One of the great advantages of Dubai's real estate market: developers offer flexible payment plans that make off-plan property accessible to a global audience. Instead of paying the full price upfront or relying only on a mortgage, buyers pay in installments linked to the project's timeline — often without interest.
Common Payment Plan Structures
60/40 Plan
| Phase | When | Share of the price |
|---|---|---|
| Booking | Signing | A down payment |
| During construction | Installments | The rest of the first 60% |
| On handover | Completion | 40% |
Best for: Balanced cash flow — good for buyers who want moderate construction-phase payments and a meaningful handover payment (which can sometimes be financed with a mortgage).
70/30 Plan
| Phase | When | Share of the price |
|---|---|---|
| Booking + construction | Various milestones | 70% |
| On handover | Completion | 30% |
Best for: Buyers with stronger cash flow who want a smaller handover payment.
80/20 Plan
More front-loaded: 80% during construction and 20% at handover. Offered by some developers on selected projects.
Post-Handover Plans
| Phase | When | Share of the price |
|---|---|---|
| Booking | Signing | A down payment |
| During construction | Milestones | A further portion |
| Post-handover | Over an agreed period after completion | The remaining balance |
Best for: Maximum flexibility. You receive the property and can start renting it out before finishing your payments.
Post-handover plans are popular because rental income can help with the remaining installments. See our rental yield guide to understand how rental income is assessed.
1% Monthly Plan
Equal monthly payments of around 1% of the property price during construction. Spreads the cost evenly with no large lump sums.
How Developers Use Payment Plans
Emaar Properties
- Frequently offers 60/40 or 70/30 structures
- Post-handover options on selected projects
- Payment milestones linked to construction progress
Damac Properties
- Known for post-handover options on selected projects
- Monthly installment plans on some launches
- Flexible milestone payments, including on branded residences
Sobha Realty
- Often uses 70/30 or 80/20 structures
- Construction-linked milestones
- Plans designed around its in-house construction model
Each project has its own plan — always check the official payment schedule in the sales documents. Ambassadors in our network of real estate ambassadors in Dubai get these schedules project by project.
Cash Flow Modeling: How to Read a Plan
For any project, list three things side by side:
| Period | What you pay | What you may receive |
|---|---|---|
| Booking | The down payment | — |
| Construction | Milestone installments | — |
| Handover | The handover payment | Possible rental income starts |
| Post-handover (if any) | The remaining installments | Rental income |
| After the final payment | Nothing further on the plan | Rental income, and you own the asset outright |
Rents and future values are never guaranteed, so model several scenarios with your own assumptions.
→ Model your own cash flow with the Payment Plan Simulator
Key Considerations
- Interest-free in most cases: developer payment plans are usually interest-free — check the terms of each plan
- DLD registration: the DLD's 4% registration fee applies at Oqood registration for off-plan purchases (see all fees)
- Late payments: the sales contract sets out the conditions for late installments — read them carefully
- Assignment/resale: many developers allow you to resell an off-plan unit before handover, subject to their conditions
- Currency: payments are made in the UAE's local currency, which is pegged to the US dollar
For Sofara Ambassadors
Payment plan flexibility is one of your strongest talking points. Many international investors assume Dubai requires full cash — explaining the 60/40 or post-handover options often turns hesitant prospects into serious buyers.
Through the Sofara ambassador program, you can share these project schedules with your network, and our property referral program rewards you when a sale closes.
→ Join Sofara and present payment plan options to your network
All payment plans verified and structured through Cevitas Real Estate LLC.
Related: Off-Plan vs Ready | DLD Fees | Best Areas 2026
Run the numbers yourself: free calculators on OffPlanSimulator — Dubai off-plan payment plan calculator. They only use the figures you enter and the official rules.
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