We are pleased to announce that Dr. Hassan Elhais has been awarded Legal Consultant of the Year in the United Arab Emirates by Leaders in Law for 2026.
It gives us immense pleasure to announce that Dr. Hassan Elhais, Legal consultant has been awarded the Best Legal Consultant of the year 2025 in Dubai, by Corporate INTL.
We would like to proudly announce that Dr. Hassan Elhais, one of our leading legal consultants, has been declared as the Global Awards' ‘Legal consultant of the Year’ 2024/2025 United Arab Emirates by Leaders in Law.
We are honoured to share that Dr Hassan Elhais has been recognized as a leading author in the Lexology Legal Influencers Q2 2023 for Private Client - Asia-Pacific.
Our team is proud to announce that, one our leading legal consultants, Dr. Hassan Elhais has been awarded the prestigious Legal 100 Asia Award for the ‘Best Legal Consultant of the Year, Litigation -2021’.
Our team is immensely proud to announce and congratulate our distinguished Legal Consultant, Dr. Hassan Elhais for receiving the ‘Corporate America Today Annual Award’ for the 'Best Legal Consultant for the year 2020'.
Off-plan property can offer great value - and real risk.
Strong legal protection, ensures your investment is secure, from reservation to handover.
Off-plan property in Dubai is property purchased before the construction is complete. Governed
by, Sale and Purchase Agreements, between the developers and buyers, and protected by escrow
regulation. Development matters are for developers and RERA and tight registration rules. An
experienced Property Development & Off-Plan Lawyer in Dubai protects buyers and guides
developers through the process.
Purchasing an off-plan property in Dubai means, buying a unit before, or during the construction
phase. The buyer pays in installments under a Sale and Purchase Agreement until the handover.
RERA regulates off-plan sales via the Dubai Land Department and protects buyer’s money through
mandatory escrow accounts. The SPA covers payments, completion and penalties. Off-plan continued
to be a dominant share of Dubai’s residential transactions in 2025.
Off-plan purchases have particular risks relating to delay and completion. “It is important to
check the developer and project registration and the escrow arrangement before signing for an
off-plan purchase,” said Dr. Hassan Elhais, Senior Legal Consultant.
Developer and project registration with RERA
Escrow account protection for buyer funds
SPA terms on completion, penalties, and termination
Careful checks before purchase protect your investment.
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Types of Development & Off-Plan Matters in Dubai
Development matters take several forms, each handled by, a Property Development & Off-Plan
Lawyer, in Dubai.
Off-Plan Purchase Protection
Review of the SPA, escrow and registration verification and protection of buyer funds.
Developer Delay & Completion
Advice on remedies for delay or failure to complete a project by a developer.
Developer Advisory
Assisting developers with registration, escrow compliance and preparation of SPAs.
Off-Plan Disputes
Disputes between buyers and developers concerning delay, defects or cancellation.
The Off-Plan Process in Dubai – Step by Step
Off-plan transactions in Dubai, follow a structured, RERA - regulated process.
Off-Plan in Dubai
Step 1: Project & Developer Checks
We verify:
The Project registration and developer
Arrangements of Escrow Account
Approvals of RERA
The SPA Terms and Reservations
Step 2: SPA Review
We review:
Payment schedule and timeline for completion
The provisions of delay and penalty
The rights of Refund and termination
Specification & terms of handover
Step 3: Registration
We coordinate:
Provisional registration with DLD/Oqood
Fee payment of Registration
Meeting developer requirements
Step 4: Handover & Remedies
We assist with:
Verification during handover
Remedies for defect or delay
Dispute resolution as necessary
Off-plan risk is managed, through careful checks, and a strong SPA. Your Property Development
& Off-Plan Lawyer, in Dubai protects you, at each stage.
Cost Discussion Framework
Legal fees in off-plan matters, depend on the case. Factors include:
Value, and stage of the project
Whether buyer-side, or developer advisory
Complexity of the SPA
Whether a dispute is involved
Registration requirements
During your consultation, we provide a transparent fee structure, tailored to your matter.
Addressing Common Client Concerns
Is my money protected in an off-plan purchase?
Off-plan buyer funds, must be held in a regulated escrow account, providing structured
protection.
What if the developer delays the project?
Your remedies, depend on the SPA, and RERA regulations, which may include, penalties or
termination, and refund rights.
Should I verify the developer before buying?
Yes. Verifying developer, and project registration, with RERA is essential, before
committing.
Can I cancel an off-plan purchase?
Cancellation depends, on the SPA terms, and the circumstances; termination, and refund
clauses are key.
Confidentiality is strictly maintained at all times.
Why Choose Dr. Hassan Elhais & Our Property Development & Off-Plan Lawyer in Dubai
Dr. Hassan Elhais, is a Senior Legal Consultant, with extensive experience, advising off-plan
buyers, and developers across, Dubai's property market.
Proven experience in off-plan, and development matters
Multilingual legal team
Representation for the buyers, investors, and the developers
Strong knowledge of RERA, and escrow rules
Structured, protective legal strategy
We operate in strict compliance with the RERA, and the DLD regulations.
Trust & Compliance
We provide professional, ethical representation in accordance with the UAE law. Our advice is
tailored, to your transactions, communicated transparently, and free of misleading the
guarantees. All consultations are strictly confidential.
Take Immediate Action
Off-plan property offers, opportunity, and risk in equal measure. Early legal protection, helps
you secure your investment, from reservation to handover.
An off-plan property is defined as a property purchased before or during its
construction where the buyer pays in instalments under a Sale and Purchase Agreement
(SPA) until the property is handed over.
Off-plan property sales are regulated, by the Dubai Land Department (DLD)’s Real
Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). The developers must register, escrow funds, and
meet other regulatory requirements.
Oqood is the Dubai Land Department’s temporary registration system for off-plan
properties whereby the ownership is registered before the final title deed is issued
upon completion of the project.
Potential buyers should review, the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA), developer
registration, project approvals, escrow account details, payment schedule,
completion period, and clauses for delay, termination, and refund.
Dr. Hassan Elhais, is an experienced Property Development & Off-Plan Lawyer in
Dubai, who has advised the buyers, investors, developers and the corporate clients,
on off-plan purchases, developer disputes, escrow compliance, and property
transactions, across the UAE.
