Yamalova & Plewka FZCO
A Lawyer's Checklist for real estate agents selling off-plan properties
Fourteen legal checks for real estate agents to complete before marketing, presenting or concluding an off-plan sale in Dubai. Progress is saved on this device.
Before you market the project
Verify that the developer is properly licensed and registered with the DLD.
How developers are regulated in the UAEConfirm that the specific off-plan project is approved and registered before marketing or facilitating sales.
What a developer must register before sellingConfirm that the required permits and authorisations are in place before advertising or promoting the property.
Advertising and cold-calling rules for real estate
Money and construction
Verify the project's official DLD-approved escrow account before sharing payment instructions with buyers.
Escrow account rules for off-plan projectsDirect booking fees, deposits and instalments to the project's official escrow account only.
Why payments outside escrow put buyers at riskKnow whether payments correspond with construction milestones before you explain the plan to a buyer.
How payment schedules should track construction milestonesCheck the project's official construction status and anticipated completion date against DLD records.
Listen: buying an off-plan property in Dubai
Representations to buyers
Handover, views, layouts, specifications, amenities and permitted use must be consistent with the official and contractual documents.
When promised amenities never materialiseAvoid making promises, guarantees or representations that cannot be supported by the documentation.
Common legal mistakes in Dubai real estate transactionsDo not dismiss them as "just paperwork". Encourage buyers to review them carefully before signing.
What a buyer risks by signing and then exiting
Unsure whether a representation is supported by the documents? Book a consultation before the buyer signs.
The sale and purchase agreement
Understand them well enough to present them, and refer buyers for independent legal advice on legal rights or contractual interpretation.
Arrange an SPA review for your clientMaterial differences between sales representations, booking documents and the SPA are exactly what buyers later dispute.
Investor rights and legal protections in the UAE
Records and escalation
Keep clear records of communications, brochures, payment instructions, representations and transaction documents.
Which records matter if a dispute arisesIf something does not match the official records or contractual documents, do not assume.
Need advice?
Speak to a lawyer about your situation
This checklist covers the general rules, but every matter has its own facts. LYLAW's lawyers can review your documents and advise on your specific situation before you commit.
“Well prepared, practical and straight to the point. Clear, no-nonsense advice and guidance when I needed it most.”
Worked with them for the past 7 years. Professional team. Thanks!
Very capable jack of all trades lawyers. Have had good results with LYHPLAW over multiple years of working together.
Extremely positive experience consulting with Ludmila on a real estate matter — deep expertise, a thorough documents review, and sensible, practical advice at the end.
We've known the Yamalova & Plewka team for six months now, and we've sought legal advice several times. They're always helpful and informative. Thank you for your professionalism and ethics. We have a lot to compare with—we've seen a variety of lawyers in the UAE.
Excellent guidance and support throughout the process. Also facilitated the interaction with the DIFC in ensuring a smooth registration process
Highly recommend LYLAW. Ludmila is exceptional, knowledgeable, strategic, responsive, and genuinely committed to her clients. A trusted advisor you can rely on when it matters most.
Excellent service. The lawyer was professional, reliable, and very helpful. They answered all my questions clearly and guided me through the process with confidence. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for trustworthy legal assistance.
A very pleasant, professional & informative meeting with Ludmila & Anna. We look forward to availing of LY Law legal services & counsel going forward
Amazing team, very professional!
I needed an experienced English speaking Dubai based lawyer dealing with UAE labour and immigration law. I was not disappointed!!! Ludmila knows her stuff!!! I will be using this company in the future and would recommend them to everyone.
Very professional, knowledgeable and organized. Thanks!
Great service, easy accessible, always happy to help, massive experience. Thank you
Fantastic experience with Ludmila Yamalova and Anna. Well prepared, practical and straight to the point. Clear, no-nonsense advice and guidance when I needed it most. Highly recommended. I wouldn’t hesitate to use them again, though I hope I won’t need to.
Excellent experience. All of my questions answered and good advice given. I was a little wary of the time going over but that was not a worry. Personable and friendly. Would definitely recommend.
The session with attorney Ludmila Yamalova was excellent. She answered all of my questions thoroughly and carefully analysed my situation, as well as the possible solutions available to me. At the end of the meeting, she also provided me with a contact number in case of any urgent matters. I’m truly grateful for her support and professionalism. I look forward to contacting them again soon!
I’ve known Ludmila for many years and have always been impressed by her integrity, professionalism, and deep understanding of UAE law. Her firm delivers sound, practical advice in a calm and confident manner—an excellent legal partner for any family or business matter in Dubai.
I recently contacted HPL Yamalova & Plewka FZCO for legal services and was very satisfied. The team's high professionalism, efficiency, and quality communication made a great impression. Special thanks to Lyudmila and Anna for their help and pleasant experience. I recommend this company to everyone who values quality and reliability.
I had the pleasure to work with Ludmila, who is at the same time extremely professional and a great person outside of work. I highly recommend her, based on trust and mastery in her core field of expertise. Thank you for the service team, and looking forward to working with you more in the future.
We had an amazing consultation with Attorney Yamalova and had every question answered with a high level of both knowledge and professionalism! Would recommend her for her honesty, attention to detail, and education.
Excellent and very professional services. Thank you very much for your recommendations and kind support answering all our questions.
