80/20
80% across booking and construction, 20% at handover. The most frequently reported structure on Emaar villa phases, including Ovelle, Avelia and Farm Grove in The Valley.
- 80% Booking and construction
- 20% Handover
Payment structures
Off-Plan Villas in Dubai With Payment Plans
A Dubai off-plan payment plan splits the price into a booking deposit, instalments through construction and a final payment at handover, with some developers extending part of the balance past handover. Plans are set per release rather than per developer, and the money sits in a project escrow account until construction milestones are verified.
A typical villa plan, stage by stage
The shape of a Dubai off-plan villa plan
- 10–20% Booking Paid on reservation, before or with the SPA
- 50–80% During construction Instalments tied to dates or construction milestones
- 10–40% Handover Due on or near completion and registration
- 0–30% Post-handover Offered by some developers, not by all
Ranges reflect the structures currently marketed across the projects on this site. They are not a standard and no project uses all four stages at once.
Current projects
Villa projects with a published payment structure
Only projects where a developer or two independent market sources state the structure appear here. Most Dubai villa launches do not publish one at all, which is itself worth knowing.
| Project | Community | Developer | Price from | Payment structure | Handover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldar Cassia Villas | The Wilds by Aldar | Aldar | AED 5,100,000Indicative | 10% at booking, 55% during construction, 35% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2029Indicative |
| Aldar Theon Villas at Athlon | Athlon by Aldar | Aldar | On requestNot published | 5% at launch, 55% during construction, 40% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2028Indicative |
| DAMAC Islands 2 Villas (DS-V45) | DAMAC Islands 2 | DAMAC Properties | On requestNot published | 75% during construction, 25% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2030 |
| Emaar Montura 2 | Grand Polo Club & Resort | Emaar Properties | AED 5,510,000Indicative | 10% booking, 70% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2029Indicative |
| Maha Villas | Expo City Dubai | Expo City Dubai | AED 13,000,000 | 70% during construction, 30% on handoverIndicative | March 2026 per Property Finder, marked readyIndicative |
| Meraas Nad Al Sheba Gardens Phase 9 | Nad Al Sheba Gardens | Meraas | AED 9,500,000Indicative | 20% booking, 20% during construction, 60% on handoverIndicative | Q1 2029Indicative |
| Meraas The Acres Phase 3 | The Acres by Meraas | Meraas | AED 6,500,000Indicative | 10% at launch, 55% across nine construction instalments, 35% on handoverIndicative | Q4 2027Indicative |
| Nakheel Bay Villas Semi-Detached Villas | Dubai Islands | Nakheel | AED 5,000,000Indicative | 20% booking, 60% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2027Indicative |
| Nakheel District One West | Mohammed Bin Rashid City | Nakheel | AED 10,000,000Indicative | 20% booking, 60% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q1 2027Indicative |
| Nakheel The Beach Collection Villas | Palm Jebel Ali | Nakheel | AED 18,000,000Indicative | 20% at launch, 60% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q4 2028Indicative |
| Aldar Ravenna Residences | The Wilds by Aldar | Aldar | AED 9,500,000Indicative | 10% at launch, 55% during construction, 35% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2029Indicative |
| Aldar Theon Townhouses at Athlon | Athlon by Aldar | Aldar | AED 2,800,000 | 5% at launch, 55% during construction, 40% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2028Indicative |
| DAMAC Islands 2 Twin Villas (DSTW) | DAMAC Islands 2 | DAMAC Properties | On requestNot published | 75% during construction, 25% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2030 |
| Emaar Selvara | Grand Polo Club & Resort | Emaar Properties | AED 6,200,000Indicative | 10% booking, 70% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2029Indicative |
| Emaar Serro 2 | The Heights Country Club & Wellness | Emaar Properties | AED 6,200,000Indicative | 10% booking, 70% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2030Indicative |
