Written by Hammad Roshan — CEO, Tahani Real Estate Brokers LLC, Dubai.
RERA-licensed brokerage · ORN 25557 · LinkedIn
RERA-licensed brokerage · ORN 25557 · LinkedIn
Start with documents and cash needed. For an expat mortgage in Dubai, obtain the lender’s current eligibility checklist, confirm how much it will lend against the chosen property, and budget the deposit separately from transaction costs. Approval, rates and timelines depend on the lender and application.
Emirates NBD’s published application checklist is one concrete example, rather than a rule for every UAE bank:
Check the bank’s live list before sending documents. Use the bank’s secure application channel; do not post financial documents in a public inquiry. Ask how it treats variable income, probation, non-resident status and any overseas liabilities.
The CBUAE mortgage regulations distinguish borrower and property categories. For expatriates they list maximum financing of 80% for a first owner-occupied home below AED 5 million, 70% above AED 5 million, and 60% for a second/subsequent home or investment property. Off-plan mortgages have a 50% maximum across categories. Confirm the treatment of a property priced exactly at the threshold with the lender.
These are ceilings; a lender may offer less. The same regulations set a maximum debt-burden ratio of 50% and a maximum loan term of 25 years. A personal affordability check should leave room for living costs and changing payments, rather than treating a regulatory maximum as a target.
| Item | 80% financing assumption | 75% financing assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | AED 2,000,000 | AED 2,000,000 |
| Assumed loan | AED 1,600,000 | AED 1,500,000 |
| Deposit before fees | AED 400,000 | AED 500,000 |
The previous AED 140,000–180,000 combined deposit-and-cost example was incorrect. Even the deposit alone in these scenarios is higher. Obtain a complete completion statement before making a financial commitment.
DLD’s mortgage-registration service lists a charge of 0.25% of the mortgage value, with other title, service-partner and applicable fees. A hypothetical AED 1.6 million mortgage therefore produces AED 4,000 for that percentage component alone; it is not the full transaction bill.
Separately, DLD’s property-sale service lists seller and buyer registration components of 2% each. Confirm the allocation in the agreed transaction and ask the trustee for the complete fee statement. Obtain written figures for bank processing/valuation, brokerage, developer clearance and other applicable charges; avoid a single assumed percentage for every purchase.
A developer payment plan is a separate arrangement; do not assume its final instalment will qualify for mortgage finance. A brokerage inquiry is not a mortgage offer.
Compare investment locations, model a rental property’s operating yield, or tell Tahani your property requirements. Confirm financing directly with your lender.
Ask your chosen lender for its current checklist. A resident applicant may need passport, residence visa, Emirates ID, income evidence and bank statements. Salaried and self-employed applicants have different requirements; the lender example below is specific to Emirates NBD.
If a lender approves a loan equal to 80% of an AED 2 million purchase, the loan is AED 1.6 million and the deposit is AED 400,000 before fees. At 75% financing the deposit is AED 500,000. This is arithmetic, not an approval or quotation.
The DLD mortgage-registration page checked on 23 October 2026 lists 0.25% of the mortgage value plus other applicable fees. It does not state the AED 10,000 cap previously quoted in this guide.
Request a dated written lender quotation and confirm the conditions for final approval. Compare the introductory period, later rate calculation, valuation, fees and early settlement terms before committing.