Buying an off-plan property means committing money before the finished unit is available for inspection. Buyers therefore need reliable ways to confirm that the development is registered, construction is progressing and payments are entering the correct project account.

Dubai Land Department provides official services that allow buyers and investors to check an off-plan project status using the project name, project number or land number. Information may include construction progress, inspection details, developer information and the project escrow account.

This guide explains how to perform the check and how to interpret the information you find.

Why You Should Check an Off-Plan Project Status

Project monitoring is important before purchasing and throughout the construction period.

Regular checks can help you:

Confirm that the project is officially registered
Identify the registered developer
Review construction progress
Compare progress with the promised completion date
Check recent inspection information
Verify the project escrow account
Confirm the management company where available
Detect significant changes or delays
Verify claims made by sales representatives

A glossy brochure or construction update supplied by a salesperson should not be your only source of information.

Information Needed to Check a Dubai Off-Plan Project

Before using the official enquiry service, collect as much identifying information as possible.

Useful details include:

Official project name
Project number
Land or plot number
Developer’s legal name
Building or phase
Unit number
Sale and purchase agreement
Oqood registration information
Escrow account details

Use the official project name rather than a shortened marketing name where possible. Some developments have similar names or several phases registered separately.

How to Check an Off-Plan Project Status Through DLD

Step 1: Open the Project Status Enquiry

Access the Project Status Enquiry provided by Dubai Land Department.

The service is intended to allow customers to inquire about the completion percentage and other details of registered real estate projects in Dubai.

Make sure you are using the official government service rather than an unrelated website offering unofficial project checks.

Step 2: Search for the Project

The service allows customers to search using information such as:

Project name
Project number
Land number

Enter the information exactly as it appears in the sale agreement or official project documents.

If the project does not appear under its marketing name, try its official registered name or project number.

Step 3: Open the Project Record

Select the correct development from the search results.

Be careful when:

Several projects have similar names
The development has multiple towers
The project contains several phases
Different developers operate within one master community
The name in the brochure differs from the registered name

Match the location, developer and project number before relying on the result.

Step 4: Review the Project Details

Depending on the available record, you may be able to view:

Project number
Property location
Project status
Number of units
Registration information
Construction start
Completion percentage
Developer’s name
Developer number
Developer contact information
Management company
Inspection details
Escrow bank
Escrow account information
Project remarks or updates

Save the relevant information and compare it with the documents supplied by the developer.

Step 5: Record the Date of the Information

Construction percentages and inspection details reflect information available at a particular time.

Record:

Date you performed the check
Reported completion percentage
Project status
Latest inspection information
Any comments or remarks

This creates a timeline that can help you monitor whether progress is continuing.

How to Check an Off-Plan Project Using Dubai REST

Dubai REST provides another official method of checking project information through the Project Status or Mashrooi feature.

Step 1: Install the Official Application

Download the official Dubai REST application from the recognised application store for your device.

Check the publisher and avoid unofficial applications using similar names or branding.

Step 2: Open Project Status or Mashrooi

From the home screen or services menu, select the Project Status or Mashrooi section.

Step 3: Search for the Project

Enter the official:

Project name
Project number
Relevant property information

Choose the correct development from the results.

Step 4: Review the Full Project Record

Dubai REST may provide access to information such as:

Project completion percentage
Actual project photographs
Developer information
Project inspections
Escrow account number
Amounts due from registered buyers
Project updates

Investors may also be able to save or follow selected projects for easier monitoring.

Step 5: Compare Updates Over Time

Do not check the project only once.

Monitor:

Changes in completion percentage
Frequency of construction updates
New inspection information
Changes to the completion timetable
Developer announcements
Payment demands
Handover notices

A consistent pattern of progress is more informative than a single reported percentage.

Checking a Project Through DLD’s Official WhatsApp Channel

Dubai Land Department also identifies its official telephone number, 8004488, as a channel through which customers can communicate using WhatsApp and access assistance from the virtual service.

When using any messaging channel:

Save the number from an official DLD source
Do not trust numbers forwarded by salespeople
Avoid sharing passwords or banking credentials
Verify payment instructions separately
Retain a record of your enquiry

Use official communication channels whenever the online project information is unclear.

Understanding the Off-Plan Project Status

The displayed status should be considered together with the completion percentage, inspections, developer updates and contract.

Registered or Active Project

A registered or active project generally means that it appears in the official system and development procedures are underway.