| Meraas Nad Al Sheba Gardens Phase 7 | Nad Al Sheba Gardens | Meraas | AED 11,000,000Indicative | 20% at launch, 40% across six construction instalments, 40% on handoverIndicative | Q3 2028Indicative |
| Nakheel Bay Villas Garden Villas | Dubai Islands | Nakheel | On requestNot published | 20% booking, 60% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2027Indicative |
| Nakheel The Coral Collection Villas | Palm Jebel Ali | Nakheel | AED 29,000,000Indicative | 20% at launch, 60% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q4 2028Indicative |
| Taraf Terra Golf Collection Phase 2 | Jumeirah Golf Estates | Taraf | AED 21,000,000 for villas, AED 10,040,000 for townhousesIndicative | 10% at booking, 50% during construction, 40% on handoverIndicative | Q4 2027Indicative |
| Yasmina Villas | Expo City Dubai | Expo City Dubai | AED 6,100,000 | 50% during construction, 50% payable post-handoverIndicative | Not announcedNot published |
| Aldar Moringa Mansions | The Wilds by Aldar | Aldar | AED 39,000,000Indicative | 10% at launch, 55% during construction, 35% on handoverIndicative | Q3 2029Indicative |
| DAMAC Islands 2 Townhouses | DAMAC Islands 2 | DAMAC Properties | AED 2,750,000 | 75% during construction, 25% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2030 for five-bedroom, Q4 2030 for four-bedroom |
| Emaar Palmiera 3 | The Oasis by Emaar | Emaar Properties | AED 9,180,000 to AED 9,660,000 | 10% booking, 30% on set dates, 40% construction-linked, 20% at completion | Q4 2028 |
| Emaar Selvara 3 | Grand Polo Club & Resort | Emaar Properties | AED 6,400,000Indicative | 10% booking, 70% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2029Indicative |
| Meraas Nad Al Sheba Gardens Phase 8 | Nad Al Sheba Gardens | Meraas | AED 12,000,000Indicative | 20% at launch, 40% across six construction instalments, 40% on handoverIndicative | Q4 2028Indicative |
| Meraas The Acres Phase 2 | The Acres by Meraas | Meraas | AED 14,000,000Indicative | 5% at launch, 60% during construction, 35% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2028Indicative |
| Nakheel Bay Villas Waterfront Villas | Dubai Islands | Nakheel | On requestNot published | 20% booking, 60% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2027Indicative |
| Barbados 2 at DAMAC Islands 2 | DAMAC Islands 2 | DAMAC Properties | On requestNot published | 75% during construction, 25% on handoverIndicative | 30 June 2030 |
| Emaar Selvara 4 | Grand Polo Club & Resort | Emaar Properties | AED 6,400,000Indicative | 10% booking, 70% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2029Indicative |
| Majid Al Futtaim Serenity Mansions | Tilal Al Ghaf | Majid Al Futtaim | On requestNot published | 10% at launch, 50% during construction, 40% on handoverIndicative | Q4 2027Indicative |
| Meraas Nad Al Sheba Gardens Phase 11 | Nad Al Sheba Gardens | Meraas | AED 14,000,000Indicative | 20% booking, 60% across seven instalments, 20% on deliveryIndicative | Q2 2029Indicative |
| Meraas The Acres Estates | The Acres by Meraas | Meraas | AED 14,500,000Indicative | 10% at launch, 55% during construction, 35% on handoverIndicative | Q1 2028Indicative |
| Nakheel Bay Villas Beachfront Villas | Dubai Islands | Nakheel | On requestNot published | 20% booking, 60% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2027Indicative |
| wasl Pinewood at Jumeirah Golf Estates | Jumeirah Golf Estates | wasl | AED 5,600,000Indicative | 10% at booking, 70% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q4 2028Indicative |
| Emaar Montura | Grand Polo Club & Resort | Emaar Properties | AED 7,060,000Indicative | 10% booking, 70% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2029Indicative |
| Majid Al Futtaim Elysian Mansions | Tilal Al Ghaf | Majid Al Futtaim | AED 18,500,000 askingIndicative | 10% at launch, 50% during construction, 40% post-handoverIndicative | Not announcedNot published |
| Meraas Nad Al Sheba Gardens Phase 12 | Nad Al Sheba Gardens | Meraas | On requestNot published | 20% down, 60% before handover, 20% on completionIndicative | Q3 2029Indicative |
| Emaar Montura 3 | Grand Polo Club & Resort | Emaar Properties | AED 7,070,000Indicative | 10% booking, 70% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2029Indicative |
| wasl Ashwood Estates | Jumeirah Golf Estates | wasl | AED 12,000,000Indicative | 10% at booking, 70% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | December 2028 |
