Handover Day in the UAE: From Final Payment to Keys

Before the day: the developer issues a completion or handover notice, commonly a few weeks ahead, listing outstanding amounts — final installments, utility connection and administration charges — that must be settled before keys are released. Book your slot promptly; popular projects schedule many handovers per day and slots move.

On the day, you inspect the unit (ideally with a snagging professional), log defects, sign the handover documentation once you are satisfied or with defects formally recorded, and collect the keys, access cards and warranties. Service charges begin accruing from handover, whether or not you occupy, and the title deed process for Oqood-registered units moves forward after completion.

Work systematically: walls, ceilings and floors for cracks and finishing defects; doors and windows for alignment and sealing; plumbing for pressure, drainage and leaks under sinks; electrical points and the distribution board for function; and the AC for cooling performance in every room. Photograph everything with timestamps and get each item acknowledged in the snagging report.

Water is the expensive one. Check bathrooms, kitchens, balconies and around AC units for any sign of leakage, because moisture damage compounds quickly and is the defect owners most regret not catching. If you cannot inspect personally, hire a snagging company — the fee is minor against the cost of undetected defects, and the 12-month defect liability period starts regardless.

Expect the developer's handover charges: utility connections, administration fees and sometimes facilities or furniture-related fees, all listed in your sale and purchase agreement. Service charges start from handover at the community's published rate — commonly anywhere from roughly AED 3 to more than AED 30 per sq ft per year depending on the building and emirate.

Then add your own setup costs: DEWA or the equivalent utility accounts in your emirate, Ejari registration in Dubai if you will rent the unit out, furnishing if it is an investment, and snagging inspection fees if you hire a professional. Buyers who budget these alongside the final installment find handover a formality; buyers who do not find it a squeeze.