What is a sales offer or booking form?

A sales offer or booking form is the short document you sign after paying the reservation fee, setting out the unit, price and payment schedule before the full Sale and Purchase Agreement is issued. It reserves the unit but is not the final contract.

21 September 2026 · By Orven Properties · 3 min read

A sales offer, also called a booking form, is the short document you sign once you pay the reservation fee on an off-plan unit. It sets out the unit, the price and the payment schedule as agreed at that point, and it reserves the unit in your name while the full Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) is prepared. It is not itself the final contract.

Where it sits in the purchase timeline

The booking form comes immediately after the reservation payment and before the SPA is issued and signed. Our answer on what a reservation fee (EOI) is covers the step that precedes it, and our answer on what happens after you pay the reservation explains what follows once the booking form is in place. Our guide on the timeline of an off-plan purchase situates this step within the full journey from reservation to keys.

What it typically contains

The unit reference, its type and its location within the project
The agreed price and the payment plan instalments as structured at booking
Your personal details as the registered buyer
A reference to the SPA that will follow, and the timeframe within which it is normally issued

ORVEN PROPERTIES

Talk to an Orven adviser

Leave your number: an adviser calls you back or replies on WhatsApp, in your language. No commitment.

Your name

Phone (WhatsApp)

Budget (optional)Best time to call (your local time)

What it commits you to

Signing a booking form confirms your intention to purchase on the terms stated, and the reservation fee paid alongside it is generally treated as part of your overall payment plan rather than a separate cost. Whether the amount is refundable in specific circumstances depends on the terms set out in the booking form itself and the developer's policy; our answer on whether the booking payment is refundable explains how this is typically addressed. The SPA that follows is the document that carries the full, binding legal terms of the sale, so it deserves careful reading even after the booking form is signed.

How Orven manages this step for you

We review the booking form with you before you sign it, confirm that the unit, price and payment schedule match what was discussed, and track the timeline for the SPA that follows. If you have questions about a booking form you have received, contact us on WhatsApp at +971 52 776 1939 or by email at sales@orvenproperties.com before signing.

FAQ

Is a booking form the same as the SPA? No, it is a shorter document signed earlier that reserves the unit; the SPA that follows carries the full binding contract terms.

Can the price or payment plan still change after I sign the booking form? It should reflect what was agreed at booking; any change would normally be documented and confirmed before the SPA is signed.

Is the reservation fee paid with the booking form refundable? This depends on the terms of the booking form and the developer's policy; it is not something to assume without confirming your specific contract.

Do I need a lawyer to sign a booking form? It is a shorter, standard document, but you can always have it reviewed; the SPA that follows is the stage where legal review is most commonly recommended.

Frequently asked questions

Is a booking form the same as the SPA?

No, it is a shorter document signed earlier that reserves the unit; the SPA that follows carries the full binding contract terms.

Can the price or payment plan still change after I sign the booking form?

It should reflect what was agreed at booking; any change would normally be documented and confirmed before the SPA is signed.

Is the reservation fee paid with the booking form refundable?

This depends on the terms of the booking form and the developer's policy; it is not something to assume without confirming your specific contract.

Do I need a lawyer to sign a booking form?

It is a shorter, standard document, but you can always have it reviewed; the SPA that follows is the stage where legal review is most commonly recommended.