Work out the full cost, not just the price
The listed price is only part of what you will pay. Build these costs into your budget from the start:
- DLD registration fee: 4% of the property's value, plus knowledge and innovation fees of AED 10 each. DLD has said the buyer pays the registration fee to the developer.
- Mortgage costs: if you borrow, DLD charges 0.25% of the loan amount to register the mortgage. Banks charge their own fees as well.
- Service charges: once the building is complete, you pay your share of its running costs. DLD explains that your share is based on your unit's area on the title deed, and you can estimate it with the RERA-approved rate in DLD's Service Charge Index.
- Handover payment: check how large the instalment due at completion is, and make sure you can pay it in cash or with a mortgage.
- A buffer: keep some savings aside in case your circumstances change during construction.
Our payment calculator shows how a plan spreads the cost. The DLD fees guide lists every charge.
Where to look for affordable off-plan
Your budget will narrow down the areas you can choose from, so compare a few communities side by side. Each area page shows the off-plan projects currently available there. Communities you can compare include:
- Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), a Nakheel master community
- Arjan
- Dubailand
- Dubai Sports City
- Dubai Silicon Oasis
- Al Furjan
When you compare areas, consider commuting times to work and school and what is already built versus only planned. If you might rent the home out, check rents for completed buildings nearby. The Dubai REST app includes DLD's sale and rental indices you can use as a reference. For a broader view, see our areas guide and all projects under AED 1 million.
DLD's First-Time Home Buyer Programme
If you don't own a home in Dubai yet, the First-Time Home Buyer Programme can give you priority access and preferential pricing on new off-plan launches. DLD and Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism launched it on 2 July 2025.
- Eligibility: you must be 18 or over, live in the UAE and not currently own freehold residential property in Dubai. DLD says the programme is open to all nationalities and income levels.
- Off-plan benefits: eligible buyers get priority access to units in new off-plan launches from participating developers. They also get enhanced commercial terms, including preferential pricing on units up to AED 5 million.
- Mortgages: at launch, five banks were named as offering products designed for eligible buyers: Commercial Bank of Dubai, Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD, Emirates Islamic and Mashreq.
Applicants are registered with DLD along with their property preferences. Check the current terms in DLD's announcement, and ask whether the project you like is taking part.
Checks that matter more on a budget
When your budget is tight, a delay or an unexpected cost hurts more. Make these checks before you reserve:
- Check the project: search DLD's Project Status Enquiry and confirm the escrow account number in the Dubai REST app.
- Check the developer: look at completed buildings, the quality of the finishes and whether past projects were delivered on time. Our developer checklist helps.
- Compare the layout as well as the price per square foot: a cheaper unit with an awkward layout or small rooms may be harder to rent out or sell.
- Know what missing a payment would cost: under Dubai law, after a 30-day notice from DLD, a developer may cancel the contract. It can keep up to 25% of the unit's value if construction has started but is below 60%, and up to 40% once the unit is 60% complete or more.
- Arrange handover finance early: get a mortgage pre-approval well before completion. See how to get a mortgage in Dubai.
