Dubai Property Snagging Checklist
What to check at handover, why it matters, and what the developer is obliged to fix under warranty.
Under UAE law developers carry a 10-year structural warranty and a 1-year warranty on mechanical, electrical and plumbing works from the date of completion. Snag before you accept handover — it is far harder to compel remediation afterwards.
What you need to know
Snagging is the inspection you carry out before accepting handover of a new property. It produces a defect list the developer is expected to rectify before you take possession, and it is the single most valuable few hours you will spend on a new purchase.
The warranty framework matters. UAE law gives you a ten-year structural warranty covering the building's fabric, and one year on mechanical, electrical and plumbing works. The MEP year is short, which is precisely why a thorough inspection at handover matters — most snags fall into that category.
A professional survey typically runs AED 2–3 per square foot and produces a photographed, itemised report the developer will act on. Against a property costing over a million dirhams that is a rounding error, and it shifts the conversation from your opinion versus theirs to a documented list.
Common questions
What is snagging in Dubai?
A pre-handover inspection producing a list of defects the developer must rectify before you accept the property.
How much does snagging cost in Dubai?
Typically AED 2–3 per square foot, with most companies setting a minimum around AED 1,200.
What warranty do Dubai developers provide?
Ten years on structural elements and one year on mechanical, electrical and plumbing works from completion.
Want these numbers checked against a real property?
Send us the unit you are looking at and we will run the actual figures — service charge for that building, current market rent, and what comparable units transacted at.