From reservation to title deed
What happens, in what order, and what it costs — using Emaar's own published terms. Checked against Emaar's published terms on 9 October 2026. We walk every client through it personally; this is the map.
Seven steps
Reserve a unit
You reserve a specific unit with a booking fee, online or at the sales centre. Emaar then issues the reservation form and payment plan for signature and a property specialist confirms the unit within one working day. You need your passport, nationality and country of residence.
Pay the down payment
At Emaar launches bought through the Emaar Preferred Access Programme, Emaar's published terms ask for at least 20% of the price at the time of purchase, and do not allow a transfer until at least 50% has been paid. Outside the programme, your sale agreement sets the terms. Source: Emaar
Sign the sale agreement
Emaar says it typically issues the Sales and Purchase Agreement 21–40 days after a launch purchase, once the down payment, DLD registration charge and Oqood fee have cleared. It is in English, names the Emaar subsidiary selling the project, gives an estimated completion date and sets the instalment terms. Decide the names on the contract first: adding or removing one later counts as a transfer. Source: Emaar
Register with the Dubai Land Department
Your purchase is pre-registered in DLD's interim register (Oqood). Emaar's FAQ puts the DLD registration fee at 4% of the contract value, paid to the Land Department; Emaar says pre-registration is required by law and is a condition of taking possession. Source: Emaar
Pay instalments into escrow
Every instalment goes by cheque or bank transfer into the project's escrow account, in AED — never cash and never to a personal account. Emaar's finance team confirms the escrow details for each project. Source: Emaar
Home orientation and handover
Before keys, Emaar walks you through the home once and logs any snags for the contractor; cosmetic marks must be raised at that visit. For handover you bring the certificate of completion of payment, the land-registration application, your DEWA deposit receipt and your passport. Emaar's defect-liability period for the unit is one year. Source: Emaar
Title deed
After full payment you apply for land registration through Emaar (admin fee AED 525 including VAT, about 30 days) and DLD emails an electronic title deed. Buyers on a post-handover payment plan receive the deed once the plan is paid. Source: Emaar
What you pay on top of the price
Emaar's published figures as of 9 October 2026. Confirm the current amounts with us before you commit.
Emaar's administration and booking fees include 5% VAT.
Buying from overseas
- —You can buy with just a passport; you do not need to live in the UAE.
- —Sign remotely or through a power of attorney notarised at the UAE embassy and attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- —Instalments go by international transfer into the project escrow account, in AED, converted at your own bank.
- —Emaar does not issue visit visas for handover; a representative can attend the home orientation and handover for you.
- —Post-handover instalments need UAE cheques or a property manager.
Per Emaar's published guidance: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4.
No units with Emaar? Buy from an owner.
Agree the price
When Emaar lists no units, you buy from an existing owner. For an off-plan resale you normally reimburse what the seller has paid, agree any premium, and take over the remaining instalments.
Emaar's no-objection certificate
Transfers need Emaar's NOC: AED 5,000 plus 5% VAT for a primary (off-plan) transfer, AED 500 plus VAT after handover, valid for 15 days. All dues must be clear and both parties attend. Source: Emaar
Transfer at the Land Department
The transfer completes at DLD, which charges its registration fee again on the new sale. A mortgaged unit needs the bank's clearance letter first. Source: Emaar
How we work
An independent Dubai broker, not Emaar.
- —We check availability and prices with Emaar on the day, and confirm a seller's paid instalments before you commit to a resale.
- —We quote a building's RERA-approved service charge, never an estimate, and show registered sales and rents rather than asking prices.
- —Every payment goes to Emaar's project escrow account or the seller through DLD — never to us.
Is this Emaar's website?
No. DXB Creek Harbour is an independent property showcase run by a Dubai broker. The projects are developed by Emaar Properties; we help buyers compare them, find available units and buy. This site is not owned, operated or endorsed by Emaar.
Are the prices current?
Every price is Emaar's own published figure, checked on 9 October 2026: the advertised starting price for the project and, where Emaar lists units, the cheapest unit on its site that day. Prices and availability change often — message us on WhatsApp for today's price list.
What do 'Now selling', 'Ready' and 'Resale' mean here?
'Now selling' means Emaar listed units for sale on its website when we checked, or is registering interest for a launch. 'Ready' means PropertyIndex, which models Dubai Land Department data, shows the building's construction as completed and Emaar lists no units, so you buy from an owner. 'Resale' means PropertyIndex shows construction under way and Emaar listed no units when we checked, so you take over an owner's contract and payment plan. Where PropertyIndex records no construction status we say so and you ask us.
Can foreigners buy in Dubai Creek Harbour?
Yes. Emaar states that all properties in Dubai Creek Harbour are freehold, with full ownership rights for UAE nationals and foreign investors, and that non-residents can buy with a valid passport. Emaar's freehold guide notes that foreign ownership in Dubai is governed by Law No. 7 of 2006 in designated areas. Source
Does buying here get me a residence visa?
Emaar's investor-visa guide says property worth at least AED 2 million can qualify you for a long-term UAE Golden Residence, that a mortgaged property may also qualify subject to the Dubai Land Department's requirements, and that owners of any Dubai property can apply through DLD's Taskeen service for a renewable two-year residence visa (a jointly owned share must be at least AED 400,000). Emaar does not sponsor visas; eligibility is decided by the UAE immigration authorities, not by Emaar or by us. Rules change — we check the current requirements with you. Source
Can I buy with a mortgage?
On a completed home, yes — UAE banks lend to residents and non-residents within their own lending limits. Off-plan is mostly paid from your own funds during construction; Emaar's investor guide says that for selected off-plan projects eligible customers may have access to financing with pre-approval for up to 50% of the property's value, renewable annually until handover. Emaar registers a mortgage for AED 5,000 and DLD charges 0.25% of the loan plus AED 10. Source
How is my money protected on an off-plan purchase?
For off-plan purchases, Emaar's guidance is that funds are held in escrow accounts overseen by the Dubai Land Department, and every Emaar instalment is paid into the project's own escrow account; the purchase is pre-registered in DLD's interim register (Oqood). Ask us for the project's escrow account details and cross-check them with Emaar before you transfer. Source
What are the service charges?
Service charges are an annual cost per unit that vary by building; Emaar's investor guide notes that approved charges can be checked through DLD's Service Charge Index. We quote the approved rate for the exact tower — never an estimate. Source
Can I rent it out?
Yes. Emaar says you are free to lease the home once it is handed over. Long-term lets are registered with Ejari; short-term holiday letting is separately regulated in Dubai — ask us before you plan on it. Source
Can I sell before handover?
Yes, with Emaar's no-objection certificate (AED 5,000 plus VAT, valid 15 days), once you have paid the minimum share set in your sale agreement and all dues are clear. The new buyer's contract is issued at Emaar's original price and any premium is settled between you; the transfer completes at DLD. Source
How do I get a brochure or floor plans?
Where Emaar publishes a brochure or floor plans, the links are on the project page. For anything else, tap WhatsApp and we'll send it over.
Tell us what you're looking for
Tell us your budget, bedrooms and timing — we'll send what's available today, with Emaar's current terms and the registered prices to compare.