Buying Off-Plan in E1 — Timeline to Key Handover

Buying Off-Plan in E1: What Happens from Signing to Receiving the Key

One of the central questions on the minds of anyone considering buying off-plan in E1 is how long it will actually take to receive the apartment key. Unlike buying a second-hand apartment, buying off-plan involves a longer timeline, made up of bureaucratic and planning stages, and finally actual construction stages. In E1, the process has advanced significantly over the past year, so there is now a clearer picture than ever of what to expect going forward.

Where It Started: Plan Approval and the Framework Agreement

In August 2025, the Higher Planning Council approved the E1 plan with 3,401 housing units in the first stage, on an area of about 12 square kilometers located between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim and under the municipal authority of Ma'ale Adumim. A month later, in September 2025, a NIS 3 billion framework agreement was signed with the Prime Minister, including the expansion of Route 437, a second transportation route to Jerusalem through the Harei Merkam ridge, and new access roads to the area. These stages are important because they constitute the regulatory and physical infrastructure required before construction can even begin.

The Tenders Already Published

In January 2026, the project's first construction tender was published, Tender 460/2025, with a final submission date in March 2026. Yesterday, on August 18, 2026, an additional and significant tender was published — 1,234 housing units in the southern part of the E1 area, as part of the overall 3,401-unit plan. This is the first actual real step toward the start of construction, after more than three decades in which the plan was delayed due to international pressure. Publication of the tender marks a transition from planning on paper to the actual execution stage.

From the Tender to the Start of Work on the Ground

After a tender closes and contractors are selected, there is an additional period of preparation: signing agreements, issuing building permits, and coordinating infrastructure. Based on the current pace, actual construction on the ground is expected to begin in 2026-2027.

Table: The Estimated Timeline of the E1 Project

It's important to emphasize: the handover dates in the table are estimates only, based on comparison with similar projects in the Ma'ale Adumim area, such as the neighboring Tzipor Midbar neighborhood (an additional 3,500 housing units). This is not a binding promise, and timelines for projects of this kind tend to change according to actual progress on the ground.

What This Means for Buyers and Investors

Anyone buying an apartment at an early stage of a project like E1 needs to prepare for a relatively long investment horizon, but also benefits from lower entry prices compared to later stages. At the same time, together with the neighboring Tzipor Midbar neighborhood, this represents about 7,000 new apartments that will be added to the Ma'ale Adumim area, which currently has about 40,000 residents and is expected to grow to about 100,000 residents within a decade.

Continue Reading — Everything You Need to Know

We also recommend reading the article about the historic tender published in 2026, the full construction and infrastructure timeline, and the historical sequence of events of E1 from 1994 to 2026 to understand the full context. It's also worth reviewing the apartments currently available in Ma'ale Adumim.

Interested in Ongoing Updates About the Project's Progress?

The Ma'ale Adumim Properties Center continuously tracks every stage in the progress of the E1 project and updates clients and investors in real time. Visit the Ma'ale Adumim neighborhoods page to get to know the area, and the full project page for more details — and contact us for personal, free advice.