October 2026
Escrow holds the money. It does not pour the concrete.
Off-plan money in Dubai goes into an escrow account opened for one project, and it can only be spent building that project. That is the rule under Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007. The developer's creditors cannot touch it. After the completion certificate, 5% stays in the account until a year after the units are registered.
1. When the cranes stop
The Dubai Land Department watches progress. A stalled project can be cancelled. The money still in the account is to be returned within 14 days of that decision. If the account does not cover what the buyers paid, the developer is to make up the difference within 60 days, and the regulator can extend that period. A claim that is not paid is referred on. Unfinished and cancelled projects go to the Special Tribunal under Decree No. 33 of 2020.
2. The refund is what's left
What the account can pay is what is still in it, in full or in proportion to the amount available. The 60 days is a debt the developer is then asked to cover. It is not cash already sitting in the bank. There is no fixed payment for delay in any official rule we found. Money paid outside the escrow account is a separate claim.
3. Before the first payment
Open the Dubai REST app. Find the project, its escrow account and its completion figure. Pay into that account and nowhere else.
Next useful question: How do you check a Dubai developer before paying?
Sources: Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007, Articles 9 and 14; Executive Council Resolution No. 6 of 2010, Articles 25 to 27; Decree No. 33 of 2020. Checked 16 October 2026. This reflects Moonlanding Group's opinion and is general information only, not legal or investment advice.
This article reflects Moonlanding Group’s opinion and is for general information only. It is not financial, legal, tax or investment advice. Figures come from the sources named and may change. Consult a qualified professional before making any decision.
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