A developer payment plan tells you how the property price is divided over time. A label such as 60/40 is a useful summary, but the signed schedule tells you how much money must be ready on each date. Compare it with the total buying costs.
What does a 60/40 or 80/20 plan mean?
Where an offer defines the split as before and at handover, 60/40 means 60% is paid before handover and 40% at handover. On a hypothetical AED 1 million home, that is AED 600,000 followed by AED 400,000.
Do not assume every advertisement uses the same definition. Check whether the booking payment forms part of the first percentage, how the construction instalments are divided and when the final balance falls due.
Are instalments tied to dates or construction?
Read each trigger in the contract. A payment may be due on a calendar date or when a specified construction milestone is reached. Ask what evidence supports a milestone request and how you will be notified.
Put the schedule into a simple calendar in dirhams. Add your other commitments during the same months. Two homes with the same price can require different amounts of cash before you receive the keys. Compare specific offers when exploring Emaar communities, including Dubai Hills Estate.
Does post-handover mean a mortgage?
No. A post-handover developer plan leaves part of the purchase price payable after handover under that agreement. A bank mortgage is a separate lending arrangement with its own eligibility, security, fees and repayment terms.
Ask what restrictions and obligations apply while a developer balance remains. If you intend to use a bank for the final instalment, check our off-plan mortgage guide and obtain project-specific terms.
Which questions should you resolve before signing?
- What is due now, during construction and at handover?
- Are registration and other charges outside the advertised split?
- What happens if a payment is late or completion changes?
- What conditions apply if you want to sell before paying in full?
Compare the total price alongside the payment schedule. A smaller deposit can help your immediate cash flow while leaving a larger payment later. Keep a reserve instead of assuming future rent or resale proceeds will cover that balance.
Before transferring an instalment, verify the project’s escrow details. Keep the agreed schedule with your SPA and registration documents, so you can check requests against the same record.
