An off-plan purchase does not have to be held until the keys. In Dubai, you can sell your interest in a unit before handover, a transaction usually called an assignment or off-plan resale. The buyer takes over your contract with the developer, pays you for what you have paid so far plus any agreed premium, and continues the payment plan. It is a normal transaction, but it runs on the developer’s rules as much as the Land Department’s, and the costs can be larger than people expect.
How does an assignment work?
Your unit is recorded in the Land Department’s interim register. When you resell, a new sale of that registered interest is recorded in your buyer’s name, and the buyer steps into your SPA: the remaining instalments, the handover date and the developer’s obligations all pass across.
You can resell before the unit is transferred to the main register once you have a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the developer. Without that NOC, the transfer cannot be registered.
What conditions does the developer set?
Each developer sets its own conditions for issuing an NOC, usually in the SPA. The most important is how much of the price must already be paid before a resale is allowed. Developers also typically require that no instalment is overdue, and may charge a fee for the NOC or the transfer.
- Payment threshold. Varies by developer and project. Check your SPA. There is no official standard figure.
- NOC or transfer fee. Set by each developer.
- Timing limits. Some SPAs restrict resale in the early months or near handover. Read the clause.
A front-loaded payment plan reaches a payment threshold sooner, which is one reason to compare plans with your exit in mind. See payment plans explained.
How does the sale work, step by step?
- Check your position. Confirm what you have paid, what is outstanding, and the developer’s threshold and fees.
- Agree terms with a buyer. The price normally covers what you have paid to the developer plus a premium (or, in a falling market, less). The buyer takes on the remaining plan.
- Apply for the developer’s NOC. In Dubai’s freehold areas, NOCs are issued electronically through the Dubai REST app.
- Register the transfer. The new sale is registered with the Land Department, through the developer or a registration trustee office, and the buyer’s interim registration is issued.
- Settle funds. Agree how money moves between buyer, seller and developer, ideally through a channel your conveyancer or the trustee office confirms.
What are the costs, and who usually pays?
| Cost | Set by | Usually paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Land Department registration fee on the new sale | 4% of the sale contract value, shared equally unless agreed otherwise | By agreement; in practice often the buyer |
| Knowledge and innovation fees | AED 10 each | By agreement |
| Registration trustee office fee, if used | AED 4,000 plus VAT (AED 2,000 plus VAT below AED 500,000) | By agreement |
| Developer NOC or transfer fee | Developer policy | Usually the seller; check your SPA |
| Broker commission | Agreement with the broker | Per agreement |
Two points often surprise sellers. First, the registration fee you paid on your original purchase is not refunded or credited: a resale is a new registration. Second, any launch offer such as a reduced registration fee usually applied to the first sale only. Confirm both for your project.
How do you work out your exit?
We do not publish expected resale premiums: they depend entirely on the project and the market at the time. What you can do is calculate your own net result before you list. Use your own figures:
- Sale price agreed with the buyer (A).
- Less what you paid the developer to date (B), since the buyer reimburses this within A.
- Less your original purchase costs (C): registration fee and developer charges.
- Less your selling costs (D): NOC or transfer fee, broker commission and any share of fees you agree to cover.
Your net gain or loss is A minus B minus C minus D. Illustrative arithmetic only: if A is AED 700,000, B is AED 600,000, C is AED 40,000 and D is AED 30,000, the result is a gain of AED 30,000 before tax in your home country. Small changes in premium or fees swing that result, so run it with real quotes.
Remember the other side: if you cannot find a buyer, you remain liable for every instalment, including the completion payment. Plan your cash flow as if you will hold to handover.
What if you buy a resale yourself?
The same checks apply in reverse. Confirm the seller’s interim registration, the payment ledger from the developer, that the NOC will be issued, and the full cost to you. Resales can offer earlier handover dates than new launches; browse current options by area, such as Dubai Creek Harbour or Jumeirah Village Circle, and compare them with fresh launches on our Dubai off-plan list. For the full purchase process, see how to buy off-plan in the UAE.
How does it work in the other emirates?
Off-plan resales are also registered in Abu Dhabi, on DARI, and in Ras Al Khaimah, where every disposition of an off-plan unit must be recorded in the initial land register. Developer conditions and fees apply in the same way. Registration fees are covered in the true cost of buying off-plan. For resales in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, check the procedure with each emirate’s authority.
FAQ
Can I sell my off-plan unit at any time?
Only when the developer will issue an NOC, which usually depends on how much you have paid and whether your instalments are up to date. Your SPA sets the conditions.
Does the buyer pay the registration fee again?
Yes, a resale is a new registration, charged on the new sale value. Who bears it is a matter for your agreement with the buyer.
Will I get back the registration fee I paid?
No. A resale is a new registration, and the fee on your original purchase is not refunded or credited.
What happens to my payment plan when I sell?
The buyer takes over the remaining instalments under your SPA. Payments you have made are usually reimbursed to you within the price.
