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Dubai Off-Plan Payment Plans Explained (2025): 1%, 50/50, Post-Handover & More

October 8th, 2025
Dubai Off-Plan Payment Plans Explained (2025): 1%, 50/50, Post-Handover & More

Dubai Off-Plan Payment Plans in 2025 - The Complete Comparison

The Big Four Structures

Construction-linked (e.g., 70/30, 60/40): Pay installments tied to build milestones; smaller handover balloon.

Post-handover plans (e.g., 50/50 + 2–3 years post): Lower upfront, pay balance after move-in, watch cash-flow if renting and repaying.

“1% per month” offers: Marketing shorthand for long schedules; check tenor, total installments, and any hidden “balloons.”

Mortgage-assisted off-plan: Bank funds later stages/at handover; compare bank rate vs the “implied cost” of interest-free developer financing.

How to Choose (A 5-Variable Model)

Down payment tolerance

Installment cadence vs your income

Handover date certainty (developer track record)

Rent overlap risk with post-handover

Exit strategy (hold to rent vs flip)

Worked Cash-Flow Examples (Illustrative)

70/30: Higher payments during build, lower handover stress; good for conservative buyers.

50/50 post-handover: Gentle during build; bigger tail payments ensure rent covers post-handover installments.

1% monthly: Friendly headline; verify total duration and whether the last 10–20% is ballooned. Benchmarks vary by developer; compare like-for-like using net present cost.

ROI & Yield Considerations

Dubai’s rental yields are attractive by global standards (often mid-single to low-double digits depending on area and unit). Always compute net yield after service charges.  

H2: Legal & Process Anchors You Should Check

Escrow-linked disbursements: ask for the project escrow details.

Oqood registration: confirm timelines/fees and obtain the certificate.

Red Flags

Vague milestone wording; “marketing plans” without contractual schedules; excessive post-handover beyond rental cover; penalty clauses tilted against buyers.

Offplans.com Cheat-Sheet

Build a 24–48 month cash-flow table for each project; include likely rent from month 1 post-handover; test 2%–4% rate moves if using a mortgage.

FAQs

Q1: Are post-handover plans interest-free?

A: Many are marketed as interest-free, but the “cost” can be embedded in price; compare apples-to-apples using total cash out vs alternatives.

Q2: Is “1% per month” always cheaper?

A: Not necessarily. Check duration, any balloon, and developer premiums.

Q3: Can I switch to a bank mortgage later?

A: Often at or near handover; confirm with the developer and bank about assignment/NOC and payout mechanics.

From 1% monthly to 50/50 and post-handover, learn how Dubai off-plan payment plans work in 2025 and which fits your budget and ROI goals.

A: Buyer payments for off-plan must be held in a project escrow account per Dubai law. Verify the escrow letter/details.