| Emaar Chevalia Fields | Grand Polo Club & Resort | Emaar Properties | AED 7,340,000Indicative | 10% booking, 70% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2029Indicative |
| Jouri Hills by Arada | Jumeirah Golf Estates | Arada | AED 5,300,000Indicative | 25% at booking, 45% during construction, 30% on handoverIndicative | June 2026, at or past handoverIndicative |
| Majid Al Futtaim Alaya | Tilal Al Ghaf | Majid Al Futtaim | AED 6,700,000 askingIndicative | 10% at launch, 45% during construction, 5% at handover, 40% post-handoverIndicative | Not announcedNot published |
| Emaar Chevalia Estate 2 | Grand Polo Club & Resort | Emaar Properties | AED 7,900,000Indicative | 10% booking, 70% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q2 2029Indicative |
| Majid Al Futtaim Plagette 32 | Tilal Al Ghaf | Majid Al Futtaim | AED 7,500,000 askingIndicative | 10% at launch, 50% during construction, 40% on handoverIndicative | Q4 2026Indicative |
| Taraf Terra Golf Collection Phase 1 | Jumeirah Golf Estates | Taraf | AED 15,000,000 for villas, AED 7,200,000 for townhousesIndicative | 10% at booking, 50% during construction, 40% on handoverIndicative | Q4 2027Indicative |
| Emaar Chevalia Estate | Grand Polo Club & Resort | Emaar Properties | AED 9,000,000Indicative | 10% booking, 70% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q1 2029Indicative |
| Majid Al Futtaim Amara | Tilal Al Ghaf | Majid Al Futtaim | AED 6,700,000 askingIndicative | 10% at launch, 50% during construction, 40% on handoverIndicative | Q4 2026Indicative |
| Majid Al Futtaim Harmony | Tilal Al Ghaf | Majid Al Futtaim | On requestNot published | 10% at launch, 45% during construction, 5% at handover, 40% post-handoverIndicative | Q2 2024, deliveredIndicative |
| Aldar Sanctuary at Haven | Haven by Aldar | Aldar | AED 3,150,000Indicative | 5% at booking, 55% during construction, 40% on handoverIndicative | Q3 2027 |
| DAMAC Islands Seven-Bedroom Villa | DAMAC Islands | DAMAC Properties | On requestNot published | 20% at launch, 40% during construction, 40% on handoverIndicative | Q4 2028Indicative |
| Emaar Equiterra | Grand Polo Club & Resort | Emaar Properties | AED 3,500,000 | 10% booking, 70% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q3 2029Indicative |
| Majid Al Futtaim Aura and Aura Gardens | Tilal Al Ghaf | Majid Al Futtaim | On requestNot published | 10% at launch, 45% during construction, 5% at handover, 40% post-handoverIndicative | Q3 2024, deliveredIndicative |
| South Bay 4 | Dubai South | Dubai South Properties | AED 3,200,000Indicative | 50% construction, 20% handover, 30% post-handoverIndicative | Q1 2027Indicative |
| Aldar Serenity at Haven | Haven by Aldar | Aldar | AED 3,150,000Indicative | 5% at booking, 55% during construction, 40% on handoverIndicative | Q3 2027 |
| Emaar Equiterra 2 | Grand Polo Club & Resort | Emaar Properties | AED 3,500,000 | 10% booking, 70% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q3 2029Indicative |
| Majid Al Futtaim Elan | Tilal Al Ghaf | Majid Al Futtaim | AED 3,449,000 askingIndicative | Six-year plan with 40% falling due over three years after completion, and a 50% DLD fee waiver | DeliveredIndicative |
| Aldar Haven Townhouses (Falls, Ferns, Oasis, Glade) | Haven by Aldar | Aldar | AED 2,300,000Indicative | 5% at booking, 55% during construction, 40% on handoverIndicative | Q3 2027 |
| Emaar Equestra | Grand Polo Club & Resort | Emaar Properties | AED 3,500,000 per Emaar, AED 3,700,000 in market listings | 10% booking, 70% during construction, 20% on handoverIndicative | Q3 2029Indicative |
| South Bay 1 | Dubai South | Dubai South Properties | AED 1,900,000 at launchIndicative | 50% construction, 20% handover, 30% post-handoverIndicative | Delivered 2025Indicative |
| Aldar Tranquillity at Haven | Haven by Aldar | Aldar | AED 3,150,000Indicative | 5% at booking, 55% during construction, 40% on handoverIndicative | Q3 2027 |
| Marbella at DAMAC Lagoons | DAMAC Lagoons | DAMAC Properties | AED 2,950,000Indicative | 60% during construction, 40% on handover | Not announcedNot published |
| Mykonos at DAMAC Lagoons | DAMAC Lagoons | DAMAC Properties | AED 2,470,000Indicative | 60% during construction, 40% on handover | Q4 2025 |
Structures marked indicative are market-sourced and not confirmed by the developer.
