Dubai Property Mortgage Guide

A Dubai mortgage moves through pre-approval, property selection, bank valuation, final approval and registration at transfer. Most expatriate buyers of a first home need at least a 20% deposit plus about 7–8% for fees, and the bank checks both you and the property before lending.

Updated 27 October 2026 · 1 min read

The mortgage path is pre-approval → choose the property → bank valuation → final offer → transfer and mortgage registration. The bank assesses you (income, debts, credit) and the property (value, type, developer).

How much can you borrow?

UAE Central Bank rules cap the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. At the time of writing, the common caps are:

Buyer First home up to AED 5M First home above AED 5M Second or further home
Expatriate resident 80% (20% deposit) 70% 60%
UAE national 85% 75% 65%
Off-plan (any buyer) Usually limited to 50%

Non-residents can borrow from some banks, usually at lower LTVs. Banks also limit total monthly debt repayments to a share of your income (commonly up to 50%), and loan terms usually run up to 25 years, ending by a set retirement age.

Step by step

  1. Pre-approval

    The bank checks your income, liabilities and credit and tells you how much it may lend. See pre-approval.

  2. Choose the rate type

    Fixed for a set period, then variable, or variable from the start. See fixed vs variable.

  3. Agree the purchase

    Make Form F conditional on finance and allow enough time.

  4. Valuation and final approval

    The bank values the property and issues a final offer letter. See valuation and final approval.

  5. Transfer and registration

    The bank pays at transfer and registers its mortgage with the Land Department (0.25% of the loan plus admin).

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Making offers before pre-approval.
  • Forgetting that fees are paid in cash on top of the deposit.
  • Comparing only the headline rate and ignoring fees and the rate after the fixed period.
  • Assuming the bank’s valuation will match the agreed price.

This guide is general information, not legal, tax, financial or lending advice. Fees, rules and procedures change and depend on the property, the parties and the contract. Confirm current details with the relevant authority and qualified advisers before acting.

Browse properties for sale Browse properties for rent

Common questions

How much deposit do I need for a mortgage in Dubai?

Most expatriate residents buying a first home up to AED 5 million need at least 20%, plus about 7–8% of the price for fees. Non-residents usually need more.

Can non-residents get a mortgage in Dubai?

Yes, from some banks, usually with a larger deposit and stricter income checks.

How long can a Dubai mortgage last?

Usually up to 25 years, ending by the bank's maximum age, often 65 for salaried and 70 for self-employed borrowers.

What fees come with a mortgage?

Typically a bank arrangement fee of up to 1% of the loan, a valuation fee, insurance and Land Department mortgage registration of 0.25% of the loan plus admin.

Keep reading

Sources

Still not sure where to start?

Tell us what you are planning and a Habitas Homes consultant will walk you through the next steps.

Talk to our team WhatsApp us