The basic building blocks
Every plan is built from three pieces: a booking payment (secures the unit), a series of installments during construction, and a handover balance (due when you get the keys). What changes between plans is how much falls into each bucket, and when.
Down payments generally run 10–20% of the purchase price. As a rough guide: Nakheel has typically asked closer to 20% at booking, most current Emaar launches ask around 10% (some premium launches at 20%), and value-focused developers often sit around 10–15%. Always confirm the figure for the specific launch.
80 / 20
The most common structure in the current market. You pay 80% of the price across the construction period, and the remaining 20% at handover.
60 / 40
A heavier handover balance: 60% during construction, 40% due when you take possession. This suits buyers expecting more capital later — for example from the sale of another asset.
50 / 50
An even split — half during construction, half at handover. Less common today, but still offered on some launches.
Post-handover plans
These extend part of the price — usually 40–60% — into interest-free installments after you’ve already taken the keys, typically spread over two to five years. The appeal is obvious: you can start earning rental income on the unit while still paying it off. The trade-off is carrying a payment obligation on a completed asset for longer, so model the ongoing installment against expected rent, not just the headline label.
The 1% monthly plan
A hybrid: a down payment (typically 10–20%), followed by installments of roughly 1% of the price every month through construction, sometimes continuing at the same pace after handover. Check the total number of months against the actual construction timeline — a plan that runs shorter than the build leaves a lump sum still due before handover.
Construction-linked vs. time-linked
This distinction matters more than the headline split. In a construction-linked plan, installments are triggered by verified building milestones, so if the project slows down, your payments slow down with it. In a time-linked plan, installments fall due on fixed calendar dates regardless of progress on site.
How to actually compare two plans
Percentages alone don’t tell you enough. The useful comparison is: what’s the total cash outlay by month 12, by month 24, and at handover, under each plan? Modelling the real schedule — not just the headline ratio — is the only way to know which one actually fits your budget.
Have a specific launch in mind? Jawad can walk you through the numbers on any current off-plan opportunity in Dubai.
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