Dubai Mortgages for Buyers & Expats

General guidance, current as of 2026 but not guaranteed. Loan-to-value caps and rules are set by the UAE Central Bank (CBUAE) and individual banks and change over time; interest rates move constantly. Verify current limits and rates with the CBUAE (centralbank.ae) or a specific bank/mortgage adviser. Our advisor confirms exact figures for a case. IMPORTANT: always clarify whether the buyer is a UAE-resident expat or a non-resident before quoting a down payment — they differ a lot.

Can foreigners get a mortgage in Dubai?

Yes. Resident expats and non-residents can both get Dubai mortgages, on different terms. Financing is generally only available on freehold property in designated freehold areas.

Down payment / loan-to-value (CBUAE caps — for READY property)

The Central Bank sets maximum loan-to-value (minimum down payment). These are maximums; a bank may ask for more based on your profile.

| Buyer | First home ≤ AED 5M | First home > AED 5M | 2nd / investment property | |---|---|---|---| | Resident expat | 20% down (80% LTV) | 30% down (70% LTV) | 40% down (60% LTV) | | UAE national | 15% down (85% LTV) | 25% down (75% LTV) | 35% down (65% LTV) |

• The AED 5M threshold is on the property VALUE, not the loan — crossing it moves the whole loan

into the higher-deposit bracket (e.g. a AED 5.2M home for an expat needs 30%, not 20%).

• Off-plan (bank mortgage) is capped at 50% LTV (50% down) for everyone — separate from any

developer payment plan.

• Non-residents (no UAE visa) typically get materially less — commonly **~50–60% LTV (40–50%

down)** — from a smaller pool of banks, on stricter terms.

Affordability — the DBR cap

CBUAE caps the Debt Burden Ratio at 50%: your total monthly debt (the new mortgage instalment + other loans + credit cards) shouldn't exceed 50% of your net monthly income.

Costs to budget for (in addition to the deposit — paid in CASH, not financeable)

• DLD transfer fee: 4% of the property value (the biggest cost)
• Mortgage registration fee: 0.25% of the loan amount + a small admin fee (~AED 290)
• Bank arrangement / processing fee: typically ~0.5%–1% of the loan (+ VAT); banks often run

promotions

• Property valuation fee: typically ~AED 2,500–3,500 (+ VAT), usually non-refundable
• Agency fee (~2% + VAT on resale) and any conveyancing
• ⚠️ Transaction/DLD fees generally cannot be rolled into the loan — budget them as cash on top of

the down payment.

Rates, tenure and age

• Fixed (commonly fixed for an initial 1–5 years, then variable) or variable (priced over EIBOR).
• Rates change constantly — in 2026 advertised fixed rates commonly start in the high-3% range,

but never rely on a quoted rate; get a current bank offer.

• Max tenure is generally 25 years, subject to age limits (loan typically repaid by ~65 salaried /

~70 self-employed).

• Life and property insurance are usually required by the bank.

Get a pre-approval before committing to a purchase. Our advisor can point you to mortgage advisers; for current caps and rates, check the UAE Central Bank or a bank directly.