# How to pay a developer correctly in Dubai: escrow account, payment plan and checks > Paying for off-plan property in Dubai: escrow account only, checks in Dubai REST, payment references, missed instalments. Free purchase consultation. Page: https://continentalclub.ae/how-to-pay-developer-dubai-escrow/ · updated 2026-10-09 · Continental Club Property LLC, Dubai real estate brokerage, RERA ORN 31933 To pay a developer correctly in Dubai, send each off-plan instalment only to the escrow account assigned to that specific project, using the payment details verified before transfer. Law No. 8 of 2007 requires purchaser payments to be deposited into the project’s escrow account, which is dedicated to that project and cannot be attached for the developer’s creditors’ debts. Your payment reference should identify the sale contract and unit, and every receipt should be retained. For an off-plan mortgage, the Central Bank rules set a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 50%. ## Where an off-plan buyer should send money An escrow account is a bank account opened in the name of a particular real estate development project. It is not a general operating account of the developer and it is not an account of the broker. Article 7 of Law No. 8 of 2007 provides that payments made by off-plan purchasers, as well as project finance, are deposited into an account opened with the escrow agent in the name of the real estate development project. Article 9 states that the account is dedicated exclusively to construction of that project. Each project must have its own separate escrow account, even where the same developer is building several projects. This is the practical rule for a buyer: match the project in your sale and purchase agreement to the project named for the escrow account before making the first payment, reservation payment, down payment, construction instalment, or final instalment. A broker may explain the payment schedule, help you check documents and coordinate with the developer, but a broker does not receive, transfer, exchange or hold client money. The 2024 RERA brokerage practice guide requires brokers dealing with off-plan sales to direct buyers to deposit amounts only into the respective project escrow accounts. The implementing bylaw of Law No. 13 of 2008 also states that where a broker markets an off-plan project, the sale price must be deposited into the project escrow account; it cannot be deposited into the broker’s own account or reduced by commission before that deposit. For a broader comparison of payment routes used in Dubai property transactions, see this [guide to payment methods for buying property in Dubai](/payment-methods-for-buying-property-in-dubai-complete-guide-for-2026-buyers-and-investors/). The correct route for a developer payment remains the project escrow account shown for the relevant off-plan project. ## What the escrow structure protects — and what it does not replace The legal structure separates the project’s money from the developer’s other liabilities. Under Article 9 of Law No. 8 of 2007, no attachment may be imposed on money in the project escrow account for the benefit of the developer’s creditors. This does not mean that every commercial or construction risk disappears; it means the deposited money is legally dedicated to the stated project rather than available for unrelated creditor claims against the developer. Article 14 adds another protection after completion. Once the developer obtains the completion certificate, the escrow agent must retain 5% of the total value of each escrow account. That retained amount is released to the developer one year after the units are registered in purchasers’ names. The 5% is not an extra fee paid by the buyer, and it is not a sum that the buyer personally deducts from an instalment. It is an amount retained by the escrow agent from the project escrow account under the statutory mechanism. If an emergency prevents completion, Article 15 requires the escrow agent, after consultation with the Department, to take measures to preserve depositors’ rights and seek completion of the project or refunds of deposited payments. If a project is cancelled, the implementing bylaw of Law No. 13 of 2008 provides for a financial audit of the project and requires refunds of amounts in the escrow account, or amounts paid to the developer, to entitled parties within 14 days from the cancellation decision. If escrow funds are insufficient, the developer must refund the outstanding amounts within 60 days, unless RERA extends that period for valid reasons. Those provisions describe the regulatory process. They do not remove the need to read the sale contract, check the project before payment, and keep a complete record of each transaction. ## How to check the project and escrow account in Dubai REST Check the project before the first payment and again if payment instructions change. The RERA brokerage guide directs brokers to verify off-plan projects through Dubai REST, including the Mashrooi section, and to confirm that the project is licensed, registered and has an escrow account. ### Before sending an instalment - Open the project record in Dubai REST and search for the development using the project information provided by the developer. - Confirm that the project shown is the same project named in your sale and purchase agreement. - Check that the project is registered and that escrow-account information is available for that project. - Compare the payment