Why an assignment can be attractive
- Smaller upfront outlay: You do not pay the full purchase price in one go; instead, you take over the existing payment plan.
- Yesterday’s prices: Many contracts date from earlier sales phases. Sellers under time pressure sometimes offer below the current developer price.
- Shorter wait: Instead of waiting 3–4 years for a new project, you buy in shortly before completion.
How to run the numbers – an example
| Original purchase price as per SPA | AED 1,050,000 |
| Already paid by the seller (40%) | AED 420,000 |
| Agreed assignment price (total) | AED 1,020,000 |
| Of which to the seller (420,000 − 30,000 discount) | AED 390,000 |
| DLD fee 4% on 1,020,000 | AED 40,800 |
| Trustee incl. VAT | AED 4,200 |
| Broker 2% + VAT | AED 21,420 |
| DLD admin fees (approx.) | AED 785 |
| Total entry today | AED 457,205 |
| Then to the developer according to the payment plan | AED 630,000 |
On PLANSWAP, this calculation is automatically included for every listing.
Checklist before you buy
- SPA and Oqood: Do the unit, price and seller match the registered Oqood?
- Developer’s statement of account (SOA): Have all instalments due been paid? Are there any late-payment penalties or outstanding fees?
- NOC eligibility: Does the amount paid reach the developer’s threshold (usually 30–40%)? Does the contract contain a lock-in period?
- Developer and construction progress: How reliably does the developer deliver? The Dubai REST app shows the progress of registered projects.
- Handover date and clauses: What delay does the contract allow, and what rights do you have if handover is late?
- Payment plan: Which instalment is due when – and can you reliably manage the handover payment?
- Financing: In Oqood status, banks lend a maximum of 50%; after completion, more depending on your residence status. Banks base their lending on their own valuation.
- Running costs: Service charges apply from handover – ask for the rates per sq ft.
- Letting: In 2026, rents in major communities have fallen by 8–10%. Calculate your yield using cautious assumptions.
Completing safely
Never pay the seller privately in advance. The process is regulated: agreement using RERA Form F, the developer’s NOC, then the appointment at the DLD-registered trustee office. Only there is the contract transferred to you, and money changes hands by manager’s cheque.
How PLANSWAP helps
In the Listings, you can see for every apartment the entry today, the remaining payments and the price advantage compared with the current developer price. With the Buyer Pass, you see new listings first, including the payment plan.
PLANSWAP is an introduction and information portal and is not itself a real estate broker. Transactions in Dubai are handled exclusively by RERA-licensed partner brokers. All calculations are non-binding estimates without guarantee and do not constitute investment, tax or legal advice. Fees and rules may change and depend on the respective developer.