Home loans and Islamic home finance

Mortgage loan in UAE

Compare mortgage routes for buying a ready property, financing an off-plan handover, refinancing an existing home, releasing equity or purchasing an investment property in the UAE. Share your profile and property details through the secure form for a more focused eligibility review.

  • Options for eligible salaried, self-employed and non-resident applicants
  • Conventional mortgage and Shari’ah-compliant home finance routes
  • Support for purchases, buyouts, construction and selected investments

LoanFinder.ae is not a lender and does not guarantee approval. The bank or finance provider makes the final credit and property decision and sets the rate or profit rate, fees, down payment, amount and repayment terms.

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Property goalsPurchase, refinance and equity release
Finance structuresConventional and Islamic options
Applicant profilesSalaried, self-employed and selected non-residents
Final decisionApproval and property acceptance remain with the lender
UAE home finance explained

What is a mortgage loan?

A mortgage is a long-term finance facility secured against a qualifying property. The lender pays an approved share of the purchase price or property value, while the buyer contributes the down payment and repays the finance through monthly instalments.

The property is part of the credit assessment. Banks review the applicant’s income, employment or business history, liabilities, AECB profile, age at maturity and available deposit alongside the property’s location, developer, completion status, title, valuation and marketability.

01

Finance amount

The approved amount is limited by income, DBR, annual-income multiples, property valuation, loan-to-value rules and lender policy.

02

Down payment

The buyer pays the portion not financed by the bank plus applicable transaction, registration and mortgage costs.

03

Rate structure

Pricing may be fixed for an initial period and then variable, or variable from the start based on EIBOR plus a bank margin.

04

Property security

The property is mortgaged to the lender until the facility is repaid and formally released.

Types of mortgage loans in UAE

Match the mortgage structure to the property and your objective

A home purchase, investment, construction project and mortgage transfer can require different documents, valuation methods, down payments and lender criteria.

01

Ready-property mortgage

Finance for a completed villa, townhouse or apartment with an available title or accepted transfer process.

02

First-home mortgage

A purchase route for eligible buyers acquiring their first residential property, subject to applicable LTV and lender rules.

03

Off-plan mortgage

Finance for selected projects and developers, often focused on construction milestones or the final handover payment.

04

Mortgage buyout

Transfer an existing mortgage to another bank to seek a different rate, term, instalment or service arrangement.

05

Equity-release mortgage

Borrow against an eligible unencumbered or partly repaid property for approved personal or investment purposes.

06

Investment-property mortgage

Finance for a qualifying property intended for rental income or long-term investment rather than primary residence.

07

Self-construction finance

Stage-based finance for building a home on owned land, subject to plans, approvals, contractor documents and valuations.

08

Non-resident mortgage

Selected finance for overseas applicants buying eligible UAE property, usually with lower LTV and additional documentation.

09

Islamic home finance

Shari’ah-compliant home finance using an approved contractual structure and profit rate rather than a conventional interest loan.

What banks review

Mortgage loan eligibility in the UAE

Meeting a bank’s published minimum salary does not guarantee approval. Affordability, income stability, deposit availability, liabilities and the property itself are assessed together.

Income and affordability

Salary, allowances, business income and other acceptable recurring income must support the proposed instalment.

Employment or business history

Banks usually look for stable employment or an established self-employed business with verifiable financial records.

Existing liabilities

Personal loans, credit cards, car finance and other commitments reduce the instalment capacity available for a mortgage.

AECB credit profile

Payment history, utilisation, overdue amounts and total exposure can influence approval, pricing and finance amount.

Age at maturity

The mortgage term may be shortened so the facility ends before the lender’s maximum age for the applicant category.

Down-payment funds

The buyer may need evidence that the deposit and transaction costs are available from an acceptable source.

Property valuation

The lender normally uses its approved valuation, which can be lower than the agreed purchase price.

Property acceptance

Location, developer, title, condition, completion status and marketability must meet lender policy.

Residency and identity

Resident, UAE-national and non-resident programmes have different document, income, LTV and age requirements.

Key affordability ratios

Understand LTV, DBR and income multiples

These ratios can limit the approved finance even when a bank advertises a high maximum mortgage amount.

Up to 85% Illustrative maximum first-home LTV for eligible UAE nationals

CBUAE mortgage regulations set category-based maximum loan-to-value limits. The lender can approve a lower percentage after reviewing the borrower and property.

Up to 80% Illustrative maximum first-home LTV for eligible expatriates

The buyer must fund the remaining property price and applicable purchase, registration, valuation and mortgage costs.

50% DBR General regulatory debt-burden ceiling

Total monthly debt commitments are generally assessed against gross regular income, although a bank can apply a stricter internal limit.

Regulatory note: LTV treatment varies by nationality, property value and whether the purchase is a first or subsequent property. Special housing programmes can have separate rules. Always confirm the applicable category with the lender.

Selected published options

Compare mortgage loan offers from leading UAE banks

This table summarises selected publicly advertised resident home-finance options. It is not a personalised quotation and does not include every product or eligibility condition.