instructions with the project information and the developer’s formal documentation. - Confirm the unit number, purchaser name, instalment amount and due date against the signed agreement. A project name can be similar to another project name, especially where a developer has several phases or buildings. Use the exact project and unit details stated in the agreement rather than relying on a verbal description. The check is also different from checking ownership of a completed resale property. For off-plan purchases, the immediate task is to verify the development project, its registration and its escrow arrangement. For the wider process of using Dubai REST and checking property records, use this guide on [how to verify ownership and project information in Dubai REST](/how-to-verify-property-ownership-in-dubai-complete-guide-to-title-deed-and-dubai-rest/). Keep a dated copy or screenshot of the project information you checked, alongside the developer’s written payment instruction and your bank confirmation. This creates a clear payment file if a question arises later. ## Payment plan Dubai: how to follow it correctly A payment plan for Dubai property is the schedule in the sale and purchase agreement that states when amounts become due. It may identify an initial payment, later instalments and amounts connected to construction stages or other contractual dates. Do not treat a marketing brochure, sales message or verbal statement as a substitute for the signed payment schedule. Read the plan line by line before signing. Each instalment should be capable of being matched to the contract: the due date or construction stage, the amount or percentage, the project and the unit. The implementing bylaw of Law No. 13 of 2008 recognises a purchaser’s ability to seek termination through the competent court if a developer declines to link payments to construction milestones proposed by RERA. The precise contractual wording still matters. ### Payment instructions that should be in your file - The signed sale and purchase agreement. - The payment plan and any annexes that form part of the agreement. - The exact project escrow-account details confirmed for the project. - A written request or invoice showing the instalment due. - Proof that the payer is the purchaser named in the agreement. - Bank transfer confirmation and the developer’s or escrow-related receipt, where issued. The payer should be the purchaser named in the agreement. In the transfer reference, state the sale contract number and the unit or property identifier. A practical format is: “SPA [contract number] / Unit [unit number] / [project name].” This makes it easier to link the payment to your contractual obligation and later registration record. Do not assume that a payment request is valid because it arrives near the date expected in the plan. Compare the request with the agreement, verify the escrow details in Dubai REST, and request a formal clarification if any identifier, amount or receiving account differs. If you may miss a due date, address it before the deadline rather than leaving the instalment unpaid without communication. Under Article 15 of Executive Council Resolution No. 6 of 2010, the developer must serve notice requiring the purchaser to fulfil contractual obligations, and the Department gives the purchaser a 30-day grace period from service of that notice. The potential consequences after that period depend on the verified completion percentage of the project and the terms set by the legislation. For example, where the developer has completed less than 60% of the project, the agreement may be terminated and the developer may retain up to 25% of the unit price. At 60% completion or more, the stated maximum is 40% of the unit price. At 80% completion or more, the developer may retain all sums paid, seek sale of the unit by public auction to settle outstanding amounts, or terminate and retain up to 40% of the unit price. The completion percentage is confirmed by a technical report from a RERA-approved consultant following an on-site inspection. ## Oqood registration: why the contract must enter the provisional register “Oqood” is the commonly used name for registration of an off-plan sale in Dubai’s provisional, or interim, real property register. Law No. 13 of 2008 regulates the Interim Real Property Register, while the developer service for initial sale registration records the off-plan unit and purchaser details in that provisional register. The signed sale and purchase agreement must be registered in the provisional register within 90 days from the date it is signed. The service requires the sale and purchase contract, together with identification documents required for the buyer’s status. The output is a provisional registration e-certificate sent to the purchaser. You can review the procedure, documents and registration process in this detailed page on [Oqood off-plan registration in Dubai](/oqood-off-plan-registration-dubai/). Do not confuse Oqood registration with a final title deed: an off-plan sale is registered in the provisional register before the completed unit is registered in the purchaser’s name on the real property register. For the initial off-plan sale registration (Oqood), the fee is 4% of the sale value, plus AED 10 knowledge fees and AED 10 innovation fees. The buyer usually pays the full 4% unless the developer offers a promotion; this is the Dubai market standard, and the allocation is fixed in the contract with the developer, so the contract