How to read a Dubai payment plan, 70/30, 60/40, post handover

Guide 05 · Updated 16 September 2026 · Property Radar

The numbers mean one thing only

A plan written as 70/30 means 70% of the price is paid during construction and 30% on handover. 60/40 means 60% during construction and 40% at handover. The first figure is always the construction portion.

A plan written as 50/50 with 20% post handover means part of the balance is spread over instalments after you get the keys, usually over one to three years.

What is not in the headline

The split tells you nothing about the rhythm. Two projects both on 70/30 can be very different, one taking 10% at booking and 5% every quarter, the other taking 20% at booking and the rest on construction milestones. Ask for the instalment schedule in writing, not the headline.

• Booking, commonly 10 to 20% of the price, payable immediately
• Dubai Land Department registration, 4% of the price, payable near the start
• Construction instalments, either by calendar or by construction milestone
• Handover instalment, the balance, due when the unit is ready

Which plan suits which buyer

A plan weighted to handover protects your cash while you wait, and suits a buyer who expects to sell before completion or who wants to arrange a mortgage at the end. A plan weighted to construction is often priced slightly better and suits a buyer with the cash available.

Post handover instalments look generous and often are, but they are a payment obligation that continues after the unit is delivered, whether or not it is rented. Treat them as debt, not as a discount.