Excellent service. As a client from the USA looking to protect assets in the UAE. Clear and concise communication and unbeatable professionalism compared to other firms in the UAE.
I had a great experience dealing with HPL Yamalova & Plewka DMCC. During my consultation, they demonstrated professionalism, deep legal knowledge, and a genuine commitment to helping me with my case. The team was responsive, keeping me informed and addressing any questions I had with clear, thorough explanations. I truly felt supported and confident in their expertise. I highly recommend HPL Yamalova & Plewka DMCC for anyone in need of legal assistance!
I shopped around for a law firm to revise my Will and happily selected HPL Yamalova. They were very professional, very knowledgeable and very responsive. They came up with the simplest (and cheapest) option for me and effectively managed the whole process end to end. We were extremely pleased with them and wouldn’t hesitate to use them again and recommend them to others.
I recently had the privilege of a 30-minute consultation with Ms Ludmila. Her wealth of knowledge and guidance provided me with invaluable information. I wholeheartedly recommend her services as a highly skilled lawyer.
Exceptional legal expertise and unmatched dedication. A firm you can trust.
Ludmila is an excellent legal professional and I would recommend her to anyone in need of expertise and advice. Her depth and breadth of knowledge is exceptional. I will absolutely be returning to HPL Yamalova & Plewka for future needs.
Friends who had previously contacted this law firm and were satisfied with the result advised me to contact this company to resolve a legal issue. In further communication with this law firm, I saw a very professional approach and was completely satisfied with the result.
Very grateful to the team at LyLaw for their efficient and friendly service. They made me feel at ease and well supported.
Ludmila is the best around. During our consultation she was able to provide me with invaluable information regarding my case. Her depth of knowledge and experience is truly impressive. Highly recommend.
I have used the company's services many times. I am happy with everything. Always promptly and professionally solves all problems/requests. I recommend!
Ms Yamalova is knowledgeable and approachable, and shared helpful and clear advice. Her long experience of professional practice in the UAE and abroad is clear to see. More generally, I was also impressed by her team's responsiveness and professionalism, and I will certainly contact the team in future should I require assistance in other matters.
A friend recommended Lyudmila and her company to me, and I did not regret it at all. The organization of the process, attention to detail and overall care for the client are at the highest level. Anna helped us with registration and led us through the entire process easily and carefully. Thank you.
Passionate, compassionate, infinite knowledge. Ludmila will leave no stone unturned to get the best results possible. A truly professional service with sound and enlightening advice and human touch, you will feel well looked after and secure that you put your legal issues in the best hands you can find in the UAE.
Ludmila and her team were incredibly helpful with us, their knowledge and professionalism is second to none. We would be happy to recommend them to anyone needing legal advice.
Very professional service! Some of the best lawyers in Dubai, clear and fast. Personally consulted Lyudmila Yamalova - 100 points
Very helpful, very concise and very clear on what was required, and next steps to follow. Would recommend.
Very professional, have great knowledge of local law and regulations and always there for their clients.
Wonderful people, attentive and knowledgeable. I always enjoy interacting with the HPL team and can count on their opinion.
Responsiveness, sincerity and openness are what you will be met with here. I am very satisfied and I advise everyone to seek legal help. Very competent and professional. They helped us effectively resolve our issue.
Ludmila and her team are incredibly knowledagble, supportive, and easy to work with. They simplify matters that seem complex, and add a human touch to everything they do. I highly recommend them!
Quick response after enquiry and meeting was setup shortly after. Enlightening session with Ludmila. Thank you for your assistance.
Extremely professional staff and valuable counsel. They fully hear you and provide easy to understand counsel that provides a lot of reassurance. Highly recommended.
Ludmila is very professional and competent. Able to explain clearly on how the issues can be resolved . She also suggests the best way forward . Very pleasant personality as well.
Very good service. Prompt and efficient.
Ludmila Yamalova and her team have provided excellent legal support to me, and a number of my company's clients. They are professional, knowledgeable and practical.
Ludmila is a fantastic lawyer, she is very dedicated and has great knowledge of UAE local laws. I would strongly recommend her and her team’s services and legal advice.
I had a great experience with this firm. I felt very taken care of during the whole time of our collaboration. In case of need I will certainly work with them again.
Very knowledgeable and compassionate firm. Their expertise on UAE law is unmatched and their professionalism is top notch. I really appreciate how they keep clients informed at all stages of their case.
Super lovely company and very professional for its caliber. I check out their IG and TikTok pages and get a lot of helpful information when it comes to legal/illegal activities in the UAE. Keep up the great work!
This is a firm that is progressive in the way they think and handle matters. They understood my needs immediately.
Our experience was an entirely professional and knowledgeable service on corporate structures and commercial issues we were facing. The service was comprehensive, well informed and we can recommend without hesitation.
Excellent value for legal advice. Ludmila is incredibly well versed on UAE law and implementation. I've worked with various law firms, including large local and global brands here, and have not found one that is more knowledgeable than her.
This checklist is provided by HPL Yamalova & Plewka FZCO (LYLAW) as general information. It is not legal advice, does not create a lawyer-client relationship, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice on your specific situation. It is not exhaustive: requirements vary from case to case, and laws and regulatory practice change. LYLAW accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of or reliance on this checklist.
