Guide · Deposits

Deposits and completion conditions: questions to settle before signing

Before agreeing a deposit, understand its purpose, recipient, holding arrangement and treatment under the contract. Do not assume every Dubai property deposit follows the same amount, release rule or refund outcome.

Ask what the payment is for

Clarify whether the requested payment is a contractual deposit, a booking payment, a provider’s service fee or another charge. Record the exact description in the relevant document. Different payments may have different recipients and terms.

Conveyance’s service fee is not the property deposit. We do not hold purchase money.

Make the holding and release arrangement explicit

Ask who receives or holds the payment, in what capacity, what evidence is issued and which agreed event permits release. Confirm the recipient independently before preparing a payment instrument.

If the answer depends on a contractual interpretation, obtain qualified legal advice. A coordination checklist cannot determine who is entitled to disputed money.

Link conditions to evidence

These questions help a reviewer identify ambiguity before signing; they do not substitute new conditions into the agreement.

Do not rely on a verbal refund promise

Ask for the applicable terms in the complete document before payment. Keep all additional terms and written confirmations. If someone’s explanation differs from the wording, resolve the inconsistency before acting.

Read the Form F preparation guide for the wider agreement checks.

Keep the transaction and service appointments separate

The sale deposit, broker appointment and conveyancing service can involve different obligations. Ask who has appointed each provider and what happens to that provider’s fee if the transaction changes. The fee-allocation guide covers those questions.

If you appoint Conveyance, the service is provided from our operational office in Business Bay, separate from the broker and from whoever holds the deposit.

If the agreement is already signed

Preserve the signed version and evidence of payments and communications. Obtain appropriate advice before cancelling, withholding a payment or assuming a deposit must be returned. Do not alter source records or treat a general online guide as a decision on your contract.

Use the failed-deal file checklist to prepare the facts for the relevant adviser and providers.