slipping.