What is a reservation fee or EOI when buying off-plan in Dubai?

A reservation fee, sometimes called an Expression of Interest (EOI), secures a specific unit for you while your first instalment and paperwork are finalised. The amount, whether it counts toward your down payment, and its refund conditions are set in each project's contract.

16 September 2026 · By Orven Properties · 3 min read

A reservation fee, often called an Expression of Interest or EOI on newer launches, is the payment that takes a specific unit off the market for you while the rest of your booking paperwork and first instalment are finalised. It signals to the developer that you intend to proceed with that exact unit, at that price, under the terms discussed. The amount, how it is applied toward your first instalment, and whether or under what conditions it is refundable are all details set out in the specific project's contract, not a standard figure across every launch.

What a reservation fee actually does

Paying a reservation fee typically pauses the developer's ability to sell that unit to someone else while your file is prepared. In most structures, it is credited toward your first instalment rather than sitting as a separate, additional cost, but this needs to be confirmed in writing for each project rather than assumed. Once your reservation is formalised, your interest is registered with the Dubai Land Department through Oqood, which is a separate and later step from paying the reservation fee itself. Our guide on Oqood registration explains what happens at that stage.

Refundability, and why it varies

Whether a reservation fee is refundable, and under what circumstances, depends entirely on the specific project's sales terms. Some structures allow a refund within a short window if you change your mind before signing the full sales agreement; others treat it as non-refundable once paid. Rather than assume either way, ask your adviser to point to the exact clause in the contract before you pay anything. Our related guide on whether the 20 percent booking payment is refundable walks through how this question is typically framed at contract stage.

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What happens after you pay it

Once the reservation fee is settled, you typically move to signing the sales and purchase agreement (SPA) and completing your first full instalment, followed by Oqood registration. Each of these steps has its own documentation, and a licensed adviser should walk you through them in order rather than bundling them into a single vague "next step."

How Orven handles this for you

We confirm the exact reservation fee, what it covers, and its refund conditions in writing before you pay anything, for any project in our selection. Write to us on WhatsApp at +971 52 776 1939 or at sales@orvenproperties.com with the project you are considering, and we will walk you through the specific terms before you commit.

FAQ

Is a reservation fee the same as a deposit? It functions similarly in that it secures a unit, but the exact terminology, amount and conditions vary by project; your adviser confirms the specific contract language for the project you are considering.

Does the reservation fee count toward the total price? In most structures it is credited toward your first instalment, but this must be confirmed in writing for the specific project rather than assumed.

Can I lose my reservation fee if I change my mind? Refund conditions vary by project and are set out in the sales contract; ask for the exact clause before paying.

What comes after the reservation fee is paid? Typically the sales and purchase agreement, your first full instalment, and Oqood registration with the Dubai Land Department, in that general order.

Frequently asked questions

Is a reservation fee the same as a deposit?

It functions similarly in that it secures a unit, but the exact terminology, amount and conditions vary by project; your adviser confirms the specific contract language for the project you are considering.

Does the reservation fee count toward the total price?

In most structures it is credited toward your first instalment, but this must be confirmed in writing for the specific project rather than assumed.

Can I lose my reservation fee if I change my mind?

Refund conditions vary by project and are set out in the sales contract; ask for the exact clause before paying.

What comes after the reservation fee is paid?

Typically the sales and purchase agreement, your first full instalment, and Oqood registration with the Dubai Land Department, in that general order.