The newest rules from the Real Estate Regulatory Agency will enforce a much debated attempt to make sure that 20% of a building is completed before sales can start.
This is aimed at addressing a growing number of disputes between developers and property buyers.
It will also mean that buyers will have to pay a 30% lump sum at the initial point of sale and the remaining 70% in installments during the construction period.
It will put an end to much criticised practices where buyers have to pay much more at the initial sales stage.
RERA is also considering moves where a developer would have to own a plot of land before launching sales for a project, meaning significant financing would have to be secured first.
The watchdog body has already announced new measures to rank property developers according to their financial state.
Other regulations that came into force at the beginning of the month were a ban on developers taking payments of more than 20% of the value of a property until construction has begun.
The changes are widely welcomed. 'These measures will ensure that only the most feasable projects go forward,' said Lisa Dale of Al Tamimi's legal property department.
