The payment plan glossary: reservation, construction, handover, post-handover, EOI, SPA

Off-plan payment plans in Dubai use a small set of recurring terms. This glossary defines each one in plain language; the linked guides go deeper on the ones you are likely to meet first.

EOI (Expression of Interest): A reservation fee paid to hold a unit before the full sales agreement is signed. It is the first amount a buyer typically pays, and its terms, including how it is treated if you proceed or withdraw, are stated in the developer's documents. See our guide on what a reservation fee (EOI) is.

Reservation / booking: The initial payment, generally 20% across the projects in our selection, that reserves the unit and moves you to signing the sales agreement.

SPA (Sale and Purchase Agreement): The main sales contract, which sets out the full payment schedule, the unit specification, and what happens in scenarios such as a missed instalment or a change of construction timeline. Every figure not published elsewhere is confirmed in this document.

Construction instalments: Payments due during the build, tied to milestones stated in the SPA rather than to fixed calendar dates. Their total share varies by project, for example 40% at Hilton Residences or 45% at Luxury Canal Residences.

Handover: The point at which the unit is complete and the keys and title deed are transferred to the buyer, after the final instalment is settled. The share due at handover also varies by project, from 30% at some projects up to 80% at Coastal Haven.

Post-handover payment plan: A structure, used by some developers, where part of the price remains payable after the buyer has already received the unit. None of the verified plans in our current selection extend past handover; where a project does offer this structure, it is confirmed directly in that project's sales agreement. See our guide on what a post-handover payment plan means in Dubai.

Escrow account: The bank account, controlled by the Dubai Land Department, into which every instalment is paid. The developer cannot draw on it freely; release follows certified construction progress, checkable through the DLD's Project Status Enquiry service.

Oqood: The registration of an off-plan sale with the Dubai Land Department, distinct from the full title deed issued at handover.

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Using this glossary before you compare projects

Knowing these terms makes it easier to read a sales agreement or compare two projects' payment plans without assuming a word means the same thing everywhere. When a term is not fully explained here, ask your adviser to walk through the specific clause in your own contract.

Send any question to Orven on WhatsApp at +971 52 776 1939 or at sales@orvenproperties.com, and see our guide on comparing off-plan payment plans in Dubai for how these terms combine into full structures.

FAQ

Is an EOI the same as a booking or reservation payment? They are closely related; an EOI is often the mechanism through which the initial reservation is made, but the exact process is confirmed in the developer's documents.

Does every project have a post-handover payment plan? No. None of the verified structures in our current selection extend past handover. Ask your adviser whether a specific project you are considering offers this.

What is the difference between Oqood and a title deed? Oqood registers an off-plan sale before completion; the title deed is issued once the unit is handed over and the full price is settled.

Where can I check how construction is progressing on my unit? Through the Dubai Land Department's Project Status Enquiry service, which gives an independent view alongside your adviser's updates.