However, registration does not guarantee:

Completion by a particular date
Absence of construction delays
Final building quality
Achievement of projected investment returns

Continue reviewing the project’s progress and contractual obligations.

Under-Construction Project

Check whether the completion percentage is increasing over time.

Also compare:

Official progress
Site activity
Developer photographs
Construction-linked payment requests
Contractual completion date

The rate of progress may vary during different stages of construction. Finishing and testing work may appear slower than the main structural phase.

Completed Project

A completed status does not always mean that your individual unit is ready for immediate occupation.

Confirm:

Building completion documentation
Handover notice
Final inspection
Snagging process
Outstanding instalments
Utility connection
Service charge arrangements
Oqood-to-title-deed transition
Key collection

Do not make a final payment based solely on a marketing announcement that the project has been completed.

Delayed or Slow-Moving Project

A project may be delayed if construction progress falls significantly behind the contractual timetable.

Before drawing conclusions, check:

Contractual completion date
Grace period
Latest official inspection
Written developer updates
Revised completion date
Site activity
Payment status
Relevant contractual clauses

Request a written explanation from the developer rather than relying only on verbal assurances.

Frozen, Suspended or Under-Review Project

If the official record displays an unfamiliar or concerning status, contact Dubai Land Department for clarification.

Do not assume that every status automatically gives the buyer a right to cancel the agreement or receive an immediate refund. Contract cancellation and recovery of money can involve formal regulatory or legal procedures.

Under-Cancellation or Cancelled Project

A cancellation-related status requires careful attention.

The buyer should:

Confirm the status through DLD
Retain the sale and purchase agreement
Retain Oqood records
Gather all payment receipts
Preserve correspondence with the developer
Avoid signing new settlement documents without understanding them
Obtain professional legal advice where necessary

The treatment of buyer funds depends on the official process, available project assets, escrow position and applicable legal procedures.

How to Interpret the Completion Percentage

The completion percentage can help buyers monitor progress, but it should not be interpreted as a guaranteed handover date.

For example, a project reported as substantially complete may still require:

Internal finishing
Utility connection
Safety testing
Authority inspections
External works
Landscaping
Completion certification
Handover preparation

Similarly, a lower percentage does not automatically prove that the development will be late if the contractual completion date remains far away.

Evaluate the percentage alongside time, inspections and visible activity.

Compare Several Reporting Periods

A single completion figure offers limited information.

Record progress over several months to determine whether:

The percentage is rising consistently
Progress has slowed
The project appears unchanged
Updates are infrequent
Construction has accelerated
The developer’s claims match official information

A simple dated record can make changes easier to identify.

Verify the Developer Separately

The project record may identify the developer, but buyers should also confirm that the company appears in the official list of licensed developers.

Check:

Registered legal name
Developer number
Licence information
Contact details
Previous projects
Completion history
Construction quality
Handover performance

A licensed developer may have several projects with different contractors, timelines and risk profiles. Investigate the specific development rather than relying only on the company’s overall reputation.

Verify the Project Escrow Account

Off-plan buyer payments should be directed to the approved escrow account for the specific project.

Compare the account details found in official project information with:

Developer invoice
Payment instructions
Sale and purchase agreement
Bank transfer details
Previous receipts

The project name and account information should correspond.

Do not transfer instalments to:

A salesperson’s personal account
A broker’s account
An unrelated company
A general account that cannot be linked to the project
Another development’s escrow account
An unverified overseas account

If the developer changes its payment instructions, verify the new account independently before sending money.

Check Your Unit’s Oqood Registration

Project registration and unit registration are not the same thing.

A project may be registered while an individual buyer’s sale has not yet been recorded in the provisional property register.

Ask for evidence of Oqood registration and confirm:

Buyer’s legal name
Developer
Project
Unit number
Purchase price
Registration details

Dubai Land Department states that the signed off-plan sale and purchase contract should be registered in the provisional register within 90 days of signing.

Contact the developer promptly if your sale has not been registered within the expected period.

Compare the Status With the Sale Agreement

The sale and purchase agreement remains essential when assessing delays or developer performance.

Review:

Original completion date
Contractual grace period
Payment milestones
Developer delay provisions
Buyer default provisions
Changes to plans
Changes to unit size
Handover conditions
Cancellation rights
Dispute-resolution process

The expected date advertised by the salesperson may not be the same as the legally relevant completion date in the signed agreement.

Compare Construction Progress With Payment Demands

Before paying a construction-linked instalment, check whether the relevant milestone appears to have been reached.

