On the same AED 2 million purchase, Plan A requires AED 1.28 million before handover and Plan B requires AED 880,000, including the same assumed AED 80,000 in upfront fees. Plan B shifts AED 400,000 to handover. The better fit depends on when your funding is available.
Compare the payment schedules
Both examples use the same illustrative AED 2,000,000 purchase price and an assumed AED 80,000 in upfront fees. The fee is a modelling input. Replace it with the actual written charges for the unit.
| Cash milestone | Plan A | Plan B |
|---|---|---|
| Price payments in first 90 days | 400,000 | 200,000 |
| Assumed fees in first 90 days | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| Total cash in first 90 days | 480,000 | 280,000 |
| Later instalments before handover | 800,000 | 600,000 |
| Total cash before handover, including fees | 1,280,000 | 880,000 |
| Balance at handover | 800,000 | 1,200,000 |
If you have AED 1 million available before handover, Plan B fits that cash ceiling on these inputs. Its AED 1.2 million handover balance still needs a credible funding plan. Plan A may suit a buyer who can commit more during construction and wants a smaller final payment.
Test a six-month delay
Move the expected rental start six months later in your cash-flow model. Check whether financing or cash reserves would still be available on the revised date. Map each contractual instalment separately so you can see which payment dates would move and which would still fall due.
Verify before committing
- Get the dated payment schedule and an itemised statement of fees for the specific unit.
- Check the project and developer details through official channels and verify the recipient and payment instructions against the documents.
- Review the contract terms covering instalment triggers, handover timing and changes. Confirm funding assumptions with your lender where relevant.
These are hypothetical schedules. They use no current listing or developer data. For an actual review, use the unit-specific payment schedule and contract, plus current official project information.
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What does a 60/40 off-plan payment plan mean?
If the written schedule assigns 60% of the purchase price before handover and 40% at handover, a 60/40 plan on AED 2 million means AED 1.2 million before handover and AED 800,000 at handover. Add the applicable fees to the dates when they are due. Check the actual schedule for when each instalment falls due.
How much cash should I set aside in the first 90 days?
Add the reservation or booking payments and other price instalments due during those 90 days, plus any separate fees due in that period. If a reservation payment is credited towards the price, count it once. Use the unit’s written schedule to check the due dates.
Compare how to evaluate off-plan units in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.