Off-plan · November 2026
Prime off-plan in Dubai, the shortlist
Seven launches we think are worth a serious buyer’s time this month, across Palm Jumeirah, La Mer, Emaar Beachfront, Palm Jebel Ali and DIFC. Price, plan, handover and our honest view on each.
71%
Share of Dubai sales that were off-plan in the first half of 2026
c. 50,000
New homes launched in 2026, down almost two thirds on 2025
4.8M+
Dubai’s population, still growing while launches slow
Sources below.
IN SHORT
- Launches have slowed sharply in 2026, so the choice of building matters more than ever.
- Our seven picks run from AED 3.7M at Emaar Beachfront to AED 33M-plus on Palm Jumeirah.
- Off-plan homes worth AED 2M or more can now qualify for the Golden Visa while on a payment plan.
- Ask us for floor plans, the live price list and what is genuinely left in each building.
Is off-plan still worth buying in Dubai?
Yes, selectively. Fewer launches and a growing population favour well-located buildings by proven developers, but the gap between the best stock and the rest is wider than it has been in years.
Off-plan made up 71% of Dubai’s sales in the first half of 2026. Yet new launches have fallen to around 50,000 homes this year, almost two thirds fewer than in 2025, while the city’s population passed 4.8 million.
That shift rewards discipline. We look for three things: an address that cannot be repeated, a developer with a delivery record, and a payment plan that works for the buyer, not only for the launch. Everything below passes that test.
The November 2026 shortlist
Seven prime launches, each with its starting price, payment plan, handover date and our view. Prices are launch or starting prices and move quickly, so ask us for the live list.
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Meraas · La Mer, Jumeirah · Handover from 2029
Solaya
A boutique beachfront collection at La Mer with Foster + Partners architecture: 2 to 5-bedroom apartments, duplexes and penthouses with sea views and direct beach access.
- FromAED 14.2M
- Bedrooms2–5
- Plan20/10/10/10/10/40
Our viewFor a buyer who wants a beach address on the mainland in old Jumeirah rather than on an island. Favour the higher floors facing open sea, and note the plan keeps 40% back until handover.
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OMNIYAT · Palm Jumeirah, Eastern Crescent · Completion Q3 2028
The Alba, Dorchester Collection
Zaha Hadid Architects’ residences beside Dorchester Collection’s first beach resort on the Palm. Fully serviced, sea on every side, and the most design-led address on the Crescent.
- FromAED 21M
- Plan50/50
- HandoverQ3 2028
Our viewFor a buyer who wants the most design-led address on the Crescent, with Dorchester service behind it. Prioritise the sea-facing stacks and budget for branded-residence service charges from day one.
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Beyond · Palm Jumeirah, East Crescent · Handover December 2028
Passo by Beyond
Two towers on the Palm’s East Crescent with 1 to 6-bedroom residences and penthouses. The most accessible way into new-build Crescent living this year.
- FromAED 5.5M
- Bedrooms1–6
- Plan10/50/40
Our viewThe entry point to new-build Crescent living, for end-users and investors who want Palm liquidity at a sensible ticket. Pick the larger layouts with full sea views; small units will meet the most competition at handover.
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Nakheel · Palm Jumeirah · Delivery Q1 2027
Como Residences
Large-format 2 to 7-bedroom residences by the Palm’s master developer, now close to completion. For buyers who want new-build scale on the Palm without a long wait.
- FromAED 33M
- Bedrooms2–7
- Plan20/60/20
Our viewFor a family that wants a large new home on the Palm in 2027, not 2029. Ask what is genuinely left: at this stage the remaining stock decides the value, not the brochure.
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Emaar · Emaar Beachfront, Dubai Harbour · Delivery Q3 2029
New tower, Emaar Beachfront
A new, yet-to-be-named tower on the gated beachfront island between Dubai Marina and the Palm, with a private beach and Emaar’s resale track record behind it.
- FromAED 3.7M
- Plan10/70/20
- HandoverQ3 2029
Our viewThe sensible entry: a gated beach island with deep resale and rental demand, and only 10% due up front. Choose high floors with Palm or open-sea views over marina-facing stacks.
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Nakheel · Palm Jebel Ali · Delivery Q4 2028
Palm Jebel Ali villas
Beachfront villas on Dubai’s second Palm. A long-horizon purchase: you are buying the plot and the beach early, before the island’s community and amenities arrive.
- Fromc. AED 18M
- Plan20/60/20
- HandoverQ4 2028
Our viewA long-horizon land play for buyers who can wait for the island to mature. Buy the plot and the beach frontage, not the villa design; the best positions will be obvious, and expensive, in five years.
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H&H · DIFC · Completion 2028
Water Gardens
A four-building DIFC destination designed by Sir David Chipperfield, with residences, hotels, Grade A offices and retail around a landscaped water garden, 300 m from Financial Centre Metro.
- FromOn request
- PlanTo be announced
- Completion2028
Our viewFor buyers who want to live and work in DIFC, and investors who want Chipperfield architecture in the city’s financial core. Register now: DIFC launch allocations go first to the people already on the list.
What should you check before buying off-plan?
Check the developer, the escrow, the plan and the exit. The render is the least important document you will see.
- Developer record. Past handovers, delays and how their finished buildings resell.
- Escrow and registration. The project’s RERA escrow account and Oqood registration in your name.
- The payment plan. The cash you need each year, not just the headline split.
- Stack and view. Orientation, floor and what can be built in front of you.
- Resale terms. How much you must pay before you can resell, and the developer’s transfer fee.
- Service charges. The estimate for the finished building, especially for branded residences.
Frequently asked questions
Is buying off-plan in Dubai safe?
It is regulated. Your payments go into a project escrow account monitored by RERA, the developer must be registered, and your purchase is recorded with the Dubai Land Department through Oqood. The real risks are delivery delays and resale liquidity, so choose the developer and the building carefully.
How do off-plan payment plans work?
You pay in stages. A typical plan asks for 10 to 20% on booking, a share during construction tied to progress, and the balance at handover, written as 20/60/20 or 50/50. Some plans run after handover. The plan matters as much as the price, so compare the cash you need each year.
What fees do you pay when buying off-plan?
The main cost is the 4% Dubai Land Department fee, charged on the purchase price when the sale is registered through Oqood, plus a small registration fee. Some launches pay part or all of the DLD fee for you. On a resale before handover, expect a developer transfer fee as well.
Does off-plan property qualify for the UAE Golden Visa?
It can. Since February 2026, an off-plan home bought on a payment plan qualifies once its total value reaches AED 2 million, without the earlier rule that half had to be paid first. Confirm the current requirements with the Dubai Land Department when you apply.
Is this site connected to the Netflix show?
No. Selling Sunset Dubai is an independent private property service run by Abode Property (RERA ORN 685874). It is not affiliated with Netflix or The Oppenheim Group.
Sources
- Dubai Chronicle: Dubai’s newest off-plan launches bet on architecture (27 Oct 2026)
- GDN Online: H1 2026 transactions and off-plan share
- RLI: Water Gardens, DIFC
- Metropolitan: Golden Visa rules for off-plan, 2026
- Prices, plans and handover dates: developer and Property Finder project listings, October 2026. Confirm with us before you commit.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Prices, availability, payment plans and visa rules change; confirm current details before you commit.