Structures
The payment structures actually used on Dubai villas
Each of these is in current use on a named project. Where a structure is commonly advertised but we could not source a live villa example, it is not listed.
90/10
90% before handover, 10% at completion. Reported on Emaar phases including Rivana and Farm Gardens 2. Front-loaded, so it needs more cash earlier.
- 90% Booking and construction
- 10% Handover
20/60/20
20% at launch, 60% through construction, 20% on handover. Marketed on the Palm Jebel Ali Beach and Coral Collections and on District One West.
- 20% Launch
- 60% Construction
- 20% Handover
50/20/30 post-handover
50% during construction, 20% at handover, 30% after you have the keys. Marketed at South Bay in Dubai South. The longest structure in the villa market covered here.
- 50% Construction
- 20% Handover
- 30% Post-handover
Monthly instalment plans
A deposit of about 20% followed by monthly payments through construction, marketed at DAMAC Islands. The published splits differ between DAMAC's own material and market sources, so treat the exact percentages as unconfirmed until you see the schedule.
10/70/20 and 10/80/10
A 10% booking followed by construction instalments and a handover balance. Reported on Emaar launches including Grand Polo Club & Resort, Fairway Villas and Alana.
Cash flow
Work out what a plan actually costs you
Enter a price and a structure to see the cash required at each stage. Results are illustrative and exclude the Dubai Land Department fee and registration charges.
A low entry price and a flexible plan are not the same thing
These two get conflated constantly. A low entry price reduces the total you owe. A flexible plan changes when you owe it. They can point in opposite directions.
A AED 3.2 million villa on a 50/20/30 post-handover structure asks for less cash before completion than a AED 2.8 million villa on a 90/10 plan, even though it costs more overall. If your constraint is monthly cash rather than total price, the more expensive home can be the easier one to buy.
Work out which constraint you are actually solving for before you compare projects. Total cost and cash timing produce different shortlists.
Payment plan or mortgage
The Central Bank of the UAE caps off-plan mortgages at 50% loan-to-value for every buyer category, regardless of value or purpose, on the grounds of completion risk. For completed homes the caps are considerably higher: 85% for a UAE national buying a first home under AED 5 million, 80% for an expatriate on the same basis, and 70% to 75% above AED 5 million.
In practice this means a developer payment plan and a mortgage are not really alternatives at the off-plan stage. The plan carries you through construction; a mortgage, if you want one, is more usually arranged around handover, when the higher completed-property caps apply.
This page states the published caps and nothing more. We are not mortgage brokers and this is not financial advice; a UAE-regulated lender or adviser should confirm what applies to your circumstances.
What protects your money
Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007 requires off-plan payments to go into a project-specific escrow account managed by an accredited agent and supervised by the Dubai Land Department. The account is ring-fenced from the developer's other creditors, funds are released against verified construction progress, and the escrow agent retains 5% of the account value for a year after unit registration.
The same law requires the developer to be on the Dubai Land Department register before marketing, to obtain written authorisation before advertising a project, and to commence construction within six months of approval. If a project stalls, the escrow agent is required to act to complete it or refund depositors.
Off-plan sales are also registered on the Oqood system, the Dubai Land Department's interim register, which is distinct from final title registration at handover. Ask for the Oqood registration and the escrow account details as part of your due diligence; both are ordinary requests.
