Can you sell an off-plan property in Dubai before handover?
Yes. Dubai law allows an off-plan unit to be resold before handover, once it is entered in the Dubai Land Department's interim register (Oqood). You need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the developer, and the buyer takes your place in the contract with the developer. Law No. 13 of 2008 says units sold off-plan and entered in the Interim Property Register may be sold, mortgaged or transferred in another legal way.
Law No. 13 of 2008, Dubai Legal Portal →Dubai Land Department, frequently asked questions →
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The steps, in order
- Read your sale contract with the developer. It sets the conditions for a resale, including how much of the price you must have paid first.
- Agree the price with your buyer.
- Ask the developer for a No Objection Certificate (NOC). The Dubai Land Department needs it for any off-plan resale.
- Register the transfer with the Dubai Land Department. The unit moves to the buyer's name in the interim register.
How much must be paid first
Each developer sets how much of the price must be paid before a unit can be resold, in its sale contract. Your contract with the developer tells you your number.
What the developer can charge
Law No. 13 of 2008 also says a developer may charge no fees on a resale except the administrative costs the Dubai Land Department approves.
DLD fee
The new buyer pays the Dubai Land Department (DLD) fee: 4% of the price. On a resale price of AED 1,500,000, that is AED 60,000.
Selling before handover
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