Sending money to Dubai for a property purchase, from Nigeria, the UK or the US

Funds move by bank transfer into the project's escrow account, held under the Dubai Land Department, never to a personal or developer account. Your own bank's source-of-funds requirements, not a fixed rule here, decide how long that transfer takes.

16 September 2026 · By Orven Properties · 3 min read

The principle holds the same from Lagos, from London, and from New York: your payment moves by international bank wire directly into the project's escrow account, controlled by the Dubai Land Department, never into a developer's own operating account or a personal account belonging to anyone involved in the sale. Your bank will ask you to document where the funds come from before releasing a transfer of this size, and how long that takes depends on your own bank's process rather than any fixed rule we can quote for every country.

What actually varies by where you are sending from

Banks in Nigeria, the UK and the US each have their own thresholds and documentation expectations for outbound international transfers of this size, shaped by each country's own banking and foreign exchange rules. Some banks move a well-documented transfer within days; others take longer, particularly the first time you send a significant sum abroad for property. Rather than quote a processing time or a compliance threshold that would not hold consistently across three different banking systems, the honest answer is to ask your own bank directly, early, what they need before you plan your payment date around it.

What to prepare before you send

Have your source-of-funds documentation ready before you reserve, not after: proof of salary, savings, a business sale or another legitimate origin, in whatever format your bank requires. Confirm the exact escrow account details in writing from your adviser, and verify them independently rather than relying on a single message, since payment redirection fraud targets exactly this step in international property purchases. For the fuller picture of where this money is held once it arrives, see our guide on the escrow account in Dubai.

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What Orven does to help this go smoothly

We confirm escrow account details in writing before your first transfer, tell you what documentation buyers from similar banking systems typically needed to prepare, and stay reachable while your bank processes the transfer so any question on their end gets answered quickly rather than sitting unresolved.

Write to us on WhatsApp at +971 52 776 1939 or at sales@orvenproperties.com with your country and bank, and we help you plan the timing of your first payment around what your bank is likely to ask for.

FAQ

How long does an international transfer to escrow usually take? It varies by bank and by how prepared your documentation is; ask your own bank directly rather than assume a fixed number of days.

Should I send the full amount in one transfer or in stages? Your payment schedule in the sale agreement sets the amounts and timing; your bank's own limits and process determine how a given instalment is best structured, which your bank can confirm.

How do I make sure I am sending money to the right account? Get the escrow account details in writing from your adviser and verify them independently, ideally by phone, before sending anything, especially your first payment.

Does currency conversion affect how much arrives? Exchange rates and any conversion fees are set by your bank and the receiving bank, not by Orven or the developer; confirm the applicable rate and fees with your bank before transferring.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an international transfer to escrow usually take?

It varies by bank and by how prepared your documentation is; ask your own bank directly rather than assume a fixed number of days.

Should I send the full amount in one transfer or in stages?

Your payment schedule in the sale agreement sets the amounts and timing; your bank's own limits and process determine how a given instalment is best structured, which your bank can confirm.

How do I make sure I am sending money to the right account?

Get the escrow account details in writing from your adviser and verify them independently, ideally by phone, before sending anything, especially your first payment.

Does currency conversion affect how much arrives?

Exchange rates and any conversion fees are set by your bank and the receiving bank, not by Orven or the developer; confirm the applicable rate and fees with your bank before transferring.