Off-plan mortgages.
The UAE Central Bank caps off-plan LTV at 50%. Here's what that means for your underwriting and how to combine bank financing with developer payment plans.
Off-plan property in Dubai is mortgageable, but with one big constraint: the UAE Central Bank caps mortgage LTV at 50% of the property value, regardless of whether you're a UAE national, resident expat or non-resident. The other 50% has to come from cash and/or the developer's installment plan during construction.
In practice, most off-plan buyers structure financing as: 60–80% paid via the developer's payment plan during construction (typically over 2–4 years), with the bank mortgage covering the final 20–50% at handover. The DLD transfer fee (4%) is paid at handover, not at booking.
Mortgage pre-approval at the booking stage is rare — most banks finalise approval closer to handover, when the construction risk has resolved. This means you commit to a developer payment plan based on assumed mortgage availability later.
Off-plan mortgage FAQs
Can I mortgage an off-plan property in Dubai?
Yes, but the UAE Central Bank caps off-plan mortgage LTV at 50% — half what's available on a ready property. The remaining 50% must come from your cash plus the developer's payment plan during construction.
When does the bank disburse the mortgage on off-plan?
Typically at handover, when title transfers. Some banks offer staged disbursement against construction milestones — useful if you want to refinance an early developer payment, less common for the headline mortgage.
What's the typical off-plan financing structure?
Developer payment plans during construction (often 60–80% paid by handover) cover the early years. The bank mortgage covers the final 50% (or less) at handover. The DLD transfer fee is paid at handover, not at booking.
Which banks finance off-plan property?
Most major UAE banks — Emirates NBD, ADCB, FAB, Mashreq, DIB. The 50% LTV cap is uniform across banks; differences are mainly in the project list each bank approves and the rate structure.
Looking at off-plan? Plan the financing structure first.
We match you with a broker and a bank that can structure the financing across construction and handover.