Off-plan sales in Dubai are not closed when the buyer signs the SPA — they are closed when the unit is handed over with zero disputes.
The cycle spans two to four years. Payment milestones, construction progress, buyer communication, and DLD transfers all need tracking. If any step falls through, you get delayed collections and regulatory exposure.
Start here
The booking-to-handover stages
Every off-plan unit should move through these stages:
- EOI — buyer reserves the unit with a deposit
- SPA execution — agreement signed and registered
- DLD/Oqood registration — off-plan registration completed
- Milestone tracking — payments linked to construction completion percentage
- Completion and snagging — building certified, defects rectified
- Handover — keys delivered, final payment collected, title deed transferred
Payment milestone controls
Off-plan payment plans are linked to construction milestones. Your system should:
- Define milestone percentages at the project level
- Generate payment notices automatically when a milestone is certified
- Track actual payments received against each milestone
- Flag overdue milestones that have not been collected
- Prevent handover if any milestone payments are outstanding
All payment records should flow into your accounts receivable ledger automatically — no manual journal entries for individual collections.
Buyer communication audit trail
RERA and DLD expect developers to communicate with buyers regularly. Every communication should be logged:
- Construction progress reports and payment reminders sent
- Milestone achievement notifications and snagging appointments
- Handover date confirmation
If a buyer disputes they were notified, your CRM audit trail is your evidence.
Snagging and defect management
Before handover, the buyer inspects the unit and reports defects. Your process should:
- Record each defect with location, description, and photo evidence
- Assign defects to the responsible contractor and track rectification status
- Require buyer sign-off that defects are resolved before handover proceeds
Handover checklist
Link defect costs to project cost tracking. The final handover requires:
- All milestone payments collected and reconciled
- DLD transfer completed or in process
- Service charge account set up and utility connections activated
- Handover acknowledgment signed by the buyer
A completed handover triggers revenue recognition in your property accounting module. Do not recognize revenue before handover conditions are met.