Handover Representation for Buyers Abroad
We attend.
You stay where you are.
Buying from abroad? We inspect, report and represent you in Dubai, so you don’t have to be there.
DubaiAbu DhabiRas Al Khaimah
- For
- Owners and buyers living outside the UAE
- Book
- As soon as your handover notice arrives
- You get
- Live video, a photo report and a call in your hours
From another country
Handover runs on Dubai time.
You don’t.
Developers set handover appointments and key collection around their own calendar. If you live in London, Mumbai or Toronto, each one can mean a flight, a week off work, or accepting a property nobody has checked on your behalf. In 2025, non-residents made up more than four in ten of Dubai’s property investors, according to Dubai’s Department of Finance. Representation puts an engineer in the property and a full record in your hands, without the trip.
- 01
Photos aren’t an inspection
An agent’s video shows the rooms. It doesn’t test the sockets, measure the airflow or look inside a drain.
- 02
Someone has to look
When the developer’s team says an item is fixed, somebody needs to check it in person. From abroad, that somebody is usually missing.
- 03
Time zones stretch everything
A question sent at your midnight waits for Dubai’s morning. With an engineer at the property, it gets raised during the visit.
How it works when you’re not here
Six steps,
two sides.
Each step has two sides: what you do from wherever you are, and what we do at the property.
- 01
You, wherever you areForward the handover notice, or message us with the property and your time zone.
UsWe reply on WhatsApp or by email with the few questions that set the scope.
- 02
You, wherever you areApprove the scope and the quote, and send what we need to attend for you.
UsWe confirm in writing what we attend, what we inspect and how we report.
- 03
You, wherever you areWatch the live video walkthrough, or carry on with your day.
UsWe arrange access with the developer or agent and inspect on your behalf.
- 04
You, wherever you areOpen the PDF on your phone: photographs, locations and priorities.
UsWe compile the report and send it straight to you.
- 05
You, wherever you areJoin a video call at a time that suits your working day.
UsWe take you through each finding, what to raise and with whom.
- 06
You, wherever you areDecide: accept, negotiate or hold.
UsWhere agreed, we oversee the repairs, verify each one by re-inspection and keep the record up to date.
Representation is agreed in writing for each property.
What you see from abroad
Watch it live.
On inspection day we call you on video and walk the property with you, room by room. You see what we test, ask questions as we go, and get the full report after.
Walking you through the property, room by room
What we check
Everything you’d test with your own hands.
If you were standing in the property, you’d turn the taps, flick the switches and try the doors. We do that for you, with instruments, on camera if you’re watching.
01Electrical
- SocketsEach socket you’ll plug into, checked for correct wiringSocket tester
- Safety switchesTrip test on the RCD / ELCBSocket tester
- EarthingOutlets and the board checked for a sound earthMultimeter
- Switches & lightsEach one operated, room by room
02HVAC & air conditioning
- Cooling performanceSupply and return air temperatures in each roomThermo-hygrometer
- AirflowHow much air each grille actually deliversAnemometer
- ThermostatsEach thermostat set and checked for a response
03Plumbing & drainage
- Hot & cold waterEvery mixer run to temperature, hot and cold
- Water pressureFlow at every tap and shower
- DrainageFlow and blockages, with a camera where neededDrain camera
- Leaks & moistureDamp around showers, basins and the kitchen sinkMoisture meter
04Doors, windows & glazing
- Locks & hardwareHandles, hinges and every lock you’ll hold a key to
- Operation & alignmentEach door and window opened and closed
- Glass conditionScratches, chips and trapped condensationInspection light
05Joinery, kitchens & appliances
- Appliance operationBasic functions using the normal controls
- Cabinets & wardrobesAlignment, stability and finish
- Doors & drawersHinges, runners and soft-close
The full scope depends on the property and the stage you’re at. Finishes and wet areas are part of it, and for villas, the roof and pool are added as agreed.
Scope
What representation covers, and what stays with you.
| Topic | Representation covers | Outside our scope |
|---|---|---|
| The visit | An engineer at the property, inspecting on your behalf | Valuing the property or judging its price |
| The findings | Explained to you, then raised with the developer’s team where agreed | Deciding who is legally responsible for a defect |
| The repairs | Overseen and checked by re-inspection, where agreed | Title, ownership or registration checks |
| The paperwork | A PDF report you can forward as it is | Legal advice on your sale agreement |
| The decision | Clear next steps for each finding | Accepting, signing or paying: those stay with you |
Every ELUMEX inspection
- Engineer-led25+ years in construction
- 2–4 hours on siteVisual, non-destructive
- Report within 24 hoursPrepared using Onsite
- Re-inspectionWhere your quotation includes it
Frequently asked questions
Questions from buyers abroad.
Short answers. Anything specific? Message us on WhatsApp.
Can I receive a Dubai property without being there?
Yes. Once access and any authorisation your developer requires are in place, an engineer can inspect the property and attend handover for you. You can follow the live video walkthrough, then go through the PDF report with us on a video call. Every decision about accepting the property stays with you.
What does handover representation include?
It includes whatever we agree in writing for your handover, from a single inspection to attending the handover in your place. Where it’s part of the scope, we present every finding, oversee the rectification works and verify each repair through re-inspection. You receive the report as a PDF and go through it with us on a video call.
Do I have to watch the live walkthrough?
No. The live video walkthrough is there if you want to see the property as it’s inspected. If the timing doesn’t suit you, the PDF report and the video call afterwards cover every finding, so you lose nothing by skipping it. You can also join for part of it and leave the rest to the report.
How do you work across time zones?
We plan around yours. Tell us where you’re based, and we’ll suggest times for the walkthrough and the call that fall inside your day wherever we can. Access to the property is set by the developer or the building, so the live walkthrough may land early or late for you. The video call is the easier one to move.
What do you need from me to attend on my behalf?
Usually the developer’s or agent’s contact, your time zone and whatever authorisation they require before someone can attend for you. Requirements vary between developers, so we confirm the exact list when we agree the scope. Water, power and cooling should also be connected so they can be tested on the day.
I’m buying a resale, or my DLP is ending. Can you help from here?
Yes, we can also inspect a resale property or carry out a DLP inspection for you while you’re abroad. Those are separate services with their own pages, Resale Property Inspection and DLP (End-of-Warranty) Snagging Inspection. Representation, as described here, is for handover. Tell us the stage you’re at, and we’ll confirm what we can attend and when.
Will you deal with the developer for me?
Where it’s part of the agreed scope, yes. We present the findings to the developer’s handover team and follow the repairs through to re-inspection, keeping you updated at each step. You still make every decision about accepting the property.
Which emirates do you cover?
Yes. We inspect and attend handovers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, with the same live walkthrough, report and video call. The rules on handover and defects are not identical between emirates, so read your own sale agreement for the terms that apply to your property.
Talk to us
Tell us where you are.
Send the property, the stage you’re at and your time zone. We’ll reply with the scope, a quote and what we need from you.
Also useful: DLP (End-of-Warranty) Snagging Inspection