and reservation documentation should be checked. Formally, Executive Council Resolution No. 30 of 2013 lets the parties agree a different split. Use the [Dubai property purchase fees calculator](/dubai-property-fees-calculator/) to estimate registration-related costs. Trustee and title-deed fees can arise in other transaction structures, particularly completed-property transactions, so the applicable costs depend on the stage and procedure of the purchase. ## What to do if you are asked to pay another account Do not send the money first and investigate later. A request to pay a personal account, a broker account, an unrelated company account, or an account that does not match the project escrow details should be treated as a reason to pause. - Do not make the payment using the disputed instructions. - Check the project and escrow information in Dubai REST. - Compare the account details with the signed agreement and prior official documents. - Ask the developer, through an official written channel, to confirm the correct project escrow account and explain the discrepancy. - Keep the request, reply and all payment instructions in your transaction file. A change in payment details is not something a buyer should accept through an informal message alone. The account must correspond to the relevant project’s escrow arrangement. The broker can help obtain clarification and explain the transaction steps, but should not receive the buyer’s money or provide an alternative receiving account. Article 8 of Executive Council Resolution No. 6 of 2010 also provides that a developer may not charge purchasers amounts for legal dispositions of their units other than amounts approved by the Department. If a charge is unclear, ask what it covers, whether it appears in the contract and how it is payable before authorising payment. ## Using an off-plan mortgage for developer payments An off-plan buyer may use mortgage finance if a bank agrees to provide it and the transaction meets the bank’s requirements. The Central Bank mortgage regulations set a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 50% for off-plan properties for all borrower categories. This means financing is not a substitute for planning the buyer’s own contribution and scheduled contractual payments. The bank decides whether to approve the mortgage, the documents it requires, its valuation process and the terms of finance. A real estate broker can explain the purchase sequence and coordinate documents relevant to the property transaction, but does not issue, arrange or approve credit. Read our overview of [mortgages for expatriates in the UAE](/mortgage-for-expats-in-the-uae-features-requirements-and-step-by-step-process/) before relying on finance for an off-plan payment plan. Confirm deadlines and payment mechanics directly with the bank and developer so that the contract schedule, financing process and escrow payment instructions are consistent. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I pay the developer directly instead of paying the escrow account? For an off-plan purchase, buyer payments should be deposited into the escrow account of the relevant project. Law No. 8 of 2007 defines the escrow account as the project account receiving payments from off-plan purchasers, and the RERA brokerage guide directs brokers to instruct buyers to use their respective project escrow accounts. ### How do I check an escrow account in Dubai? Check the project in Dubai REST, including the Mashrooi section, and match the project information and escrow details to your sale agreement. If details differ, obtain formal written clarification from the developer before paying. ### What should I write in the payment reference? State the sale contract number and the unit or property identifier. Add the project name where space allows. Keep the bank confirmation together with the invoice or payment request. ### Is the 4% DLD fee always paid by the buyer? Usually, yes. In primary off-plan sales the buyer pays the full 4%, which is the Dubai market standard, unless the developer offers a promotion. The allocation is fixed in the contract, so check it. ### When must Oqood registration be completed? The sale and purchase agreement must be registered in the provisional register within 90 days from the date it is signed. ### What happens if I miss an off-plan instalment? The developer must give notice and the Department gives a 30-day grace period. After that, the potential retention or termination consequences depend on the project’s completion percentage and the applicable legal provisions. ### Can an off-plan mortgage cover the entire purchase price? No. The Central Bank’s maximum loan-to-value ratio for off-plan properties is 50%. The bank makes the lending decision and sets its own requirements. If you are considering a Dubai property purchase or sale, you can discuss the transaction structure and required documents at a free consultation through the form on this page. ## Links - Page: https://continentalclub.ae/how-to-pay-developer-dubai-escrow/ - JSON: https://continentalclub.ae/how-to-pay-developer-dubai-escrow.json - Russian version: https://continentalclub.ae/ru/kak-oplatit-kvartiru-zastrojshhiku-v-dubae/ (Markdown: https://continentalclub.ae/ru/kak-oplatit-kvartiru-zastrojshhiku-v-dubae.md) How to cite: "How to pay a developer correctly in Dubai: escrow account, payment plan and checks — Continental Club Property, 2026-10-09, https://continentalclub.ae/how-to-pay-developer-dubai-escrow/"