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How mortgages work in Dubai

How much a bank can lend you, the deposit you need, the fees, and the limits set by the Central Bank of the UAE.

Updated 15 September 2026

How much you can borrow

The Central Bank of the UAE caps the share of a home's price a bank may lend. The cap depends on who you are, the price, and whether this is your first home.

HomeExpatriatesUAE nationals
First home, AED 5 million or less80%85%
First home, over AED 5 million70%75%
Second or investment home60%65%
Off-plan home50%50%

The rest of the price is your deposit, and the buying fees come on top.

If you live outside the UAE

Non-residents can borrow from UAE banks too. The limits for them are set by each bank rather than by regulation; banks commonly lend 50% to 60% of the price on a ready home, and 50% off-plan.

Term, age and affordability

  • Term. A mortgage can run for up to 25 years.
  • Age. Each bank sets the age by which the loan must be repaid. Many use about 65 for salaried borrowers and 70 for the self-employed.
  • Debt burden. All your monthly debt repayments together, the new mortgage included, may not exceed 50% of your income.

Mortgage fees

  • Dubai Land Department mortgage registration: 0.25% of the loan plus AED 270
  • Bank valuation: typically AED 2,500 to 3,500 plus VAT
  • Arrangement fee: typically 0.5% to 1% of the loan plus VAT
  • Early settlement: capped at 1% of the outstanding balance or AED 10,000, whichever is lower

The order to do it in

  1. Get pre-approval.A bank reviews your income and debts and confirms how much it will lend, ideally before you make an offer.
  2. Agree the purchase.Sign Form F with a transfer date that leaves time for the bank's valuation and final offer.
  3. Valuation and final offer.The bank values the home and makes its final offer. If the valuation is below the price, the bank lends against the lower figure and your deposit grows.
  4. Transfer.The bank pays the seller at the registration trustee, and its mortgage is registered against your title deed.

Estimate your repayments

AED
The home is
This will be
20%, AED 400,000At least 20%
% a year
years
Monthly repayment
AED 8,893
Loan
AED 1,600,000
Interest over the term
AED 1,067,996
Monthly income needed, with no other debts
AED 17,787
Mortgage fees at the start
AED 24,220

An estimate at one rate for the whole term; your bank's offer sets the real rate, fixed period and fees. Loan limits are the Central Bank of the UAE's; lending to non-residents is set by each bank and shown here at 50%. Monthly debt repayments may not exceed half your income. How mortgages work in Dubai

Questions buyers ask

What deposit do I need to buy in Dubai with a mortgage?

At least 20% of the price for an expatriate buying a first home worth up to AED 5 million, and 15% for a UAE national, because the Central Bank caps lending at 80% and 85%. Above AED 5 million the minimum rises to 30% and 25%; a second home needs 40% and 35%.

Can non-residents get a mortgage in Dubai?

Yes. Each bank sets its own limit for non-residents, commonly 50% to 60% of the price on a ready home.

How long can a Dubai mortgage run?

Up to 25 years. The bank also sets the age by which it must be repaid.

How much can I borrow on my income?

Your monthly repayments on all debts, the new mortgage included, must stay within 50% of your income. The mortgage calculator shows the income a repayment needs.

Sources

What it costs to buy property in Dubai

Every fee on a ready home, an off-plan home and a mortgage, with the government figures checked against the Dubai Land Department.

Read the guide

How to buy a home in Dubai, step by step

From setting your budget to collecting the title deed: every stage of buying a ready home, what you sign and what you pay.

Read the guide