Risk
What happens if you miss an instalment
Law No. 19 of 2017 sets what a developer may retain, and it depends on how far construction has progressed. The Dubai Land Department serves a 30-day notice to remedy before any termination.
| Construction progress at default | Developer's remedy | Maximum the developer may retain |
|---|---|---|
| Above 80% | Continue the contract and claim the balance, request a public auction, or terminate | Up to 40% of the unit value |
| 60% to 80% | Terminate unilaterally | Up to 40% of the unit value |
| Below 60%, work started | Terminate unilaterally | Up to 25% of the unit value |
| Construction not started, for reasons outside the developer's control | Terminate, refund within 60 days | Up to 30% of amounts paid |
| Project cancelled by RERA | Refund of all monies paid, under the escrow law | Nothing |
Source: Dubai Legislation Portal, explanatory notes on Article 11 of Law No. 19 of 2017. Buyers retain the right to challenge a termination made in bad faith. This is a summary of published law, not legal advice.
Questions
Dubai villa payment plan questions
Short answers, with the published source behind each one.
How do Dubai off-plan villa payment plans work?
You reserve with a booking deposit, pay the bulk in instalments during construction, and pay a final tranche at handover. Some developers extend part of the balance beyond handover. Payments go into a project-specific escrow account under Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007 and are released to the developer against verified progress.
What is a 60/40 payment plan?
60% of the price is paid before handover, spread across booking and construction instalments, and 40% is paid at or after handover. Athlon in Dubailand is a current example of a villa project marketed on this structure.
What is an 80/20 plan?
80% is paid during construction and 20% at handover. It is the most frequently reported structure across Emaar's current villa phases, though Emaar does not publish the schedules on its own project pages.
Can I buy a villa with 1% monthly payments?
Monthly instalment structures exist, most visibly at DAMAC Islands, which is marketed with a 20% deposit followed by monthly payments during construction. The exact split is reported inconsistently across sources, so ask for the schedule attached to your unit in writing.
Do villas have post-handover payment plans?
Some do. South Bay in Dubai South has been marketed on a 50% during construction, 20% at handover, 30% post-handover structure. Post-handover plans are commercial terms set by the developer, not something the Dubai Land Department requires or standardises.
How much is required to book an off-plan villa?
Commonly 10% to 20% of the price as the first instalment. On top of that the 4% Dubai Land Department fee, the off-plan registration fee and the trustee office charge are payable in cash and are not part of the payment plan.
Can foreigners use developer payment plans?
Yes. Developer payment plans in freehold areas are available to buyers of any nationality and are not tied to UAE residency.
Can I get a mortgage for an off-plan villa?
Off-plan mortgages are available but the Central Bank of the UAE caps them at 50% loan-to-value for every buyer category, regardless of property value or purpose, citing completion risk. That is materially lower than the 80% and 85% caps that apply to completed first homes.
What happens if I miss a payment?
Under Law No. 19 of 2017, the developer notifies the Dubai Land Department, which serves a 30-day notice to remedy. If it is not remedied, the developer's remedy depends on construction progress: it may retain up to 40% of the unit value where construction is above 60%, up to 25% where it is below 60%, and up to 30% where construction has not started for reasons outside its control.
Methodology
How we verify project information
Prices, inventory, payment plans and handover dates can change. Confirm current developer or resale availability before making a purchase decision.
- Legal provisions on this page are summarised from the Dubai Legislation Portal and the Central Bank of the UAE rulebook, with a link to each.
- Project payment structures appear only where the developer publishes them or two independent market sources agree.
- Where sources conflict, as they do at DAMAC Islands, we say so rather than picking a number.
- Nothing on this page is legal, mortgage or investment advice.
Sources used on this page
- Dubai Legislation — Law No. 8 of 2007 on escrow accounts
- Dubai Legislation — explanatory notes on Article 11 of Law No. 19 of 2017
- Dubai Land Department — register the initial sale (Oqood)
- Dubai Land Department — property sale registration
- Central Bank of the UAE — mortgage loan regulations
- Central Bank of the UAE — important ratios
Shortlist
Match a payment structure to your budget
Tell us the cash you can commit at booking and the monthly figure you are comfortable with, and we will find the villa projects whose schedules actually fit, with each schedule in writing.
- Booking cash and monthly commitment set out separately
- Post-handover options identified where they exist
- Developer schedule provided in writing, not summarised