Review:

Official payment schedule
Developer invoice
Construction milestone
Project status
Your Dubai REST account
Previous payments
Outstanding balance

Date-linked payment plans may require payment on specific dates even when construction progress differs from expectations. Read the agreement carefully to understand how instalments become due.

Visit the Construction Site

Official digital checks should be supported by physical observation where practical.

During a site visit, observe:

Whether workers are present
Visible construction activity
Number of completed floors
External finishing
Access roads
Utility works
Landscaping
Community infrastructure
Nearby developments

Photograph the project from publicly accessible areas and record the date.

Buyers living overseas can ask an independent representative or inspection company to visit the location.

What to Do If the Project Appears Delayed

If the project is not progressing as expected:

1. Confirm the Official Information

Check the Project Status Enquiry and Dubai REST before relying on social media discussions or unofficial claims.

2. Review the Contract

Identify the contractual completion date, grace period and delay provisions.

3. Request a Written Developer Update

Ask for:

Current construction percentage
Reason for the delay
Revised completion date
Contractor status
Expected next milestone
Handover plan

4. Keep Paying Attention to Your Obligations

Do not automatically stop making payments because construction appears delayed. Missing contractual payments may place the buyer in default.

Obtain legal advice before withholding a payment.

5. Keep Complete Records

Save:

Sale and purchase agreement
Oqood certificate
Bank confirmations
Payment receipts
Developer emails
Construction updates
Project status screenshots
Formal notices

6. Contact Dubai Land Department

Use official DLD channels to request clarification or determine the appropriate enquiry or complaint procedure.

7. Obtain Professional Advice

Legal advice may be necessary if the delay is substantial, the developer is unresponsive or you are considering cancellation.

Warning Signs When Checking Project Status

Investigate further if:

The project cannot be found in official records
The developer’s name does not match the contract
The project number is missing
Escrow information cannot be confirmed
The official completion percentage differs significantly from marketing claims
Construction updates have remained unchanged for a long period
The site shows little visible activity
Payments are requested outside the project escrow account
Oqood registration is delayed
The developer avoids written communication
Payment demands do not match the agreed schedule
The project’s status changes without explanation
An early handover announcement is not supported by official documentation

Do not make additional payments until suspicious instructions have been properly verified.

Off-Plan Project Status Checklist

When monitoring an off-plan property, confirm that you have:

Collected the official project name
Recorded the project number
Identified the land or plot number
Checked the DLD Project Status Enquiry
Checked Dubai REST or Mashrooi
Confirmed the registered developer
Reviewed the completion percentage
Checked inspection information
Recorded the date of each check
Compared progress over several periods
Confirmed the project escrow account
Matched payment instructions
Verified your Oqood registration
Reviewed the contractual completion date
Checked the grace period
Compared payment demands with the agreement
Visited the site where possible
Saved all project updates and receipts
Requested written explanations for delays
Sought professional advice where necessary

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I check an off-plan project status in Dubai?

Use Dubai Land Department’s Project Status Enquiry or the Project Status feature in Dubai REST. Search using the project name, project number or land number.

What information can the project enquiry show?

Available information may include the developer, project number, construction progress, inspections, location, management company and escrow account.

Is the displayed completion percentage a guaranteed handover date?

No. The completion percentage shows reported physical progress. Handover may still depend on finishing, inspections, approvals, utilities and other completion requirements.

How often should I check the project?

Checking every few months—or around important payment milestones—can help establish whether progress is continuing. More frequent checks may be appropriate if construction appears delayed.

What should I do if my project is missing?

Check the spelling, official name, project number and land number. If it still does not appear, contact the developer and Dubai Land Department before making a payment.

Does a registered project mean my unit is registered?

No. Project registration and individual unit registration are different. Confirm that your purchase has been recorded through Oqood.

Can I stop paying if the project is delayed?

Do not stop payments without reviewing the agreement and obtaining appropriate advice. Withholding payment may put the buyer in contractual default.

Where should off-plan payments be sent?

Payments should follow the verified instructions for the specific project’s approved escrow account.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to check an off-plan project status in Dubai gives buyers a clearer view of construction progress, developer information and project escrow details.

The most reliable approach is to combine official DLD information with Dubai REST updates, Oqood verification, contract review and site observations. Regular monitoring can help buyers identify delays or inconsistencies early and respond appropriately.

HAMZ helps buyers verify Dubai off-plan projects, evaluate construction updates and understand important transaction details throughout the property purchase journey.

Off-Plan Project Status in Dubai: How to Check It