Majan has dozens of apartment buildings either completed or under construction, many from smaller developers. That makes the brochure the least useful document when you compare real estate projects in Majan. The differences that affect your return, timeline and exit are in the registration records, the SPA and the running costs.
Whether you’re advising a client or buying for yourself, these nine factors give you a consistent way to compare a shortlist side by side.
- Registration and escrow
Check this first. Under Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007, each off-plan project must have its own escrow account, and buyer payments go into it rather than straight to the developer. Under Law No. 13 of 2008 (as amended), off-plan sales must be registered in the DLD’s interim register, known as Oqood. A sale that isn’t registered is void.
Search each project through the DLD’s project status inquiry on the Dubai REST app or the DLD website. It shows the developer, the expected completion date and the escrow account details. Pay instalments only into that account.
- The developer’s delivery record
Brokers quoted in Reuters reporting in early 2026 said Dubai’s off-plan demand had become more selective. It held up best where launch prices were competitive and developers had established delivery records. Apply the same filter.
List each developer’s completed buildings and compare promised handover dates with actual ones. Ask how snagging and defects were handled after handover, too.
Where a developer has little completed stock to judge, weigh registration, escrow and visible construction progress more heavily.
- Construction progress against the handover date
A brochure handover date is a target. The completion percentage on the DLD record is a better guide.
Compare it with how much of the price the payment plan has already collected. If buyers are well ahead of construction, ask why.
- Price per square foot, compared like for like
This is the quickest comparison and the easiest to get wrong, because quoted areas aren’t always comparable. Check whether each project’s figure includes balconies or terraces. A unit with a large balcony can look cheaper per square foot while giving you less usable space, so ask for the internal area of every unit.
Then compare the full entry cost. The DLD registration fee is typically 4% of the price, plus admin charges. A lower launch price may also reflect a weaker location, specification or timeline, so find out which.
- Payment plan and resale terms
Payment plans differ in how much you pay during construction, at handover and, with some developers, after handover. A larger post-handover share eases cash flow, but it means instalments continue while you’re trying to rent or sell.
Resellers should read the SPA’s assignment clause. Many developers require a minimum share of the price to be paid before they issue the NOC that lets you sell before handover, and they charge for it. Compare these terms in writing.
- Layouts and unit mix
Two apartments in Majan of the same size can live very differently. Long corridors, awkward corners and oversized balconies add square footage without adding much for a tenant or a family.
Unit mix shapes who rents now and who buys later. A studio-heavy building suits a different strategy from one built around two- and three-bedroom layouts for families near schools such as Dunecrest American School.
- Service charges and cooling
Service charges come out of the owner’s return every year. For most completed, jointly owned buildings, the approved figure is on the DLD’s Service Charge Index. A new off-plan project may not have an approved budget yet, so ask the developer for an estimate per square foot and compare it with completed Majan buildings on the index.
Ask about cooling too. In chiller-free buildings, cooling is generally covered by the owner rather than billed to the tenant. In district-cooled buildings, tenants usually pay a separate cooling bill on top of DEWA. Either way, build it into your rent assumptions.
- Realistic rental yield
Compare net yield, not the gross figure in a sales deck. Deduct service charges, maintenance, management and an allowance for vacancy. The 5% municipality housing fee is normally paid by the tenant through DEWA, so it mainly affects you when the unit is empty.
Gross yields also tend to narrow as units get bigger, so compare yields for the unit type you’re buying, not a building or community average.
If you’re planning short-term lets, two checks matter. First, Global Village, across Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, is seasonal: its 2026–27 season runs from 14 October to May. Second, a holiday home permit from Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) may need a NOC from the developer or owners’ association, and some buildings restrict holiday homes. Confirm the building’s position before counting on that income.
- Position within Majan and resale depth
Location varies within Majan. Buildings fronting the E311 get Global Village views and visibility, which can also mean more traffic noise. Interior plots tend to be quieter, but check on site. Neighbouring plots may still be under construction at handover, which can mean dust and access issues in the first years.
For your exit, what matters is how your building trades, not the community overall. Check how often comparable units in the developer’s completed buildings resell and at what prices, using DLD-registered transactions rather than portal asking prices.
Comparing your shortlist
Ask every project the same nine questions. Take the answers from the DLD, the SPA and completed buildings, not from the sales presentation. A cheaper unit that scores poorly on registration, delivery or exit terms often carries risks its discount doesn’t cover.
The same checks apply to every developer, boutique names included. Tranquil Developers, for example, is developing Blossom 40 in Majan under the line Built With Thought. That’s a fair standard to hold any project to, and these nine factors are a practical way to test it.
Frequently asked questions
What should I compare when choosing between real estate projects in Majan?
Start with DLD registration and escrow, then the developer’s delivery record and construction progress. After that, compare like-for-like price per square foot, payment plan and resale terms, layouts, service charges and cooling, net rental yield and resale depth.
Do these factors apply to ready apartments in Majan?
Most do, but the emphasis changes. Escrow, completion percentage and payment plans matter less once a building is finished. Instead, check the building’s approved service charge on the index, its actual condition and management, current rents and recent DLD-registered sale prices for similar units.
Does escrow protect me if handover is delayed?
Escrow and Oqood protect your payments and your registered purchase, but they don’t guarantee a completion date. Your options in a delay depend on the SPA and Dubai’s off-plan laws, so read the completion and delay clauses before signing.
Is there a metro station in Majan?
Not currently. Residents rely on cars, taxis and ride-hailing, which matters if you’re targeting tenants without a car.
