Sajan’s 1% Payment Plan Explained: The Financial Architecture Behind Danube Properties

The Rise of the "1% Man": How Rizwan Sajan Transformed Dubai Real Estate

For years, the Dubai property market was viewed primarily as a playground for high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors. Traditional purchases required significant upfront capital, while securing bank mortgages came with stringent eligibility criteria, high interest rates, and hefty down payments. However, the introduction of the revolutionary rizwan sajan 1 percent plan by Danube Properties changed the landscape entirely.

Danube Properties (Developer ID: 43), founded by entrepreneur Rizwan Sajan, recognized a massive gap in the market: middle-income expatriates and retail investors who were paying substantial rent but could not afford the typical 25% to 30% down payment required by banks. Sajan, who is now widely known as Dubai's "1% Man," engineered a developer-direct financing strategy that has successfully democratized property ownership. The cornerstone of this strategy is the monthly payment plan, allowing buyers to pay just 1% of the total property value per month during construction and even after handover, bypassing traditional interest-bearing bank loans.

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The Financial Architecture of the 1% Monthly Payment Plan

The financial architecture of the 1 payment plan dubai buyers utilize is remarkably straightforward yet highly effective. It breaks down the total property cost into smaller, predictable payments that match a buyer's monthly income stream. This direct developer-financing model features three main components:

1. The Down Payment: Typically ranging between 10% and 20% of the property value, paid upon booking.
2. Construction-Phase Installments: Monthly payments of 1% of the property value paid directly to the developer’s escrow account during the construction period.
3. The Handover & Post-Handover Period: Depending on the specific project, a small percentage is paid at handover, and the remaining balance is paid in monthly 1% increments after the project is completed.

This structure eliminates bank interest and the need for formal mortgage approvals. Buyers do not have to undergo rigorous credit checks or prove high salary thresholds to start their real estate journey. It functions like a forced-saving scheme, turning monthly rent into property equity.

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Project Case Studies: Danube's Diverse Payment Architectures

To see how these payment structures work in practice, we can analyze the real database records of some of Danube Properties' most prominent developments:

Bayz 102 by Danube (ID: 9317)

Located in the prestigious Business Bay district, Bayz 102 by Danube is an active off-plan development showcasing the modern evolution of Sajan's payment philosophy. The payment plan for this project is structured as follows:

• Down Payment: 10% upon booking.
• During Construction: 59% of the property value, paid in regular installments.
• On Handover: 1% of the property value.
• Post-Handover: 30% of the property value, spread over 30 months (meaning exactly 1% per month for 30 months post-completion).

This post-handover period is a massive advantage: buyers can move into the property or rent it out, using the rental income to pay the remaining 30% of the installments.

Bayz 101 (ID: 9312)

Also situated in Business Bay, Bayz 101 is another landmark off-plan tower by Danube Properties. It features a slightly different project schedule designed to facilitate easy cash flow:

• Down Payment: 10% upon booking.
• During Construction: 64% of the property value paid over the construction timeline.
• On Handover: 1% of the property value.
• Post-Handover: 25% of the property value, spread over 26 months (approximately 1% monthly).

Elitz 3 by Danube (ID: 11912)

Located in the popular residential hub of Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), Elitz 3 by Danube is a prime example of how this financial strategy drives market demand. Now completely sold out, Elitz 3 offered the developer's signature "Pay 1% Monthly" plan. The development features 692 apartments consisting of studio, 1, 2, and 3-bedroom configurations along with high-end amenities such as an aquatic gym, business center, and library. The immense popularity of the 1% payment structure allowed the project to achieve a fully sold-out status prior to its November 2026 completion timeline.

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Comparing Financial Models: Danube Plan vs. Traditional Mortgage

When evaluating options, buyers often compare the math using a danube 1% payment plan calculator alongside a traditional dubai property payment plan calculator. The table below highlights the structural differences between these two financing options:

Financial Metric	Danube 1% Payment Plan	Traditional Bank Mortgage
Interest Rate	0% (Interest-Free Developer Financing)	Variable/Fixed Bank Interest (4.5% - 6%+)
Down Payment	Low Entry (10% - 20%)	High Entry (20% Min + 7-8% Fees)
Monthly Payment	Flat 1% of Property Value	Variable based on loan term and interest rate
Bank Approval	None Required	Strict credit score and salary checks
Post-Handover Option	Yes (e.g., 25% to 30% paid post-completion)	No (mortgage amortizes over 15-25 years)
Rental Offset	High (use tenant rent to pay post-handover)	Moderate (rent covers mortgage, but interest eats profit)

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How to Calculate Your Costs: A Practical Example

To understand the difference, let’s run a hypothetical math scenario. If a buyer purchases a 1-bedroom apartment in a Danube off-plan project for AED 1,200,000, they can use a standard dubai property payment plan calculator or a dedicated danube 1% payment plan calculator to project their cash flows.

With the 10% down payment plan structure (similar to Bayz 102):

• Initial Capital Required (Down Payment 10%): AED 120,000.
• Monthly Construction Installments (59%): AED 708,000 paid over the construction duration (e.g., 59 months at 1% per month, which equals AED 12,000/month).
• Payment Due at Handover (1%): AED 12,000.
• Post-Handover Balance (30%): AED 360,000 paid over 30 months (exactly AED 12,000 per month).

In this scenario, a buyer with a monthly salary of AED 35,000 to AED 40,000 can comfortably manage the AED 12,000 monthly payments. Because the post-handover payments match the average rental market rate for 1-bedroom apartments in prime areas like Business Bay, the buyer can effectively let the tenant pay off the final 30% of the property.

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Is the 1% Payment Plan Right for You?

While the benefits of the plan are clear, investors should keep a few critical items in mind:

• Off-Plan Risks: Since the 1% payment plan is primarily offered on off-plan projects, buyers should ensure they work with a reputable developer like Danube Properties that has a proven track record of timely deliveries.
• Upfront Costs: Buyers must still budget for the initial down payment (10% to 20%) plus the 4% Dubai Land Department (DLD) registration fee.
• Income Stability: Because these installments are monthly and continuous, buyers need to ensure they have a stable, long-term source of income to meet their monthly obligations.

For retail investors and first-time buyers seeking to transition from renting to owning, the financial architecture engineered by Rizwan Sajan offers one of the most accessible routes into the Dubai real estate market today.