Your figures
Minimum for this profile: 20% (AED 448,000).
Example value: enter the rate offered by your lender.
25 years maximum (CBUAE).
Monthly payment
AED 9,459
- Capital: AED 1,792,000 (63.15%)
- Interest: AED 1,045,651
Dubai Land Department fees
- Registration 4%AED 89,600
- Mortgage reg. 0.25%AED 4,480
- Trustee + VATAED 4,200
- Title deed, smart feesAED 270
Indicative simulation, not a loan offer, an approval or financial advice. Limits shown are the regulatory maximums; each lender applies its own credit policy. Interest rates are the ones you enter. Market figures are medians of Dubai Land Department registered data and describe the past, not future prices or returns.
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Mortgage on typical Downtown Dubai homes
Each row starts from the median price registered with the DLD for that unit type in Downtown Dubai, with the minimum down payment for an expatriate buying a first home and an example rate of 4% over 25 years. Replace the rate with your lender's in the calculator above.
| Unit | Median price (DLD) | Minimum down payment | Loan | Monthly payment* | Income at 50% DBR** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | AED 1,764,999 | AED 353,000 (20%) | AED 1,411,999 | AED 7,453 | AED 14,906 |
| 1-bed apartment | AED 2,240,000 | AED 448,000 (20%) | AED 1,792,000 | AED 9,459 | AED 18,918 |
| 2-bed apartment | AED 3,800,000 | AED 760,000 (20%) | AED 3,040,000 | AED 16,046 | AED 32,092 |
| 3-bed apartment | AED 6,910,000 | AED 2,073,000 (30%) | AED 4,837,000 | AED 25,531 | AED 51,063 |
* Example at 4% over 25 years, not a market rate. ** Gross monthly income at which this instalment alone reaches the 50% debt burden ratio set by the Central Bank; lenders also stress-test the rate (2 to 4 points higher) and count your other debts.
Cash needed to buy a 1-bed apartment in Downtown Dubai
At the median price of AED 2,240,000, an expatriate first-time buyer financing 80% needs the down payment plus the Dubai Land Department fees on the day of transfer:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Down payment (20%) | AED 448,000 |
| DLD registration fee, buyer share (2%) | AED 44,800 |
| DLD registration fee, seller share (2%, often paid by the buyer by agreement) | AED 44,800 |
| Mortgage registration (0.25% of the loan) | AED 4,480 |
| Registration trustee fee incl. VAT | AED 4,200 |
| Title deed and smart fees | AED 270 |
| Total before agent commission and bank fees | AED 546,550 |
Fees from the Dubai Land Department fee schedules (see sources). Valuation and arrangement fees depend on your lender.
Buying off plan in Downtown Dubai
38.0% of the 2,314 sales registered in Downtown Dubai over the last 12 months were off-plan purchases. For a property bought off plan, the Central Bank caps the mortgage at 50% of the value, whatever the buyer, and the lender must use your own equity first before releasing loan money to the developer.
Developer payment plans spread the price over the construction period; a balance due at handover can be financed as a completed home, under the ready-property limits and your lender’s policy. Use the payment plan calculators below to map each instalment.
How the calculator works
The monthly payment of a repayment mortgage is P × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)^−n), where P is the loan, r the monthly rate (annual rate ÷ 12) and n the number of months. The calculator then checks the result against the Central Bank of the UAE limits.
- Loan-to-value: up to 80% for an expatriate’s first home under AED 5 million (70% above), 60% for a second or investment property; 85% / 75% / 65% for UAE nationals; 50% off plan.
- Debt burden ratio: all monthly debt repayments within 50% of gross salary and regular income.
- Maximum financing: 7 years of annual income for expatriates, 8 for UAE nationals. Maximum term: 25 years.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to buy a 1-bed apartment in Downtown Dubai?
At the DLD median price of AED 2,240,000, an expatriate first-time buyer puts down at least AED 448,000 (20%), plus around AED 98,550 of Dubai Land Department fees if the buyer pays the full 4% registration fee.
What salary do I need for a mortgage in Downtown Dubai?
With the example rate of 4% over 25 years, the monthly payment on that home is about AED 9,459. It stays within the 50% debt burden ratio from a gross monthly income of about AED 18,918, before other debts and the lender's stress test. Enter your own rate and income in the affordability calculator for your figure.
Can I get a mortgage on an off-plan property in Downtown Dubai?
Yes, within the Central Bank limit of 50% of the value for any property bought off plan. Your own payments are used first, and the lender releases its share against construction milestones confirmed by an independent party.
What is the price per square metre in Downtown Dubai?
The median registered price was AED 31,650 per m² over the 12 months to 16 October 2026, against AED 29,661 over the previous 12 months. The Dubai-wide median was AED 18,545 per m² over the same period.
Where do these figures come from?
Prices: medians of the sales registered with the Dubai Land Department between 16 October 2025 and 16 October 2026 (off-plan and ready). Rents: medians of the residential Ejari contracts starting between 20 October 2025 and 20 October 2026. Medians are only shown for unit types with at least 10 records.
Go further
See every registered sale, price by building and project in Downtown Dubai on our partner brokerage Cevitas, and explore the projects currently sold off plan.