Dubai mortgages, compared honestly.
UAE Central Bank rules, real bank rates, and a calculator that handles LTV caps, EIBOR-aware variables and the full transaction-cost stack — including the fees nobody quotes.
Non-resident mortgages
Buy from abroad. 50–60% LTV, higher salary thresholds, narrower bank list.
Self-employed
Trade-licence based underwriting. Slower, but doable with the right bank.
Off-plan mortgages
50% LTV cap. Staged disbursement against construction milestones.
Islamic home finance
Ijara and Murabaha. Sharia-compliant. Open to all nationalities.
UAE banks offering mortgages
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB)
Top-3 UAE bank with broad mortgage product range covering residents, non-residents, salaried and self-employed. Competitive rates and government-employee specific products.
Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB)
IslamicWorld's first full-service Islamic bank, established 1975. Largest Islamic mortgage book in the UAE. Sharia-compliant Ijara and Murabaha financing structures.
Emirates NBD
Largest UAE bank by assets and a market leader in Dubai mortgages. Strong product range covering UAE nationals, residents and non-residents, with both fixed and variable products on conventional and Islamic platforms.
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)
Largest UAE bank by total assets. Competitive on rates and well-set up for high-net-worth applicants and prime-property mortgages above AED 5M.
HSBC UAE
International bank with the strongest UAE non-resident mortgage product. Particularly competitive for British, Hong Kong and Singapore-based buyers with HSBC Premier banking relationships.
Mashreq
Mid-tier UAE bank with competitive pricing and strong digital experience. Frequently the rate-leader on 1-year and 3-year fixed products for high-salary residents.
Frequently asked about Dubai mortgages
What is the maximum mortgage LTV for expats in Dubai?
UAE Central Bank rules: 80% LTV for expat residents on a first home valued at AED 5M or below; 70% if value is above AED 5M; 60% on a second home; 50% on off-plan property. Non-residents are typically capped at 50–60% LTV.
Can I get a Dubai mortgage as a non-resident?
Yes, but options are narrower. HSBC, ADCB, FAB and Emirates NBD all offer non-resident products. Expect 50–60% LTV maximum, higher minimum salary requirements (typically AED 25,000+ equivalent monthly income), and 25–50 bps higher rates than resident equivalents.
What is the Debt Service Ratio (DSR) cap in the UAE?
Total monthly debt servicing (mortgage + car loans + credit cards + personal loans) cannot exceed 50% of gross monthly income. This is a hard UAE Central Bank rule — banks cannot underwrite above 50% DSR for residential mortgages.
What is EIBOR and how does it affect my mortgage?
EIBOR (Emirates Interbank Offered Rate) is the UAE benchmark interest rate, published daily by the UAE Central Bank. Variable mortgages typically price as 1-month or 3-month EIBOR plus a margin (e.g. 1M EIBOR + 1.25%). When EIBOR moves, your variable rate moves with it.
Should I choose a fixed or variable mortgage?
Fixed gives certainty (typically 1, 3 or 5 years). Variable rates are usually lower at start but adjust monthly with EIBOR. As of 2026, most buyers choose 3- or 5-year fixed for budgeting clarity, then refinance or convert to variable when fixed period ends.
What are the total upfront costs of buying with a mortgage?
Roughly 7–8% of the property value: 4% DLD transfer fee + AED 580 admin, 0.25% mortgage registration, 2% buyer broker fee, 1% bank arrangement (capped, typically AED 10k), AED 3,000–4,500 trustee/valuation fees, plus the down payment itself.
Can I get a mortgage on off-plan property?
Yes, but the UAE Central Bank caps off-plan LTV at 50% of property value. Many buyers structure off-plan purchases with developer payment plans (60–80% during construction, balance at handover) and only mortgage the handover-stage balance.
How long does mortgage pre-approval take in Dubai?
Typically 3–5 business days for residents with full documentation. Non-residents take 7–14 days. Self-employed applicants take 10–21 days because of additional document review.
What documents do I need for a Dubai mortgage application?
Resident expats: Emirates ID, passport with residence visa, salary certificate, last 3–6 months bank statements, latest 3 months payslips, liability letter for existing loans. Non-residents: passport, last 6 months home-country bank statements, source-of-funds proof, employer letter or business documents.
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