Off-planPayment plan
80/20 payment plan: off-plan projects in Dubai
80% is paid between booking and completion and 20% at handover. This plan is front-loaded: most of the money goes in during construction, so the handover payment is small.
122 projects in our index publish 80/20 as their headline plan, from 11 developers across 38 areas, with starting prices from AED 540K – AED 30.7M and handovers between 2025 and 2031. 122 of them publish the full instalment table, where a 80% booking payment is the most common first step.
What it means for you
How the money flows on a 80/20 payment plan
Worked on a AED 1,500,000 unit. Your project's exact milestones are on its page; the proportions are what the plan fixes.
Step 1
At booking
20% · AED 300K
Paid on reservation, with the sales agreement. The 4% DLD registration fee is due on top, when the Oqood is registered.
Step 2
During construction
60% · AED 900K
Instalments tied to construction milestones or fixed dates, usually every few months until completion.
Step 3
At handover
20% · AED 300K
Settled when the keys are released; a mortgage can cover it if the bank's valuation supports the price.
Who it suits
Front-loaded plans suit cash buyers and investors who want the smallest possible handover payment, often because they intend to rent or resell immediately after completion. Developers tend to price these units slightly lower than the same stock on a post-handover plan.
What to watch
Most of your money is in the project before you can see the finished unit, so the developer's delivery record and the escrow status matter more than usual. A delay stretches the construction instalments over a longer period but does not refund them.
Projects
Projects on a 80/20 payment plan
Cheapest published starting price first. Projects without a published price are listed last.
FAQ
80/20 plans: buyer questions
Is a 80/20 payment plan negotiable?
The headline split rarely moves, but the booking deposit, the spacing of construction instalments and the handover tranche often do, especially on larger units or when a developer is closing a phase. Ask before you pay the reservation fee, not after.
Does a 80/20 payment plan include DLD fees and service charges?
No. The 4% Dubai Land Department registration fee, the Oqood fee and any admin charges are paid separately, usually within the first weeks. Service charges start at handover and are set per square foot by the building's approved budget.
Can I take a mortgage for the 20% handover payment?
Yes, that is the usual route. UAE banks lend against completed property subject to their own valuation and the buyer's profile; residents can typically borrow up to 80% and non-residents up to around 50% of the lower of price and valuation. Arrange pre-approval several months before the announced completion date.
How much is the booking deposit on a 80/20 payment plan?
Across the projects that publish their schedule, 80% is the most common first payment. It is part of the price, not an extra fee, and it is usually paid with the reservation form before the sales agreement is signed.
Talk to the advisor
Want a 80/20 payment plan on a specific unit?
Tell us the budget and the area and we send the projects that match, with the dated instalment table for each so you can compare the real cash flow, not the headline split.