{
  "id": 18542427,
  "title": "UAE Property: 'When does a Dubai off-plan property delay become a red flag?'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/uae-property-when-does-a-dubai-off-plan-property-delay-become-a-red",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-06T18:02:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/money/2026/11/06/dubai-off-plan-property-delay-buy-apartment-uae-real-estate/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "<q>When does a Dubai off-plan property delay become a red flag?</q>\n\nWhen purchasing an off-plan property in Dubai, the most critical factor to monitor is the contractual completion date outlined in the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA). While the developer may provide an anticipated completion date and a grace period, it is essential to compare this with the actual progress of the construction. In the case of an end-user buyer, the delay can have significant financial implications as rent payments continue while capital remains tied up in the property.\n\nTo determine whether a delay should raise concerns, buyers should first understand the contractual long-stop position and then request a written confirmation of the revised completion programme from the developer. If the progress and promised date do not align, a property lawyer should be consulted to assess the available options, such as withholding payments, cancelling the purchase, or pursuing compensation.\n\nIt is crucial to remember that paying the instalments is a separate contractual obligation from the developer's responsibility to complete the project on time. Stopping payments due to a delay could turn the buyer into the party in default, which is not the intended outcome in such situations. Instead, buyers should focus on understanding their rights and obligations under the SPA and the Rental Disputes Centre (RDC) guidelines.",
  "summary": "Question: My husband and I bought our first Dubai property off-plan in 2023. We weren't investors – the plan was to move into it when our current tenancy ended. The original handover was supposed to be this year, but the developer has now pushed it back and construction still doesn't look anywhere near finished. We have paid 60 per cent of the purchase price and are also paying Dh135,000…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}