Every week we hear the same question from an overseas buyer: how safe is my money before the building is done?
It is a fair question. In most global markets, the answer is "it depends." In Dubai, the answer is actually clear. This post explains how.
What RERA is
RERA stands for the Real Estate Regulatory Agency. It is the Dubai government body that regulates property. It sits inside the Dubai Land Department, or DLD.
Every off-plan project sold in Dubai must be registered with RERA. That registration is public. You can look it up before you buy.
What an escrow account does
When you buy an off-plan unit, you do not pay the developer directly. You pay an escrow account.
An escrow account is a bank account held by a third party. In Dubai, it is a bank approved by the DLD. The developer cannot touch that money freely.
The developer can only withdraw funds from the escrow as the building is built. Funds are released in stages, tied to construction milestones.
- You pay the deposit into the escrow account.
- The developer starts building.
- An inspector verifies progress.
- A percentage of the escrow is released to the developer.
- The cycle repeats until handover.
This means your money cannot just disappear if the developer has a cash problem. It is tied to real work being done.
What DLD verification gives you
Every off-plan project has a DLD page. That page shows:
- The developer name and trade licence.
- The RERA registration number.
- The escrow account name and bank.
- The construction completion percentage.
- The handover date.
You do not need a broker to see this. It is public. A link to it should be on every serious sales page.
Questions overseas buyers should ask
What is the RERA number for this project?
Any real project has one. If the broker cannot tell you, walk away.
Which bank holds the escrow?
It must be a DLD-approved bank. The broker should name it without needing to check.
What is the current completion percentage?
This is public. A transparent broker shares it without being asked.
What happens if the project is cancelled?
RERA has rules for this. If a project is cancelled, buyers get their escrow money back. It is not a guarantee of profit, but your capital is protected.
Why this matters for selling, not just buying
If you are a developer selling to overseas buyers, this is your strongest trust card. Most global markets do not have this. London, Mumbai, and much of South-East Asia rely on the developer's word.
Every Vyre showroom links directly to the DLD page. The buyer does not have to take your word. They can check in one click, from a flat in Mayfair, at 2 a.m.
If your sales material does not surface this, you are hiding your best argument.