Off-plan
Off-plan means buying a unit from a developer before it is completed. In Dubai the sale is recorded in an interim register until the project is finished.
Definition
DLD’s Request to register the initial sale lets a developer register units sold off-plan in the provisional register, and states that the sale contract must be registered within 90 days of signing; it issues a provisional registration e-certificate. Law No. (13) of 2008 provides that a sale of an off-plan unit is void unless entered in the interim register. Under Law No. (8) of 2007, a developer who wishes to sell off-plan must ask DLD to open an escrow account.
What it shows — and what it does not
An off-plan registration shows your interest in a unit that is not yet complete. The title deed comes later: when the project is completed, the developer enters it in the Property Register in the names of buyers who have met their obligations.
Example
Illustrative example: a buyer signs for an apartment in a tower under construction; the developer registers the sale in the interim register, and payments go into the project’s escrow account.
Next step
Compare the routes in Off-plan vs secondary.
Source: Request to register the initial sale — Dubai Land Department · supports: initial sale registration, the 90-day rule and the provisional e-certificate · checked 10 October 2026
Source: Law No. (13) of 2008 Regulating the Interim Property Register in the Emirate of Dubai — Dubai Legislation Portal · supports: sales void unless entered in the interim register; completed projects moved to the Property Register · checked 10 October 2026
Source: Law No. (8) of 2007 Concerning Escrow Accounts for Real Estate Development in the Emirate of Dubai — Dubai Legislation Portal · supports: the escrow account requirement · checked 10 October 2026
Related terms
Authoritative references
Governance
- October 20, 2026
Maintenance: Updated for material UAE authority/trustee process changes and recurring user confusion. Method: Editorial Policy