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Glossary

Escrow account

A Dubai escrow account holds off-plan buyer payments under Law No. 8 of 2007, released to the developer against construction progress.

Updated 23 August 2026 - consistent with the April 2026 DLD-GDRFA unified workflow Written by Home Guide Dubai research desk Reviewer: pending appointment

Under Dubai's escrow framework for off-plan sales, buyer payments for a property under construction go into a project-specific escrow account rather than directly to the developer. The developer draws on the account as construction progresses, under regulatory oversight, which ties the money to the project it was paid for and protects buyers if a project stalls. Off-plan payment plans in Dubai are structured around this framework: instalments follow the developer's construction-linked schedule, and the escrow account is where those instalments sit.

Why it matters It is the main structural protection an off-plan buyer's money has before handover.

Where this comes up

Buying off-plan

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Escrow account in Dubai?

A Dubai escrow account holds off-plan buyer payments under Law No. 8 of 2007, released to the developer against construction progress.

Why does Escrow account matter?

It is the main structural protection an off-plan buyer's money has before handover.

This entry is part of the Home Guide Dubai glossary - the vocabulary a Dubai buyer or Golden Visa applicant actually meets, defined in plain English and kept consistent with our verified guides.