Legal Considerations When Buying Off-Plan Properties in Dubai 

Off-Plan PropertiesOff Plan Projects

Buying off-plan property in Dubai is one of the most profitable and legally safe investment options. People from worldwide show significant interest in Dubai property investments. However, buying property does not always come with profit. There are chances of fraud, too. Therefore, the government of Dubai has set up various regulatory authorities to manage the smooth flow of property buying and limit fraudulent activities.

What are the legal factors to consider when buying off-plan property in Dubai?

Buyers interested in Dubai property must understand all the legal aspects before buying the property. Below, you can see a detailed list of legal considerations that you should consider:

Dubai Land Department (DLD)

Established in the 1960s, DLD is a governmental entity. It formulates laws, registers and controls real estate transactions, and inspects them. Also, DLD supervises leasing regulations and RERA and stimulates Dubai’s real estate development. DLD comprises the Rental Dispute Settlement Center, Real Estate Investment Management & Promotion Center, and the Dubai Real Estate Institute.

Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA)

RERA authors licenses for developers, brokers, and estate management firms and also monitors their activities. Such tasks are carried out with the primary purpose of making sure that all the parties follow the law.

A fine of AED 100,000 can be imposed for the non-registration of the estate project with RERA and the execution of relevant development work without the necessary license. According to the Escrow Law (Law No. 8 of 2007 on Escrow Accounts for Real Estate Developments in Dubai), other possible sanctions for the above misdeeds include imprisonment, which could be considered criminal.

Developer Registration

Developers in Dubai must be approved and licensed by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) via developer registration. This, in turn, allows only licensed and credible developers to sell off-plan properties and get protection against scams.

If a developer is not registered, it simply means that their projects can be termed as illegal. Their projects can be canceled at any phase and face legal prosecution.

Investing in the property of unregistered real estate developers in Dubai can risk losing hard-earned money and places you in a financial burden.

Project Registration

In the project registration phase, Off-plan projects must be registered with DLD. It confirms that the project has been furnished with the land and money arrangements, ensuring a safe environment for real estate investment.

There are, however, severe implications for projects that are not registered, as they cannot be sold or advertised. Unregistered projects are available for investment but pose a threat to buyers as there are chances for those projects to get suspended.

Escrow Account

Escrow is a legal arrangement that involves a third party holding the assets, money, or documents in financial transactions between two or more parties. In Dubai real estate, an approved bank acts as a third party to manage an escrow account used for construction.

As per escrow law, developers must open accounts in an approved bank to deposit and manage buyers’ funds. This ensures the buyer’s money is safe and used to develop the specific project.

If developers fail to manage the escrow account, they face serious legal obligations like heavy fines, license revokes, or lawsuits in court.

Legal Considerations When Buying Off-Plan Properties in Dubai

Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA)

A SPA is an agreement between the buyer and the developer that outlines all the terms and obligations related to the property purchase.

In this Agreement, sellers are assured of the property description, including its cost, payments, and timelines for project completion.

The SPA violation by either party results in a dispute. Since the two parties could move into a legal dispute concerning the contract fulfillment or contract termination.

Contract Validity

The validity of a contract looks at how the SPA and other agreements can be executed from the perspective of the property laws of Dubai. This protects the integrity of all contracts and ensures that they will be honored in the event of any disputes arising.

An invalid contract cannot be executed, leaving buyers unprotected while the developer risks getting penalized.

Oqood System

The Oqood system, an online platform, records off-plan property sales. DLD handles the Oqood system, ensures transparency in property-related transactions, and fulfills the required rules.

The property sale is not legally accepted if the transaction is not registered in the Oqood system. As a result, buyers could surrender their rights while developers encounter fines.

Dubai Law No. 13/2008

It governs off-plan property transactions. The objective is to provide a legal framework for both buyers and developers. Major articles include: 

Interim Real Estate Register (Article 3)

This article stipulates the registration of all off-plan property for sale in the Interim Real Estate Register. It guarantees and secures a buyer’s legal rights over a specific property even before it is fully registered in their name. Off-recorded sales are void, and the law will deny buyers protection.

Developer Responsibilities (Article 4)

The Developer must acquire the necessary licenses and ensure the project is finished according to the set conditions. This ensures that the buyers are not subjected to unreasonable delays or poor-quality construction. Projects may be terminated, penalties imposed, or litigations instituted if any of these obligations are not observed.

Buyer Rights in Case of Delays (Article 11)

This article provides the buyers’ rights where the developer does not deliver property at the agreed time. They put the buyers in a position to sue the developer for compensation or cancel the deal altogether. Although buyers may incur some loss, they can sue and claim damages from the developers.

Maintenance and Service Fees (Article 13)

This article explains the developer’s obligation to disclose maintenance and other service charges. This helps mitigate the lack of information on future costs that buyers would incur. Concealed and unjustifiable costs may give rise to litigation, and the developers may suffer penalties.

Resolving Disputes (Article 14)

This article prescribes ways in which buyers and developers can resolve their disputes. The legal enforcement of contracts and other mechanisms enable the undue delay of conflict resolution. In cases where there are differences that remain unsettled, such conflicts do result in monetary loss as well as the possibility of litigations.

Buy Off Plan Property with Dubai Off Plan

When purchasing Dubai property that is not yet developed, it’s essential to consider some legal aspects. While sometimes it becomes hard to understand, you can get expert assistance from Dubai Off Plan. We have a team of experienced real estate agents who will guide you in buying a profitable off-plan property in Dubai and assist you in understanding all the legalities related to the real estate industry in Dubai. So, hire an expert today.