Off-plan projects in Abu Dhabi: rules, fees and where to look

Who can buy, and where

Abu Dhabi Law No. 13 of 2019 amended the emirate's real estate ownership law so that non-citizens, individuals and companies, may acquire all property rights over real estate inside the investment zones and dispose of them. Outside those zones, ownership is limited to UAE citizens and certain companies.

The UAE government portal lists nine investment areas: Yas Island, Saadiyat, Reem, Al Maryah, Lulu, Al Raha Beach, Sayh Al Sedairah, Al Reef and Masdar City. Newer master communities such as Hudayriyat, Fahid Island, Ramhan Island and Al Jurf are marketed to international buyers too. Because the official list changes by Executive Council decision, check the zone status of the exact plot on DARI before you reserve.

How an Abu Dhabi off-plan purchase is registered

Abu Dhabi's regulator is the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC), set up in 2023 under the Department of Municipalities and Transport. Its digital platform, DARI, handles registration:

1. You sign the sale and purchase agreement with the developer.
2. The developer submits the off-plan sale on DARI, including the payment plan and the broker's details.
3. The fee is paid and a pre-registration certificate is issued.

DARI states that the SPA must be registered within 21 days of signing. The registration fee is 2% of the contract value for ownership (1% for Musataha), and DARI's help centre says a late registration adds AED 10,000. The SPA sets out who pays the fee, so check that clause.

Off-plan projects in Abu Dhabi are regulated under Law No. 3 of 2015, which covers developers, brokers, off-plan sales and escrow. Ask the developer for the project's escrow account details and pay only into that account.

The areas we cover in Abu Dhabi

• Saadiyat Island: beaches and the Saadiyat Cultural District, where Zayed National Museum opened on 3 December 2025 and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is due to open on 11 December 2026.
• Yas Island: Aldar's residential communities next to Yas Marina Circuit, Ferrari World and SeaWorld Yas Island.
• Fahid Island: Aldar's 2.7 million square metre island between Yas and Saadiyat, with more than 6,000 homes planned.
• Al Reem Island, Al Raha Beach and Masdar City: established apartment markets with new launches.
• Hudayriyat Island (Modon), Jubail Island (LEAD), Ramhan Island (Eagle Hills) and the Al Jurf and Ghantoot coast (Imkan, Ohana, ORA).

Abu Dhabi developers to compare

Aldar Properties is the largest listed developer and master developer of many Yas and Saadiyat communities. Other names in our directory include Modon Properties, Eagle Hills, Bloom Holding, Imkan, Ohana Development, LEAD Development, Reportage, Q Properties, Radiant, Burtville and Nine Yards, and Dubai developers such as Sobha Realty and Taraf that now build in the capital. See the developer pages.

Financing and the Golden Visa

Mortgage rules are federal: the Central Bank of the UAE caps lending on property bought off-plan at 50% of its value. The property route to the Golden Visa is also federal, with a minimum of AED 2 million in property, and the Ministry of Economy and Tourism lists off-plan units from approved local developers as eligible. See our Golden Visa through property guide.

How Tarek helps Abu Dhabi buyers

Tarek Wazzan knows Saadiyat, Yas and Fahid Island well and sells launches from every Abu Dhabi developer. He checks the investment-zone status and the DARI registration steps with you, explains who pays the 2% fee under the SPA, and compares each launch against resale options on the same island.

Master developers in Abu Dhabi

• Aldar PropertiesMaster developer · Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Dubailand
• Modon PropertiesMaster developer · Hudayriyat Island, Al Reem Island
• Eagle HillsMaster developer · Ramhan Island, Maryam Island
• ORA DevelopersMaster developer · Ghantoot