Buying real estate in Dubai is always a serious step, involving large sums of money and legal liability. The first question a foreign investor faces is: how to properly pay for an apartment or villa in the Emirates to ensure a safe and risk-free transaction?
The answer is simple: in the UAE, almost all major real estate transactions are processed through a manager’s check . This guarantees payment and is completely acceptable to developers, agencies, and government agencies.
In this article, we’ll explore why paying for real estate in Dubai with a check is considered the most reliable method, how a foreigner can obtain one, and how the transaction itself works.
Why do managers in Dubai require payment by check?
In the UAE, checks still play a huge role in the financial systеm. While personal checks are more commonly used for renting, purchasing real estate requires only a manager’s check.
Reasons:
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Payment guarantee. Funds are immediately debited from the buyer’s account and reserved by the bank.
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Developer protection. No risk of buyers running out of funds.
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Legal transparency. The manager’s check is issued officially, with full details, and is recorded at the bank.
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Easy to transfer. The check can be presented to the developer at the office or submitted through the agency, and the transaction is immediately considered paid.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re buying an apartment for 1 million dirhams or a villa for 20 million – in both cases, the developer will ask the manager for a receipt.
How to prepare money for a check
Most foreign investors come to Dubai with rubles, hryvnias, dollars, or euros. However, checks can only be written in dirhams (AED).
The algorithm is simple:
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Currency exchange. Money is converted into dirhams through exchange services, banks, or desk-to-desk systems.
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Depositing funds into your account. You must open an account with a Dubai bank (Emirates NBD, Mashreq, ADCB, etc.) and deposit funds into it.
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Proof of origin. Sometimes the bank may request a bank statement from the country of origin or a contract confirming the transaction.
Step-by-step instructions: how to get a manager check for rent payment
Step 1. Opening a bank account
To issue a manager’s check, a foreigner must have a bank account in the Emirates. This is usually a current account .
Step 2. Top up your account
Deposit the required amount in dirhams. If you’re buying an apartment for AED 1.2 million, you’ll need a minimum of AED 1,200,000 in your account plus a cheque issuance fee (usually AED 25-150).
Step 3. Submitting a check request
At the bank branch, fill out the form:
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name of the recipient (e.g. Emaar Properties PJSC),
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sum,
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purpose (payment under the sales contract).
Step 4. Receiving a check
The bank debits the funds from your account and issues a receipt. Now you have an official document that you can give to the seller.
Step 5. Submitting the receipt to the developer
With the receipt, you go to the developer’s or agency’s office. The receipt’s delivery is recorded in the documents, and the transaction is considered paid.
How does the transaction itself work?
Typically the procedure looks like this:
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You come to the developer’s office.
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You give the check to the transaction manager.
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The final documents are signed (Sales & Purchase Agreement).
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The developer transfers the check to his bank and receives the money.
Everything is transparent and legally recorded.
Why is a manager check convenient when buying real estate?
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Transaction transparency. The check is issued only through the bank, and the recipient is identified in the document.
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Legal protection. If a dispute arises, the receipt will serve as official proof of payment.
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Confidence of the parties. The seller is confident that the funds will be received, and the buyer is confident that their payment has been officially recorded.
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Simplicity. No need to carry suitcases full of cash or make large international transfers.
A practical example
Sergey from Moscow decided to buy an apartment in Dubai for 950,000 AED. He first converted rubles into dirhams through an exchange service, then opened an account with Emirates NBD. The next day, he applied for a manager’s check, and the bank issued it to him in the developer’s name. Sergey handed the check over to the sales office, and the deal was closed.
If he had tried to pay by personal check or cash, the developer simply would not have accepted such a payment.
Important nuances
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A check is always personalized. It cannot be transferred to another person or reused.
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Issuance deadlines. The bank typically issues the check on the same day you apply.
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Commission. Small – from 25 to 150 dirhams.
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Documents. Sometimes the bank requires a copy of the purchase agreement.
Result
Paying for real estate in Dubai by check is not just convenient, but a mandatory method for all major transactions.
Step by step the process looks like this:
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exchange rubles, hryvnias or dollars for dirhams,
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deposit money into a Dubai bank account,
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issue a manager check in the name of the developer,
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hand it over to the sales office and receive confirmation of the transaction.
Thus, the question of how to pay for real estate in Dubai using a check manager is resolved quickly, securely, and with legal guarantees. This is why this tool has become the standard in the UAE real estate market.
