Got your keys in 2026? When your Dubai defects period ends

How big is Dubai's 2026 to 2027 handover wave?

Cushman & Wakefield Core reported in August 2026 that more than 23,600 homes were handed over in Dubai in the first half of the year, with about 32,000 more expected in the second half. That would make roughly 55,600 for 2026, the highest annual total since 2008. In its H1 2026 report it also projected more than 60,000 units for 2027.

Cavendish Maxwell counted 24,800 new homes added to Dubai's stock in the first half of 2026: about 18,900 apartments and 5,900 villas and townhouses. It lists 47,000 units scheduled for the second half but, based on how much scheduled supply has actually been delivered in the past, expects 14,000 to 23,500 of them to be completed.

Scheduled is not the same as delivered

The two firms use different methods, so their totals differ. Both make the same point: planned completions slip. Cushman & Wakefield Core found that only about 186,000 of the nearly 525,000 units scheduled up to 2030 had passed 20 per cent construction progress.

For you, the market forecast matters less than your own dates. Your one-year period starts on the day your unit is actually handed over, not on the date in the original brochure, so take the date from your handover documents.

When does your defects period end?

Article 40 of Law No. 6 of 2019 sets two periods for jointly owned property, which includes apartments and townhouses or houses that form part of a jointly owned community.

• Installations, such as mechanical, electrical, sanitary and sewerage works: one year from the date the unit is handed over to you.
• If you refrain from taking possession: the one-year period runs from the project's completion certificate instead.
• Structural parts: ten years from the project's completion certificate, which may be earlier than your own handover.
• Your sale and purchase agreement may give more. An agreement made after the law came into force that contradicts Article 40 is void.

Which dates to find in your paperwork

Four documents tell you where you stand. Put the one-year end date in your calendar with a reminder about three months before it; that leaves time to inspect, submit a list and chase replies.

• Your handover date, from the handover certificate or key receipt.
• The project's completion certificate date; ask the developer if it is not in your pack.
• Any warranty terms in the sale and purchase agreement or handover pack.
• The dates and reference numbers of every snag list you submitted, and the developer's replies.

What to check before the first year ends

Many installation faults only show after months of use, especially through a Dubai summer. Check the systems you rely on every day.

• AC: cooling in every room, noise, and water leaks or staining around indoor units.
• Water: heater performance, water pressure, slow drains, and leaks under sinks or around toilets.
• Electrical: tripping circuits, loose or warm sockets and faulty light fittings.
• Wet areas and openings: cracked sealant, failed grout, and leaks at windows and balcony doors after rain.
• Open items: anything from your handover snag list that has not been fixed or has come back.

Reporting before the deadline

Send the findings in writing through the developer's stated channel, with located photographs, and keep the reference number. Do not wait until the last week: an inspection does not extend a legal deadline. If items stay open, check the dispute clause in your sale and purchase agreement and take legal advice. Dubai Land Department's real estate violation complaint service does not handle contractual disputes or refund requests.