The moment the developer hands over keys and the property transitions from off-plan to ready-to-occupy.
Handover is the date the developer hands over a completed off-plan property to the buyer. It triggers the final installment payment, the issuance of the title deed (replacing the Oqood), the start of service charge billing, and the snagging period.
Handover is the riskiest 30 days of any off-plan purchase. The developer wants quick acceptance, the buyer should slow down. The sequence Mario walks clients through: inspect with a professional snagger, list every defect, formally request rectification under the SPA, pay final installment only after material defects are fixed, then accept handover and trigger DLD title deed issuance. Skipping the snag inspection because the property looks fine is the single most common buyer mistake.
Mario walks every European investor through these mechanics on the first call. The diligence trail is what separates a clean deal from a regret.