Selling Off-Plan on Hudayriyat Island: Resale Rules & Fees

Buyers spend a lot of time on the entry into an off-plan purchase: the launch, the price, the payment plan. The exit deserves the same attention. Whether you plan to hold to handover or want the option to sell earlier, you should know when you're allowed to sell, how the process works and what it costs before you sign.

This guide covers selling an off-plan home on Hudayriyat Island before it's completed, often called an assignment.

Always check your personal SPA. Resale thresholds, payment dates, fees and conditions are set out in each buyer's own sale and purchase agreement, and your terms may differ from the general information and examples in this article.

When can you sell? Modon's 20% rule

Modon allows a home to be resold before handover once at least 20% of the total price has been paid, provided the project's guidelines are followed. Modon states this on its Hudayriyat Golf Estates page, and the same threshold is cited for its more recent launches.

Two caveats. The rule is set in each project's sale and purchase agreement (SPA), so the threshold and any extra conditions for your unit are whatever your SPA says. And the 20% is measured against what you have paid, not what you've signed for.

When you reach 20% on different payment plans

Because the threshold depends on payments, your payment plan decides when you can sell. Based on published payment schedules:

• Wadeem Gardens (25/75 with ADIB financing): the buyer pays four 5% instalments by June 2028, reaching 20% at that point.
• Hudayriyat Golf Estates (40/60): published schedules show 20% paid in September 2028, roughly two years before the planned handover.
• Earlier launches on 50/50 and similar plans reach 20% at different points during construction.

The dates in your own payment schedule are the ones that count, so check them in your personal SPA.

If you financed part of the price, for example through ADIB at Wadeem Gardens, the bank's position also has to be settled or transferred as part of any sale. Speak to the bank before you list.

How an off-plan resale works

1. Check eligibility. Confirm in your SPA that you've paid enough, and that your payments are up to date.
2. Agree terms with a buyer. The buyer typically refunds what you've paid so far, pays you any premium on top, and takes over the remaining payments to Modon.
3. Obtain Modon's No Objection Certificate (NOC). The developer must approve the transfer and charges a NOC fee, at the rate applicable at the time of the transfer.
4. Register the transfer. The sale is registered with the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre on the DARI platform, and the buyer replaces you on the SPA.

What it costs

• Registration fee: 2% of the sale price, paid on DARI, plus a small electronic service fee. Under Abu Dhabi's fee rules, the sale registration fee is split equally between seller and buyer unless they agree otherwise, so it's a point to negotiate.
• Modon's NOC fee, at the rate applicable at the time of the transfer.
• Brokerage commission if you use an agent, which is regulated in Abu Dhabi and agreed in your listing agreement.
• Bank costs if a mortgage or off-plan financing has to be settled or transferred.

A worked example

Say you bought a Hudayriyat Golf Estates townhome for AED 4.2 million and have paid 20% (AED 840,000). You agree to sell for AED 4.6 million. The buyer pays you your AED 840,000 back plus a AED 400,000 premium, and takes over the remaining AED 3.36 million of payments to Modon.

From the AED 400,000 premium, you would deduct your share of the 2% registration fee (AED 46,000 if split equally on AED 4.6 million), Modon's NOC fee at the rate applicable at the time, and any brokerage. On a 20% stake, a modest price movement can produce a large percentage return. That works in both directions: if prices fall, the same leverage magnifies the loss.

Illustrative only. Actual fees, prices and terms vary by unit. Check your personal SPA and confirm current fees before you commit.

What to weigh before you plan an early exit

• Resale demand isn't guaranteed. A launch that sells out tells you about demand on day one. It doesn't tell you there will be a buyer at your price two years later.
• You may be selling at the same time as many others. When large launches reach their resale threshold around the same time, owners looking to exit compete with each other.
• Check your SPA for extra conditions, such as construction milestones or restrictions on marketing before a certain date.
• Plan to be able to hold. The safest off-plan purchase is one you could carry to handover if the resale market turns.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell my Hudayriyat Island property before handover?

Yes, once at least 20% of the price has been paid and the project guidelines are followed, according to Modon. Your personal SPA sets the exact terms.

What is the registration fee when reselling off-plan in Abu Dhabi?

2% of the sale price, registered on DARI, plus a small service fee. By default it's split equally between seller and buyer, unless agreed otherwise.

Do I need Modon's permission to sell?

Yes. Modon issues a No Objection Certificate for the transfer, with a NOC fee at the rate applicable at the time.

Who pays the remaining instalments after I sell?

The buyer takes over your position under the SPA, including all remaining payments to Modon.

Sources

The resale threshold is taken from Modon's Hudayriyat Golf Estates page. Fees are based on Abu Dhabi's published DARI registration fees. Fees and rules can change; confirm current amounts with Modon and ADREC before you transact. For today's resale supply, read Hudayriyat Island Resale Market: A Snapshot of Today's Limited Supply.

Talk to a Hudayriyat Island specialist

I'm Jasper Roode, a RERA-licensed broker focused on Hudayriyat Island. Whether you're planning an exit or buying a resale unit from another owner, I can check eligibility, pricing and fees on your specific property.

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