Off-Plan Payment Plan Calculator: Map Out Your Milestones
Buying an off-plan property in Dubai works differently from buying a ready home. Instead of paying the full price upfront, you pay the developer in stages spread across the construction period — often over two to four years. Understanding that schedule before you commit is essential: it shapes your cash flow, your entry cost, and how much you'll need at each stage.
How off-plan plans work:
An off-plan payment plan is an installment schedule set by the developer. It usually starts with a booking deposit (commonly around 10% of the price), followed by a series of installments during construction, and a final payment at handover when you receive the keys. Because UAE banks generally don't finance unbuilt properties, these payment plans are the main way buyers fund an off-plan purchase.
The common structures:
Plans are described by how the price is split between the construction phase and handover. Popular shapes include 80/20 (most paid during construction, 20% at handover), 60/40, and 50/50, along with post-handover plans where part of the balance is paid over a few years after you move in. Installments are usually triggered either by construction milestones (foundation, structure, finishes) or by fixed calendar dates. Milestone-linked plans are generally considered safer for buyers, because payments only fall due as the developer reaches verified stages of progress.
Why use the calculator:
With so many plan variations, it's easy to lose track of what you actually owe at each point. The calculator below maps it out for you. Enter your property price and payment-plan structure, and it breaks the total into the booking deposit, each construction installment, and the handover payment — giving you a clear timeline of what's due and when. It's the fastest way to check whether a plan fits your budget and to compare different developers' offers side by side.
Pick a common developer plan, or adjust the percentages below to match your SPA.
More options
Cash Needed By Handover
AED 1,561,090
Including AED 61,090DLD & Oqood registration
- Booking / down payment
- AED 300,000
- DLD 4% + Oqood
- AED 61,090
- During construction (4 instalments)
- AED 600,000
- Each construction instalment
- AED 150,000
- Handover payment
- AED 600,000
- Total outlay
- AED 1,561,090
How UAE off-plan plans work
Booking deposits typically run 5–20%, and the 4% DLD fee plus AED 1,090 Oqood registration is due within 30 days of signing the SPA — paid in cash, not financed. Post-handover plans spread the balance over 2–5 years, interest-free, but usually price the unit higher than an equivalent 60/40 plan.
Payment schedule
| Milestone | When | % of price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking / down payment | On signing (Month 0) | 20.0% | AED 300,000 |
| DLD + Oqood registration | Within 30 days of signing | — | AED 61,090 |
| Construction instalment 1 of 4 | Month 6 | 10.0% | AED 150,000 |
| Construction instalment 2 of 4 | Month 12 | 10.0% | AED 150,000 |
| Construction instalment 3 of 4 | Month 18 | 10.0% | AED 150,000 |
| Construction instalment 4 of 4 | Month 24 | 10.0% | AED 150,000 |
| Handover payment | At handover (Month 30) | 40.0% | AED 600,000 |
Closing note:
Payment structures vary between developers and individual projects, and the exact schedule is confirmed at launch and locked in your Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA). Always review the official payment plan in your SPA and confirm the milestones with your developer before committing. This calculator is designed to help you plan and compare, not to replace the contractual schedule.
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