Moving into a Dubai apartment — what should be on your inspection checklist before you sign and pay?

Do it methodically and in writing, because you're right, undocumented faults become yours. Work room by room: run every AC unit and confirm it actually cools and drains without dripping or smelling; test every tap, flush, and drain for flow, leaks and slow-draining; try every socket, light switch and the distribution board; look for damp, staining or mould especially around bathrooms, AC units and external walls; and check doors and windows close, lock and seal (draughty or perished seals mean heat and dust). Also photograph meter readings. The critical part is evidence: take dated photos of every fault and put them in a written snag list you share with the landlord or agent BEFORE you sign and pay, so it's on record as pre-existing. That single step is what protects your deposit and stops you inheriting someone else's problems. For anything structural or a longer defect list at handover, a snagging and finishing inspection documents it professionally, but even a careful DIY walk-through with photos is far better than trusting a quick look. Related: the same logic scaled up is in the new-build villa handover snag-list.