EOI Dubai Off-Plan Checklist 2026: Refunds, Amounts

Dubai · EOI checklist 2026

EOI Checklist for Dubai Off-Plan (2026)

An EOI (Expression of Interest) is the deposit that holds your place in a Dubai off-plan launch before the unit is allocated and the SPA is signed. On the launches Ovation presents, EOIs typically run AED 50,000 for studios and one-bedrooms and AED 100,000 for larger units. Refund terms are set by each developer, so get them in writing first.

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Quick facts (November 2026)

Item	Ovation fact
What an EOI does	Holds your priority in a launch before allocation and SPA
Typical amounts on Ovation launches	AED 50,000 studio / 1BR; AED 100,000 for 2BR and larger (e.g. Shahrukhz Residences)
What happens next	Allocation → booking stage (often 10% on SPA) → SPA → Oqood within 90 days
Refundable?	Depends on the developer's written EOI terms, not a city-wide rule
Where the money goes after SPA	Project escrow account named in the SPA

Where the EOI sits in the buying path

1. Shortlist a project and unit type with Ovation.

2. Pay the EOI to hold priority.

3. Allocation: the developer assigns a unit against your EOI.

4. Booking: the EOI is usually credited to the first instalment. On Project Maybach by Binghatti, for example, the EOI is AED 50,000 and the SPA booking stage is 10% of the unit price.

5. Sign the SPA.

6. Register Oqood with Dubai Land Department within 90 days of the SPA.

Full walkthrough: how to buy off-plan in Dubai: EOI, SPA and Oqood.

Refundable vs non-refundable EOIs

Refundable if not allocated. The most investor-friendly terms: if your preferred unit is not allocated, the EOI comes back.
Refundable within a window. Refunds allowed only within a set number of days.
Non-refundable once allocated. Once a unit is assigned, walking away can forfeit the EOI.

Ovation gets the written terms for your launch before you transfer a dirham.

The 12-point EOI checklist

The project is DLD-registered and the advert carries a Trakheesi QR.
The EOI form names the developer, project and unit type or preference.
Written refund rules: when, how much and how fast.
The allocation window and what happens if your preferred unit is gone.
Whether the EOI is credited to your first instalment.
The payment plan you will be offered on allocation.
The booking-stage % due at SPA (often 10%) and the 20% down-payment framework.
The account you are paying: the developer's or broker's account as stated on the EOI form, then the project escrow named in the SPA for all instalments.
A receipt in your name for every transfer.
Your passport and KYC documents ready for the SPA.
The handover quarter on the SPA.
The broker's RERA licence (Ovation: ORN 47175).

Red flags

No written EOI terms.
A request to pay a personal account.
No Trakheesi QR on the project advert.
Pressure to pay before you have seen the payment plan.

More: is off-plan payment protected in Dubai.

How to book with Ovation

Get the Ovation playbook now, then WhatsApp the launch and unit type you want. Ovation sends the EOI amount, refund terms and live payment plan, files the EOI with you, and carries you through allocation, SPA and Oqood.

Why Ovation

Dubai’s most trusted off-plan brokerage for investors who refuse to buy blind.

Some chase what’s attainable. We pursue what’s worthy.

Ovation Capital Properties (RERA ORN 47175) is the advisory investors come to when the shortlist has to be right. Founder-led by Rahul Agiwal (Lead Advisor) and Bhumika Chauhan (Waterfront Specialist). We do not flood you with every launch on the portal — we curate what earns a place on your shortlist, state live From prices and the payment plan as Ovation facts, and book the unit with you.

How we protect your capital

Only DLD / Trakheesi-registered stock — scan the QR on every project page
Diligence before you pay: escrow, delivery record, handover balance, resale path
Your instalments go to the project escrow named in the SPA — never a private account
We walk the SPA with you and track Oqood registration in your name through to handover
Clear EOI and booking stages before any commitment

Ovation has advised more than 50 investors. Rated 5.0 on Google.

For those who are Worthy of Applause.

FAQs

What is an EOI in Dubai off-plan?

An Expression of Interest is a deposit that holds your priority in a launch before the developer allocates a unit and you sign the SPA. It is usually credited to your first instalment once the unit is allocated.

How much is an EOI in Dubai?

It varies by launch. On the projects Ovation presents, EOIs typically run AED 50,000 for studios and one-bedrooms and AED 100,000 for two-bedrooms and larger, as on Shahrukhz Residences. Project Maybach by Binghatti carries an AED 50,000 EOI.

Is an EOI refundable in Dubai?

Only if the developer's written EOI terms say so. Some refund in full if no unit is allocated, some within a set window, and some forfeit once a unit is assigned. Ovation gets those terms in writing before you pay.

What happens after I pay the EOI?

The developer allocates a unit against your EOI. You then pay the booking stage (often 10% of the price, with the EOI credited), sign the SPA and register Oqood with Dubai Land Department within 90 days of the SPA.

Is an EOI the same as a booking or down payment?

No. The EOI holds priority. The booking stage and the 20% down-payment framework come at allocation and SPA, and the EOI is usually credited toward them.

How do I know an EOI launch is legitimate?

Check that the project is DLD-registered, the advert carries a Trakheesi QR, the EOI form names the developer and project, and the broker is RERA-licensed. Never pay a personal account.

Why use Ovation for an off-plan EOI?

Because Ovation is the brokerage built to protect the investor, not to clear inventory. Ovation Capital Properties LLC (RERA ORN 47175) shortlists against your brief, states From prices, the payment plan and EOI as Ovation facts, checks escrow and delivery before you reserve, walks the SPA, and tracks Oqood through to handover. Ovation has advised more than 50 investors. Rated 5.0 on Google. WhatsApp your budget and unit type and we present the shortlist before you put money down.

How does Ovation protect investors?

Ovation only presents DLD / Trakheesi-registered stock, runs diligence on escrow, delivery record, handover balance and resale path before you reserve, routes instalments to the project escrow named in your SPA, walks the SPA with you, and tracks Oqood registration in your name through handover. Ovation Capital Properties is RERA-licensed (ORN 47175). Ovation has advised more than 50 investors.

Get the Ovation playbook now

Costs, payment plans, escrow and the booking path in one investor playbook. Or WhatsApp your budget and timeline.