Buying Property in Dubai With Financing: Where Do You Start?
This Dubai mortgage guide brings together everything you need to know to finance a property purchase in Dubai.
The local mortgage market has become much more accessible in recent years. Whether you're a UAE resident earning a local salary, a business owner drawing income from a company, a Golden Visa holder living abroad or an investor who has never visited the country, there's likely a financing route that suits you.
This is the hub page for Dubai Index's mortgage guides: a Dubai mortgage guide you can come back to at every stage of your purchase. Below you'll find a concise overview of the key topics, including eligibility, loan limits, off-plan financing and Islamic finance, along with links to the full guides.
Dubai Mortgage Guide: All Our Guides in One Place
Pick the guide that matches your situation:
- Non-resident mortgages in Dubai
- Golden Visa mortgages in Dubai
- UAE company mortgages
- Dubai LTV ratios and loan limits
- Off-plan mortgages in Dubai
- Land financing to build a villa in Dubai
- Islamic mortgages in Dubai
- The Dubai mortgage process, step by step
- Why use a mortgage broker in Dubai
- Dubai mortgage rates and equity release
Who Can Get a Mortgage in Dubai?
Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to live in the UAE to finance a property in Dubai. Eligibility depends on your residency status and how your income can be verified:
- Residents are assessed on UAE-sourced income: salary, business income or local rental income.
- Non-residents are assessed on their income and banking history in their home country.
- Golden Visa holders don't automatically get resident mortgage terms. Without separate, verifiable local income, the bank may classify them as non-residents.
- UAE company owners are usually classified as residents, because the residence visa that comes with the company is seen as evidence of local income. This is different from a Golden Visa obtained through a property investment.
One condition applies to everyone: mortgage life insurance is mandatory. Underwriting terms may vary in some cases depending on the applicant's profile, so it's worth checking this early.
Read more: Non-resident mortgages | Golden Visa mortgages | Buying property through a UAE company
How Much Can You Borrow?
The maximum LTV depends on your residency status, the property's value, and whether it's your first property or an additional one.
| Buyer profile | First property | Second property onward |
|---|---|---|
| Resident, property under AED 5 million | Up to 80% | Up to 60% |
| Resident, property AED 5 million and above | Up to 70% | Up to 60% |
| Non-resident, any property price | Up to 65% | Up to 60% |
Practical example: A resident buying a first apartment for AED 2,000,000 may get a mortgage of up to AED 1,600,000 and need a down payment of AED 400,000.
A non-resident buying the same apartment would usually be limited to 65% financing: a mortgage of AED 1,300,000 and a down payment of AED 700,000. Residency status alone therefore creates a AED 300,000 difference in the cash required.
Age matters too. Most banks require the loan to end by age 65 to 70, so the available repayment term may limit the loan amount.
Read more: Dubai loan-to-value rates and loan limits
Buying Off-Plan or Building a Private Villa
Financing a property that's still under construction is different from a standard mortgage on a secondary-market property. So is financing land and building a custom home:
- An off-plan mortgage usually requires the buyer to have already paid 50% of the property price and the project to be more than 50% complete. It's usually limited to projects by bank-approved developers and to UAE residents.
- Land and construction financing can cover up to 50% of the combined cost of the plot and construction, and is intended for individuals building a single-family villa.
Read more: Off-plan mortgages | Land financing to build a villa
Sharia-Compliant Islamic Home Finance
Most UAE banks offer Sharia-compliant financing options. Instead of an interest-bearing loan, the deal is structured as a lease at the end of which ownership passes to the buyer.
The bank buys the property, leases it to the client and transfers ownership once the agreed term ends. It's open to people of all religions and nationalities.
Read more: Islamic home finance in Dubai
The Application Process
A typical mortgage process has six stages: preparing documents, choosing a bank, getting pre-approval, property search and valuation, final approval, and ownership transfer.
For residents, the process usually takes four to six weeks. Non-residents usually need six to eight weeks.
Pre-approval is free for residents at all banks. Some banks charge non-residents around AED 1,000 plus tax.
Read more: The Dubai mortgage application process
Why Do Buyers Use a Mortgage Broker?
Going straight to your own bank only shows you that bank's offer. A broker can compare several lenders, match your application to a bank more likely to approve it and structure the loan around your plans, such as early repayment.
In many cases, the service involves no direct cost to the client.
Read more: Why it pays to use a mortgage broker in Dubai
Interest Rates and Equity Release
The dirham is pegged to the US dollar, so Dubai mortgage rates tend to move in line with US interest rate decisions.
Owners who have built up equity in a mortgaged property can sometimes use part of it to finance another purchase or a renovation. In most cases, it's a controlled payment made directly to the seller, developer or contractor. Only a limited number of banks allow a limited cash release.
Read more: Dubai mortgage rates and equity release
Useful Official Sources
- The Dubai Land Department's project status system lets you check official construction progress free of charge.
- The Central Bank's mortgage regulations are the main regulatory source for LTV limits and lending rules.
- The Dubai REST app lets you request mortgage quotes and valuations, check ownership and submit no-objection certificate requests.
- The licensed real estate brokers registry lets you confirm a professional is legally licensed.
- The official Golden Visa page sets out current eligibility criteria and investment thresholds.
- The official fee calculator helps estimate transfer, registration and mortgage registration costs.
FAQs
Can I get a mortgage in Dubai without living in the UAE? Yes. Non-resident mortgages are widely available, and the assessment is based on your income and banking history in your home country.
What's the maximum I can borrow? A resident buying a first property priced under AED 5 million can get up to 80% of the property value. A non-resident can get up to 65% on a first property. See the full breakdown of LTV ratios.
How long does it take to get a mortgage? Usually four to six weeks for residents and six to eight weeks for non-residents.
Do I need a mortgage broker? No. You can go straight to a bank, but you'll only get its own offer. A broker compares banks and matches your case to the lender more likely to approve it, and in most cases doesn't charge you directly.
Can my nationality affect approval? Indirectly. Life insurance is mandatory and underwriting terms may vary by applicant profile. It's worth checking your case in advance.
Start Your Dubai Mortgage Journey
Dubai Index helps residents, overseas investors, Golden Visa holders and business owners find the right property and financing solution, from the first eligibility check to the ownership transfer. Contact Dubai Index to discuss your case.
