How to check a project before you pay

A few minutes of checking before you pay a booking amount can save a lot of trouble. These are the five checks most buyers do.

1. The developer is registered

Developers selling in Dubai are registered with the Dubai Land Department. Ask for the developer's registration number and check it in the Dubai REST app or on the DLD website.

2. The project is registered

Each off-plan project has a project number in the DLD system. The Dubai REST app shows registered projects with their status and construction progress. If you can't find the project, ask why before you pay.

3. The escrow account

Ask for the escrow account and bank. Your payments must go there. See Escrow accounts and RERA.

4. The advertising permit

Property adverts in Dubai need a permit from the DLD's Trakheesi system, usually shown as a number or QR code on the ad. An ad without one, or a price far below similar projects, is a warning sign.

5. The contract

Read the reservation form and the Sales and Purchase Agreement: unit, price, payment plan, completion date, delay penalties, cancellation and resale terms. For a large purchase, have a lawyer read it.

Warning signs

• Pressure to pay today, or to pay in cash or to a personal account.
• No project number, escrow account or written agreement.
• Promises of guaranteed returns or prices well below the market.

Official lookups

All of these are free government services. Most also work in the Dubai REST app from the Dubai Land Department.

• Projects and developers: search a project's registration, status and construction progress in the Dubai REST app, and see registered developers in the DLD developer book.
• Advertising permits: check the permit number or QR code on an advert with Trakheesi or the Dubai REST app.
• Brokers: confirm a broker's licence (BRN) in the licensed brokers search.
• Service charges: the approved yearly charge per square foot for each building is in the Service Charge Index.
• Rents: the official rental index shows typical rents by area and the limits on rent increases.
• Market data: registered sales, mortgages and rents are published on the DLD open data pages.
• Addresses: every Dubai building has a 10-digit Makani number; the Makani app from Dubai Municipality shows exactly where it is.

General information, not legal advice. App and website names change; the Dubai Land Department is the authority to confirm with.