10 Most Common Snags in Dubai New Builds

Snagging guide

After inspecting new handovers across Dubai, the same defects come up again and again. None of them are exotic, and all of them are the developer responsibility to fix if you catch them before you sign, or during your defect liability period. Here are the ten we log most often.

1. Air conditioning drainage

Condensate trays that do not drain, blocked or wrongly fallen drain lines, and units that pool water. Left alone, this becomes ceiling staining and mould.

2. Concealed moisture behind wet walls

Water tracking behind shower and bath walls does not show on the surface. Thermal imaging catches it as a cool patch before it spreads. This is the single most valuable find on many inspections.

3. Silicone and sealing gaps

Missing or poorly applied silicone around baths, showers, sinks and worktops is a fast route to water damage. Cheap to fix now, expensive later.

4. Misaligned doors and cabinets

Doors that catch, cabinets that do not close square, and drawers that stick. Common, and easy for a developer to fix before you accept.

5. Electrical faults

Dead sockets, reversed polarity, loose connections and DB board labelling errors. A thermal scan of the board also flags connections that are running hot.

6. Tiling and floor level

Hollow tiles, lippage, uneven grout and floors that are out of level. Best identified with a straight edge and a trained eye.

7. Paint and finish snags

Roller marks, patch repairs, chips and scuffs. Cosmetic, but you paid for a finished home.

8. Window and glazing seals

Seals that let in dust and noise, windows that do not lock, and glazing with scratches or chips.

9. Plumbing and water pressure

Weak pressure, slow hot water, dripping taps and leaks under units. All straightforward to catch on a proper inspection.

10. Balcony and terrace drainage

Drainage that falls towards the door instead of away, and thresholds that let water track inside. A wet season problem waiting to happen.