“Construction progress 40%” on a developer update does not mean 40% of the building exists yet. It means 40% of the total project value has been certified as spent.
Construction progress in a Dubai off-plan context is the verified percentage of the project budget that has been completed at a given date, certified by an independent consultant engineer appointed by the DLD. The certification controls the release of funds from the project escrow account to the developer. Progress is tied to engineering milestones — excavation, foundation, superstructure, MEP, finishing — weighted by cost, not by visual impression. A structure that looks 70% built can easily still be at 45% certified progress because the interior fit-out is the expensive part.
I check construction progress on every off-plan resale before advising a client on price. On a Dubai Creek Harbour assignment in 2024, the site looked nearly complete from the road. Actual certified progress was 62%. The remaining 38% represented the most delay-prone stage of the build.
Never judge progress by what you can see from the highway. Pull the DLD-certified construction progress percentage before you commit to a resale price.
Related: Escrow Account, Payment Milestone, Construction-Linked Payment Plan, Handover Date.
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