When you buy an apartment that is still under construction you pay for something that does not exist yet. The escrow account is the mechanism that answers the obvious question, “where does my money sit until the building is finished?” This article explains it in plain terms and says exactly which Salsabeel projects have one. It makes no promises; it describes a mechanism.
The idea in one sentence
An escrow account, also called a trust account, is a dedicated account for a specific project into which buyers’ payments are made, kept separate from the developer’s general funds, so that the money paid for the project is used for the project.
Why it exists
Off-plan sales involve a gap of one to three years between the first payment and the keys. Without a dedicated account, buyer payments would simply enter the developer’s cash flow. With one, the payments for a given building are ring-fenced to that building and released as the project moves forward, under the rules that apply in the emirate where the project is registered. That ring-fencing is the point of the mechanism.
What an escrow account does for you
- Separation. Your payment is held for your project, not pooled with everything else the developer does.
- Traceability. You pay into a named account for the project and receive a receipt that says so.
- A question answered. “Where is my money?” has a documented answer you can put in your file alongside the contract and the registration receipt.
What it does not do
An escrow account is a safeguard on how money is held. It is not:
- a guarantee that the building finishes on a given date;
- a guarantee of the price, the resale value or any rental return;
- a substitute for reading the sale agreement, which sets the actual obligations of both sides.
Anyone describing an escrow account as a guarantee of returns is overselling it, and that includes marketing material. We do not use that language.
Salsabeel’s projects
Two of the three projects on this site have an escrow account, confirmed by the developer:
- Salsabeel Golf View Residence, Al Zorah: the project has an escrow account. Handover Q1 2027.
- Azora Tower, Al Alia: the project has an escrow account. Handover Q2 2028.
Enjaz Salsabeel, the ground-plus-4 building in Al Alia due in Q1 2028, has not yet published escrow details, so we say nothing about it until a document is on file. Prices for that project are also not released yet.
How to use it as a buyer
- Before paying anything, ask the sales team for the escrow payment details for the project and unit.
- Pay by transfer to that account and keep the receipt that names it.
- Match receipts to the plan. Both current Salsabeel plans have three parts: a down payment (15% for Salsabeel Golf View Residence, 10% for Azora Tower), 10% on handover and the balance in monthly instalments over 96 months, paid directly to the developer with no bank. Each payment should have its receipt.
- Keep the file together: sale agreement, payment receipts, registration receipt from the Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation, and the title deed.
Our article on reading a developer payment plan explains each payment line, and the one on buying step by step shows where the escrow question fits in the overall sequence.
The developer behind the projects
Salsabeel Real Estate sells its own projects under the umbrella of Enjaz, Lootah Group. Delivered projects include Salsabeel Golf View in Al Zorah (2022), Salsabeel 5 (2025) and Reem Al Salsabeel (2025); Salsabeel Parks in Al Alia is due for handover in December 2026. A track record is useful context, but it is separate from the escrow mechanism, and neither is a guarantee of future delivery.
Questions worth asking any developer
- Does this project have an escrow account? (Expect a yes or no, not a story.)
- What are the payment details for it, and will my receipts name it?
- Which document shows the project’s registration with the emirate’s regulator?
If you have those three answers in writing, you have done the main due diligence on where your money goes. For Salsabeel’s two current projects, the sales team can supply the escrow payment details on request, on WhatsApp or at the office at University Street, Al Jerf 1, Villa 8, Ajman.
Frequently asked questions
Which Salsabeel projects have an escrow account?
Salsabeel Golf View Residence in Al Zorah and Azora Tower in Al Alia each have an escrow account for the project, confirmed by the developer. Enjaz Salsabeel has not yet published escrow details, so we make no statement about it until a document is on file.
Does an escrow account guarantee my purchase?
No. An escrow account separates the project's buyer payments from the developer's general funds and ties their release to the project. It is a safeguard on how money is held, not a guarantee of delivery dates, prices or any return. Read your sale agreement for the actual commitments.
How do I check that my payment went to the escrow account?
Ask the sales team for the escrow payment details before you pay, pay by transfer to that account, and keep the receipt that names the account. If a payment instruction points anywhere else, stop and ask before transferring.
Prices and payment plans come from the developer sheets on the dates stated and are subject to change and to the sales documents. This article is general information, not investment or legal advice.
Permit No. AJRE2163 – Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation – AjmanPermit No. AJRE2304 – Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation – Ajman