Can I get a refund if the project is cancelled?

Off-plan payments in Dubai sit in an escrow account controlled by the DLD, and RERA oversees cancelled or delayed projects under its own rules, but no fixed timeline or refund percentage is set out publicly. The exact outcome depends on your specific case.

21 September 2026 · By Orven Properties · 3 min read

Your off-plan payments are held in an escrow account controlled by the DLD rather than paid directly to the developer, and this is the core protection built into the system if a project is cancelled. RERA has rules governing how a cancelled or seriously delayed project is handled, but no fixed timeline or refund percentage is published as a general figure that applies to every case; the outcome depends on the specific circumstances.

Why escrow is the starting point

Every off-plan payment you make is meant to be deposited into a project-specific escrow account, released to the developer only against verified construction progress rather than handed over freely. This structure exists precisely to limit how much of your money is at risk if a project does not proceed as planned. Our guide on where your money goes in an escrow account and our answer on whether your money is safe in escrow explain how this mechanism works in practice.

The role of RERA and the DLD

RERA, the regulatory arm operating under the DLD, has the authority to intervene when a project is significantly delayed or does not proceed, including options such as reallocating a buyer to another project by the same developer or triggering a liquidation process for the escrow account under its own procedures. Our answer on what RERA is explains its role for buyers in more general terms. What actually applies to a given project, and on what timeline, is determined case by case rather than set out as a standard refund policy.

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What this means in practice

Your payments are protected structurally by escrow rather than sitting in the developer's general accounts
RERA has a formal process for cancelled or severely delayed projects, but it is not a fixed refund percentage or deadline
The specific path forward depends on the project's status, the escrow account's balance, and RERA's own assessment
This is not something a buyer typically manages alone; professional and, where relevant, legal support is normal in this situation

How Orven supports you if this happens

If a project you are invested in shows signs of serious delay or difficulty, we help you understand what is publicly known about its status through the DLD's own tools, and we point you toward the right RERA process and legal contacts rather than speculating on an outcome. Reach us on WhatsApp at +971 52 776 1939 or by email at sales@orvenproperties.com to discuss any concern about a specific project.

FAQ

Is a full refund guaranteed if a project is cancelled? No fixed refund guarantee is published; the outcome depends on RERA's process and the specific project's escrow position.

How long does a refund process typically take? There is no published standard timeline; it depends on the individual case and RERA's own procedures.

Does escrow protection apply to every off-plan project in Dubai? Off-plan payments are structured to go through project escrow accounts controlled by the DLD as a general rule of the system.

Should I involve a lawyer if my project is cancelled? Yes, this is exactly the kind of situation where independent legal advice, alongside RERA's process, is advisable.

Frequently asked questions