Investors enter Dubai off-plan property deals with strong ROI expectations, then face slow resale activity, higher service charges, or handover delays. They blame the market, but the issue usually comes from weak project selection and poor risk checks. ]
Core Problem
Investors focus on launch prices instead of capital efficiency. They judge a project by entry cost, payment plan, and marketing claims. They skip the data that shows actual risk.
Three factors drive most losses:
- Resale liquidity in the developer’s previous projects
- Operational costs that reduce rental yield
- Delivery history that affects exit timing
When this goes unchecked, an asset may look cheap but deliver weak returns.
What Played Out
We watched two investors enter the same Dubai district with similar budgets.
One purchased a ready unit, attracted by a low headline price and strong advertising. The building had weak secondary demand and rising service charges.
The other reviewed the developer’s past resale activity, their rental numbers, and their delivery record. They used the same budget but entered an off-plan project with a stronger secondary market.
Twelve months later, one investor held a slow-moving asset. The other had an appreciating position with stronger demand. Same market. Different filters.
The Smarter Approach
Investors who want strong returns from Dubai off-plan property need a simple filter.
- Review resale activity in the developer’s last two completed projects
- Check service charges and rental performance in their existing stock
- Confirm past delivery timelines across multiple projects
If all three align, the project supports capital efficiency and cleaner exits. If one fails, the risk outweighs the entry price.
Work With Mary
If you want these checks done using real Dubai off-plan property data, contact Mary at MaryHomesUae.com. I help investors and decision-makers screen off-plan projects using complex numbers, not marketing.
