Toronto investors already know pre-construction better than most Dubai buyers do. They have lived through long delays, assignment restrictions, development charges added after signing and, more recently, closings where the appraisal came in under the contract price. The Dubai off-plan structure answers several of those specific complaints, which is why the Toronto conversation is usually a comparison of two pre-construction markets rather than an introduction to one.
Rules that apply to every buyer in Canada are covered in the full Canada buyer guide. This page covers what is different in Toronto.
The main structural difference is escrow. Buyer payments on a Dubai off-plan project go into a project escrow account regulated by the Dubai Land Department and are released to the developer against verified construction progress, and the project and its trust account are registered before sales begin. Payment schedules are milestone-linked rather than date-linked, and there are no development charges added after signing.
Canadian residents report specified foreign property with a total cost over CAD 100,000 on form T1135, and worldwide rental income and gains are taxable in Canada. The UAE does not tax the income, so there is generally no foreign tax credit. Confirm with your accountant.