Off-Plan Property & New Launches
Off-Plan Launch Day in Abu Dhabi: EOIs, Deposits and What Happens Step by Step (2026)
How to get early access to an Abu Dhabi off-plan launch: how EOIs work, typical amounts, refunds, the Madhmoun escrow rule and a checklist.
Short answer. To get early access to an off-plan launch in Abu Dhabi, you submit an expression of interest (EOI) before the launch, usually through an agent who works with the developer. The EOI is a refundable deposit, paid by cheque or bank transfer, that gives you priority when units are allocated. It does not guarantee you a unit. Since February 2026, developers must register EOIs on ADREC’s Madhmoun platform, and the money goes into a government-supervised escrow account. If you choose a unit, the EOI usually counts towards the booking deposit, which is often 10% to 20% of the price. If you don’t, it is refunded under the terms of the EOI form. Before you buy, compare the launch price with recent resales: on Yas and Saadiyat, launches sell 41% to 47% above them.
What is an EOI?
An expression of interest is a buyer’s early deposit to a developer, made before a project’s units are released, to be considered when they are allocated. Developers usually allocate units in order of priority, so an early EOI matters for the most popular layouts and views. The terms are set by the developer in the EOI form, which is usually sent to the email address you register with. The terms differ from one developer to the next, so read them, and ask your agent to explain them.
How a launch works, step by step
| Step | What happens | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Consultation | We agree your goal (to live in or to invest), bedrooms, budget and location. | Set a maximum price, and a maximum price per sq ft. |
| 2. Project review | Brochure, floor plans, payment plan and the developer’s delivery record. | Ask for the price list as soon as it is released. |
| 3. Preferences | Unit types and views, ranked, within your price ceiling. | Decide your first and second choices in advance. |
| 4. EOI | EOI form, passport (and Emirates ID if you live in the UAE), and the deposit by cheque or bank transfer to the developer. The developer registers it on Madhmoun. | Read the EOI terms the developer emails you. |
| 5. Launch day | Units are allocated in order of priority. Prices vary with size, floor and view. | Compare units side by side: two three-bedroom homes in the same building can differ widely in price. |
| 6. Booking | You sign the booking (reservation) form and pay the booking deposit. The EOI is usually counted towards it. | Once you sign, your money is committed under the developer’s terms. |
| 7. Contract and registration | Sale and purchase agreement (SPA), registration on DARI (2% fee), and instalments into the project’s escrow account. | Pay only into the escrow account named in the SPA. |
| 8. No suitable unit | You tell us that no unit matches. | The refund is processed under the EOI terms, and we keep you informed of the next launches. |
The money at each stage
| Stage | Amount | What happens to it |
|---|---|---|
| EOI | Set by the developer. Agency guides for 2026 quote AED 20,000 to AED 100,000. | Refunded if you don’t go ahead, under the EOI form’s terms. |
| Booking deposit | Often 10% to 20% of the price. | The EOI usually counts towards it; committed once you sign. |
| Registration | 2% of the price, on DARI. | Paid when the sale is registered. |
| Instalments | As in the payment plan. | Paid into the project’s escrow account, which can only fund construction. |
| If the contract is later cancelled | The developer may keep nothing if work has not started, 10% below 10% complete, rising to 40% from 60% complete. | The balance is refunded from escrow within 15 business days of the request. |
Banks usually lend up to 50% of the value of a home under construction, so plan to fund at least half yourself. More in Off-Plan or Ready Property in Abu Dhabi? and Buying Property in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi’s EOI rule: Madhmoun and escrow
Since 16 February 2026, the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) has required every developer launching a new project to register investors’ EOIs on its Madhmoun platform. EOI money goes into a government-managed preparatory escrow account under ADREC’s supervision, and refunds are made digitally. The first project registered this way was Manchester City Yas Residences by Ohana. Before you pay:
- check the project’s advertising permit with ADREC’s online Verify Document tool;
- pay only to the account named in the EOI form, never to an individual;
- keep the EOI form, the receipt and every email from the developer.
Refunds: what to expect
Refund timing depends on the developer. It is usually processed once you confirm that no unit matches your requirements, and it is paid back to the account you paid from. ADREC’s announcement sets no deadline, and other agencies’ guides commonly quote 30 to 60 days. The EOI form is what counts: read its terms, and ask your agent to explain them before you pay.
Is buying at a launch worth it?
A launch gives you the widest choice of units, a payment plan and a new building. In 2026 it rarely gives you a lower price. New one-bedroom launches sell 9% above recent resales on Al Reem, 18% on Al Raha Beach, 41% on Yas and 47% on Saadiyat; only in Masdar City are launches cheaper. Compare the price per sq ft with registered sales in completed buildings nearby, and set your ceiling before launch day. See Are Abu Dhabi off-plan launches overpriced?
Before you pay an EOI: checklist
- Are the developer and the project named on the EOI form, and is the advertising permit valid?
- Will the EOI be registered on Madhmoun, and is the payment going to the account named in the form?
- Are the refund terms and timing in writing?
- How is the EOI counted towards the booking deposit?
- What are the booking deposit, the payment plan and the handover date?
- What is your maximum price per sq ft, compared with resales nearby?
- Are your documents ready (passport, and Emirates ID if you are a resident)?
- How much of the price can you fund before handover?
How XIS helps
XIS Real Estate represents you, the buyer, and is an approved partner of Abu Dhabi’s main developers, which is how we get early access to launches and price lists. We explain the EOI terms, compare each unit with registered sales, and stay with you through the contract, the payments and, when the time comes, the resale. Request an analysis through the form on this page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get early access to an off-plan launch in Abu Dhabi?
Submit an expression of interest (EOI) before the launch, usually through an agent who works with the developer. It gives you priority when units are allocated.
What is an EOI in real estate?
A refundable deposit paid to a developer before a launch, to be considered when units are allocated. It does not reserve a unit.
How much is an EOI in the UAE?
The developer sets it. Agency guides for 2026 quote AED 20,000 to AED 100,000, depending on the project and the property type.
Is an EOI refundable?
Yes, if you don’t take a unit, under the EOI form’s terms. Timing varies by developer; read the terms and ask your agent.
Does an EOI guarantee a unit?
No. It gives you priority in the allocation. A unit is reserved only when you sign the booking form and pay the booking deposit.
What happens to my EOI if I buy?
It is usually counted towards the booking deposit, which is often 10% to 20% of the price.
Is my EOI money protected in Abu Dhabi?
Since February 2026, developers must register EOIs on ADREC’s Madhmoun platform, and the money goes into a government-supervised escrow account with digital refunds.
Are launch prices cheaper than resale prices?
Not usually in 2026. On Al Reem, Al Raha Beach, Yas and Saadiyat, new launches sell 9% to 47% above recent resales; Masdar City is the exception.
Sources
- Khaleej Times: Abu Dhabi asks developers to register EOIs for off-plan projects digitally (16 February 2026)
- Aletihad: ADREC launches Madhmoun EOI digitisation (February 2026)
- ADREC: Verify Document
- DARI: off-plan unit sale registration
- Engel & Völkers: EOI meaning in real estate (January 2026)
- Truhauz: expression of interest in off-plan (November 2026)
- XIS: Are Abu Dhabi off-plan launches overpriced? and Off-Plan or Ready Property in Abu Dhabi?
Figures as of November 2026. EOI terms vary by developer; this is general information, not legal or financial advice.