Dubai Mortgage for Non-Residents

Yes, a buyer who lives outside the UAE can apply for a mortgage in Dubai. The Central Bank of the UAE mortgage regulation sets the maximum limits for every lender in the country, by buyer category (UAE national or expatriate), use and value of the property; each lender then decides, within those limits, whether and on which conditions it lends to non-residents. For an expatriate, the loan can reach 80% of the value for a first home below AED 5 million, 60% for an investment property and 50% for a property bought off plan.

Limits that apply to expatriate buyers

For expatriates, the regulation sets these maximum loan-to-value ratios:

  • First home (owner occupier): up to 80% when the property value is less than AED 5 million, up to 70% above AED 5 million.
  • Second home or investment property: up to 60%, whatever the value.
  • Property bought off plan: up to 50%, for every category of buyer.

Worked example: an AED 2,000,000 property

Monthly payments over 25 years at an example rate of 4% (not a market rate: replace it with the rate your lender offers in the mortgage calculator):

  • Investment property, 60% loan: AED 1,200,000 borrowed, AED 800,000 down payment, about AED 6,334 a month.
  • Off-plan property, 50% loan: AED 1,000,000 borrowed, AED 1,000,000 paid from your own funds, about AED 5,278 a month once the loan is drawn.
  • First home below AED 5 million, 80% loan: AED 1,600,000 borrowed, AED 400,000 down payment, about AED 8,445 a month.
  • On top of the down payment come the Dubai Land Department fees on the sale and the mortgage registration fee of 0.25% of the loan (DLD schedule).

Other rules to know

The maximum term of a mortgage is 25 years. The maximum financing is 7 years of annual income for expatriates, and total debt repayments are assessed against a 50% debt burden ratio.

Lenders may apply stricter limits than the regulation, and their conditions for non-residents (documents, minimum income, eligible properties) are set by each lender. Check them directly with the lender.

Simulate your purchase

Use the mortgage calculator for Dubai and the UAE to test your own price, down payment and rate, or run the off-plan calculator to see the payment plan, the cash needed until handover and the rental yield of the area from Dubai Land Department data.

Mortgage calculator Dubai & UAE · Dubai off-plan calculator · Off-plan mortgage calculator

Frequently asked questions

Can a non-resident get a mortgage in Dubai?

Yes, if a lender agrees to it. The Central Bank of the UAE regulation sets the maximum limits by buyer category (UAE national or expatriate), use and value of the property, and each lender sets its own conditions for buyers living abroad.

How much can a non-resident borrow?

Under the regulation, an expatriate can borrow up to 80% of the value for a first home below AED 5 million (70% above), 60% for a second home or investment property and 50% for an off-plan property, within 7 years of annual income and a 50% debt burden ratio. Lenders may apply lower limits.

What is the maximum term?

The regulation sets a maximum term of 25 years. The maximum age at the last payment is set by each lender.

Can a non-resident get a mortgage on an off-plan property?

The maximum loan-to-value for a property bought off plan is 50%, for every category of buyer. Your own funds are paid to the developer first; the lender then releases the loan against construction progress.

Which rate should I use in the calculator?

The rate offered to you by your lender. The 4% used in the examples on this page is an example value, not a market rate.

Source : Central Bank of the UAE, Regulations Regarding Mortgage Loans (C 31/2013, consolidated 08/04/2020)

Indicative simulation only. It is not a loan offer, an approval or financial advice. The limits shown are the regulatory maximums; each lender applies its own credit policy and may set lower limits. The interest rate is the one you enter. Always confirm the figures with your lender.

Reviewed by Ahmed Benjas, co-founder & CEO of Cevitas Real Estate

Moroccan real estate expert based in Dubai, co-founder & CEO of Cevitas Real Estate, a RERA-licensed brokerage (NGI House, Deira), with an AED 200M+ track record. He works in French, Arabic, Darija and English.

· Moroccan real estate broker in Dubai · His guides on cevitas.ae