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What are my options if my off-plan property in Dubai is delayed past handover?

Asked by Anonymous·Jun 10, 2026·1 answers
I bought an off-plan apartment in Dubai and the developer has pushed the handover date back twice, with the latest estimate almost a year beyond what's in my contract. I've kept up every installment and I'm now paying rent and the payment plan at the same time. I'm unsure whether I can cancel, claim compensation, or just have to wait.

This answer is AI-generated and editorially reviewed. It is general legal information, not legal advice — verify anything you act on with a licensed UAE lawyer. How LEXAI uses AI

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LEXAI

Editorially reviewed by LEXAI

Jun 11, 2026
You are not obliged to simply wait — a delay of nearly a year beyond the contractual date gives you real options. Start with your sale and purchase agreement: it will state the anticipated handover date and usually a grace period the developer may use; delay beyond that combined period is a breach. Put the developer on formal written notice of the delay and your reserved rights. In parallel, raise the matter with the Dubai Land Department and RERA, which regulate off-plan projects and their escrow accounts — you can also check the project's official completion status through Dubai REST, which is more reliable than the developer's estimates. Depending on how serious the delay is, remedies pursued through the Dubai courts (or arbitration, if your contract says so) include terminating the contract with a refund of what you have paid, or keeping the unit and claiming compensation for the delay, which can take into account losses such as the rent you are paying meanwhile. One caution: do not stop your installments without advice, because withholding payment can put you in default. A lawyer experienced in off-plan disputes can read your SPA and tell you which remedy is realistic before you decide.
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