Off-Plan Buyer Contract Review
Review a 50-page sale and purchase agreement before committing AED 2M to off-plan property
The challenge
A first-time off-plan buyer in Dubai received a 50-page sale and purchase agreement (SPA) from a developer for an AED 2 million unit. The buyer had no legal background, the SPA was densely written, and the developer wanted signature and a 20% down payment within five working days. Engaging a property lawyer for a full review on that timeline would have cost more than the buyer wanted to spend on a single transaction.
The solution
Graysen analysed the full SPA and produced a tiered risk report: which clauses were standard market practice, which were one-sided in the developer's favour, and which were missing the legal protections that should be there (Oqood registration commitment, escrow account name, anti-cancellation language under Law No. 13 of 2008). The buyer used the report to push back on three specific clauses, all of which the developer agreed to amend.
How it was implemented
- 01Full SPA upload and clause-by-clause risk analysis
- 02Cross-check against Dubai off-plan legal framework (Law No. 13 of 2008, Escrow Law)
- 03Plain-English explanation of every flagged clause
- 04Specific revision language drafted for the three highest-risk clauses
- 05Final review of the developer's revised draft before signing
Results
Three one-sided clauses revised
Including a force-majeure clause broad enough to give the developer years of delay rights, and a payment-default clause that allowed the developer to retain materially more than Law No. 13 of 2008 permits.
Oqood registration committed in writing
The original SPA was silent on the Oqood timeline. The revised version commits the developer to interim registration within 30 days of signing — protecting the buyer's deposit until title transfers.
Escrow account named in the contract
Payments now flow into a named, regulated escrow account rather than a generic developer-controlled bank reference. Funds can only be drawn against milestone-verified construction progress.
Hours, not days
Review and revision drafting completed in under an hour. A traditional lawyer review would have taken 3–5 working days and cost a multiple of what the buyer ultimately spent.
I'd never have spotted those clauses on my own. The detailed report turned a transaction I was anxious about into one I felt informed enough to negotiate.
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