Buying & fees
Escrow Account
An escrow account is a regulated bank account that holds off-plan buyer payments and releases them to the developer only as construction progresses.
For off-plan sales, developers are generally required to deposit buyers' instalments into a dedicated escrow account controlled by an approved trustee rather than accessing the funds freely. Money is released to the developer in stages tied to verified construction milestones, which protects buyers if a project stalls. In Abu Dhabi this escrow framework is part of the regulatory protections overseen in connection with off-plan (Oqood) sales, and buyers should confirm the project is registered before paying.
Related terms
- Oqood (Off-Plan Registration) — Oqood is the registration of an off-plan property purchase, recording the buyer's interest in a unit that is still under development.
- SPA (Sale and Purchase Agreement) — An SPA is the binding contract between buyer and seller that sets the price, payment terms, and conditions of a property sale.
- ADREC (Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre) — ADREC is Abu Dhabi's real-estate regulator, overseeing property registration, brokerage licensing, and the emirate's official transaction data.