Short answer
Yes. Most off-plan purchases in Abu Dhabi can be completed fully remotely. Identity checks, reservation, the sales and purchase agreement and registration are handled digitally, and payments are made by international bank transfer into the developer's escrow account. Many buyers only visit at handover.
How a remote purchase works
- Video viewings of the show apartment, the site and the surrounding community.
- Digital KYC. You send your passport and proof of address and answer source-of-funds questions.
- E-signed contracts. Developers such as Aldar and Modon issue the SPA for electronic signature.
- Bank transfer straight to the project's escrow account. Never pay a deposit into a personal account.
- Registration through the DARI platform, run by the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC).
When you might need a power of attorney
For resale (ready) properties, the transfer sometimes needs someone present. A notarised and attested power of attorney lets your representative complete it for you.
Check your adviser
Buying remotely makes the adviser's licence matter more. Ask for their ADREC broker licence number and check it before you pay anything.
General information, not financial advice. Figures attributed to Mitch come from transactions he tracks.