The handover journey, from notice to keys
When an off-plan project is finished, the developer starts a series of steps that move the unit from their hands into yours. Each stage comes with deadlines, and missing them can mean extra charges or losing your chance to inspect, so it helps to know the order before the first letter arrives.
- Completion notice: confirms construction is done, sets a window to act and gives the Property Index Number used for Ejari and utilities
- Snagging: an inspection of the unit to list every defect before anything is signed
- Handover notice: sent once the contractor has fixed the snag list
- Final payment: settling any balance shown on the developer’s statement
- Handover appointment: signing acceptance, collecting keys and, once all is paid, the title deed in your name
Where a handover POA comes in
You are expected to attend the handover yourself, or send a representative who holds a notarized POA. Developers rely on that document as the only proof of your agent’s authority, so a general POA that does not mention handover is often questioned. A special POA naming the unit and the handover powers is the safer choice for overseas buyers, busy residents, joint owners (each of whom must sign) and investors receiving several units, and companies can authorize an employee through a corporate POA.
Powers to write into the POA
Your agent can only do what the document clearly states, however reasonable a request may seem on the day. List each task and tie it to the specific unit.
- Act for you with the developer and turn up to the appointment
- Inspect the unit against the sale agreement and specifications
- Prepare and submit the snagging list, follow up on repairs and re-inspect
- Sign the acceptance report and any forms that go with it
- Collect the keys, access cards, parking tags and handover papers
- Apply for electricity and water, district cooling and gas, naming each service
What to leave out
A handover POA should stay narrow. Unless you deliberately add them, keep out powers to sell, buy, mortgage or transfer the property, sign new contracts or collect money for you. Should your agent also be renting out the unit afterwards, the leasing and management powers must be listed explicitly, either in this document or in a separate management POA. Registration of the title deed is also a separate step, so ask the developer whether your agent needs that authority too.
Payments and fees to settle first
The handover pack sets out what you still owe, and any error on the statement should be raised and resolved before signing. Depending on your payment plan, the final instalment may fall due at handover, though some projects allow part of the price to be paid afterwards. Exact amounts vary by project and change over time, so check the current figures with your developer and the relevant authorities.
- The Oqood pre-registration fee for off-plan sales, if not already paid
- The DLD registration fee and title deed issue fee, where outstanding
- Service charges, which are paid in advance
- Any developer administration fee
- Utility connection fees and the refundable deposit
Getting the POA issued
In Dubai the POA is signed before a Dubai Courts notary public or a private notary licensed by the courts, and remote notarization is available in many cases. It should be in Arabic, or bilingual, and your name must match your passport exactly, since a spelling difference against the sale agreement can lead to refusal. If you sign abroad, the document is usually notarized locally, legalized by the UAE mission in that country, attested again by the UAE’s foreign ministry once it arrives, and translated into Arabic, which takes noticeably longer.
- Your passport, plus Emirates ID if you are a resident
- Your agent’s full name and ID details
- The sale and purchase agreement
- Project, building and unit number
- Oqood or title deed details and the developer’s handover notice
Avoiding problems on the day
Start the POA as soon as the completion notice arrives rather than when the appointment is booked, and ask the developer whether they need a particular format or a recently issued document. Choose an agent who knows what to check, because once the acceptance report is signed, defect disputes become harder. After the unit is accepted, cancel it with a notarized revocation and inform the agent and developer in writing, or let it expire, so it does not stay active longer than needed.
How we can help
We can draft a handover POA around your unit and the exact powers your agent needs, and help you notarize it from Dubai or abroad. If your completion notice has just arrived, we are happy to walk you through what to prepare.