Off-plan or ready? Choose by the date you need the keys. See how 1,214 listed projects split by handover date, and how JVC, Business Bay, Dubai Hills Estate, Dubai South and Dubai Islands compare on price per square foot.
Quick answer
Choose by the date you need the keys, not by the label. If you want to move in or collect rent within a year, a ready home or a project with a near handover date fits. If you can wait two to four years and want to spread payments over the build, off-plan fits. Most buyers sit in the middle: they pick a project whose handover date matches their own plan, and they check that date before they pay a deposit.
Last updated: 13 November 2026. Figures below come from the Golden Hills catalogue on that date.
What the catalogue shows today
Golden Hills lists 1,214 new-build projects across Dubai and other emirates. The listed handover dates are spread out, which is the real answer to "off-plan or ready?":
| Handover date in the catalogue | Projects |
|---|---|
| Within the next 12 months | 329 |
| 12 to 24 months away | 328 |
| More than 24 months away | 257 |
| Not yet announced | 44 |
A handover date does not guarantee the building will be finished by then, so ask for the completion status and the date of the completion certificate before you treat it as ready. The median starting price across all listed projects is AED 1.4 million, and the lowest starting price is AED 385,888. Across the 1,168 projects with a stated unit size, the median starting price per square foot is about AED 1,944. This is the starting price divided by the smallest listed unit, so use it to compare projects, not to value a specific flat.
You can filter every project by area, price and handover year on the projects page.
Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC)
JVC is the busiest area in the catalogue, with 92 projects, and many are close to handover. Among the 84 projects with size data, the median starting price is about AED 1,706 per square foot, and 29 have a handover date within the next twelve months. Entry prices start at AED 472,000 (about 34.0 billion toman).
That mix lets you compare timing inside one neighbourhood. Azizi Ruby starts at AED 618,000 with a December 2026 handover, while Auresta Tower starts at AED 628,000 with a December 2028 handover. Similar entry prices, two years apart. See the full JVC area page and the Azizi developer page.
Business Bay
Business Bay is priced higher: a median of about AED 3,057 per square foot across 36 projects with size data, with entry from AED 823,000. Fifteen of those have a handover date within a year, so completion status matters here. Later options include BAYZ 101 by Danube, from AED 1,175,000 with a June 2028 handover. Browse the Business Bay page.
Dubai Hills Estate
Dubai Hills Estate has fewer projects (25) and a higher floor: entry from AED 1,000,000 and a median of about AED 2,159 per square foot. Only six of the 25 are due within the next twelve months, so waiting is more common here. Club Drive starts at AED 1,500,000 with a March 2028 handover. See the Dubai Hills Estate page.
Dubai South
Dubai South is the value end of the list: median about AED 1,464 per square foot across 35 projects, with entry from AED 460,000, and 11 projects due within a year. Waada starts at AED 460,000 with a December 2028 handover. The low price comes with a long wait, which suits a buyer who is not in a hurry. Open the Dubai South page.
Dubai Islands
Dubai Islands has 82 projects, a median of about AED 2,470 per square foot and entry from AED 991,000. Thirty-two are due by November 2027. Soma Residences starts at AED 1,670,000 and lists December 2028. See the Dubai Islands page.
How payment and protection differ
Off-plan buyers pay in stages. Under Dubai's escrow rules, a developer selling off-plan must open a project escrow account with an accredited bank and pay every buyer instalment into it, so the money funds the build. Ask for the escrow account details before you pay. The Dubai Land Department also charges a 4% registration fee on off-plan sales, handled through its Oqood system. Ready property is registered on transfer, and you pay the seller or their agent on a different schedule.
Payment plans differ project by project, so read the schedule in the sales offer: the deposit, the amount due during construction, and the amount due at handover.
Match the choice to your goal
| Your goal | Usually fits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Live in it within a year | Ready or near handover | You see the real unit and the real neighbours |
| Rent it out soon | Ready or handover within 12 months | Rent starts sooner |
| Spread payments, can wait 2 to 4 years | Off-plan | Smaller early payments, later keys |
| Lowest entry price | Dubai South, JVC, later handover | Lowest starting prices in the catalogue |
| Central address | Business Bay, Dubai Hills Estate | Higher price per square foot, fewer projects |
Five checks before you commit
- Confirm the handover date in writing and ask what happens if it slips.
- Ask for the escrow account details of the project.
- Compare the price per square foot with similar projects in the same area.
- Add the 4% registration fee and service charges to your budget.
- Visit the site, or the finished neighbouring phase, before you pay.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is off-plan cheaper than ready?
Often the starting price is lower, but compare price per square foot, not the headline. Check what is included, and add fees and service charges to both options.
Can I rent out an off-plan flat before handover?
Normally rent starts only after handover, once the unit is complete and ready to let. Plan for the gap between handover and your first tenant.
Is the handover date a guarantee?
No. A listed date can slip, so ask for the current completion status.
How do I protect my deposit?
Pay only into the project escrow account named in the sales documents, and keep every receipt.
Where can I see current projects?
Use the projects page on this site and filter by area, price and handover year.
Última verificación: 13 November 2026 · Revisión pendiente: —