Bank and product Published finance Published tenure Published rate / structure Selected eligibility details Eligibility
Emirates NBD Expat Mortgage Resident home loan Official product source
Up to 80% of property value; up to AED 25 million or 84 salary multiples, whichever is lower Up to 25 years Official page publishes a tentative rate from 3.99% p.a.; actual pricing depends on assessment and structure Minimum salary AED 15,000; salaried and self-employed applicants; co-borrower option Check eligibility
ADCB Standard Mortgage Conventional or Islamic home finance Official product source
Up to 85% for UAE nationals, 80% for expatriates and 50% for non-residents Up to 25 years for residents; up to 15 years for non-residents Hybrid fixed-then-variable or variable pricing based on relevant EIBOR plus margin Final eligibility, property acceptance and documentation depend on ADCB assessment Check eligibility
FAB Home Loan Residence and investment mortgage Official product source
Finance amount and LTV depend on applicant, property and FAB policy Product-specific Fixed-rate options published from 3.99%, with fixed periods available for up to 5 years Options advertised for home purchase, investment and mortgage transfer Check eligibility
Mashreq Home Loan Resident mortgage Official product source
Up to AED 10 million Up to 25 years Final pricing depends on profile, property and selected rate structure Published for UAE resident nationals and expatriates; assessment includes income, obligations, property value and down payment Check eligibility
Dubai Islamic Bank Home Finance Shari’ah-compliant home finance Official product source
Up to 85% for UAE nationals and 80% for expatriates on published resident options Up to 25 years EIBOR for 3, 6 or 12 months plus margin; fixed options may be available on selected products Salary transfer is not required on the published home-finance page; all-Emirates coverage advertised Check eligibility
ADIB Home Finance Shari’ah-compliant home finance Official product source
Up to AED 30 million and up to 85% of property value on the published product Up to 25 years Published profit rate from 3.99%, fixed for 3 years on the stated offer Published salaried minimum: AED 10,000 with salary transfer or AED 15,000 without salary transfer Check eligibility

Important: Advertised rates are commonly introductory, fixed for a limited period, dependent on salary transfer or other relationship conditions, and subject to change. After a fixed period, the rate may become variable. Request the Key Facts Statement and a complete repayment illustration for your profile before accepting a mortgage.

Prepare the application

Documents commonly required for a UAE mortgage

The exact list depends on whether the applicant is salaried, self-employed or non-resident and whether the property is ready, off-plan, under construction or being refinanced.

Applicant and income documents

  • Passport, Emirates ID and valid UAE residence visa where applicable
  • Salary certificate and recent salary slips for salaried applicants
  • Recent personal bank statements
  • Existing-liability or settlement letters where applicable
  • Trade licence and incorporation records for self-employed applicants
  • Business bank statements and audited or management financials
  • Proof of address and source of down-payment funds

Property and transaction documents

  • Signed sale and purchase agreement or memorandum of understanding
  • Title deed, Oqood or accepted property-registration document
  • Developer statement of account and handover documents where applicable
  • Property plans, approvals and contractor documents for construction
  • Existing mortgage statement and liability letter for a buyout
  • Tenancy contract or rental evidence for investment properties
  • Any documents required for valuation, insurance or takaful
Compare the full cost

Mortgage costs beyond the interest rate

A lower advertised rate does not always mean a cheaper overall transaction. Review the initial fixed period, future variable rate, fees, down payment and switching or settlement costs.

1

Processing fee

A bank arrangement or processing charge may be collected upfront or deducted from available funds.

2

Property valuation

The bank normally appoints an approved valuer, and the applicant may pay the valuation fee.

3

Mortgage registration

The relevant land authority can charge for registering the lender’s mortgage over the property.

4

Property registration

Purchase registration, trustee, developer or administrative fees can be separate from mortgage costs.

5

Insurance or takaful

Property cover and life insurance or takaful may be required, depending on the lender and facility.

6

Early settlement

Review charges for full settlement, partial prepayment, mortgage transfer and release documentation.

Illustrative mortgage disclosure

Understand the long-term repayment impact

Mortgage instalments are sensitive to the finance amount, term and rate. A longer term can reduce the monthly payment but increase the total financing cost. A variable rate can also increase or decrease the instalment after the fixed period.

Rate basisReducing balance
Possible structureFixed then variable
Variable benchmarkEIBOR plus margin
Property securityMortgage remains until release

This example does not predict future EIBOR or lender pricing. Obtain a personalised illustration showing the fixed period, reversion formula, floor rate, fees and effect of possible rate increases.

Illustrative UAE mortgage example

This calculation is for explanation only. It is not a quotation, approval or promise that a particular rate will be available.

Illustrative finance amountAED 1,000,000
Repayment period20 years
Illustrative reducing rate4.50% p.a.
Estimated monthly instalmentAED 6,326.49
Total of 240 instalmentsAED 1,518,358.50
Illustrative fee incl. VATAED 10,500.00
Estimated financing costAED 518,358.50
Total cost incl. stated feeAED 528,858.50
Estimated total payable incl. stated feeAED 1,528,858.50

Assumes a constant 4.50% reducing annual rate for the full 240 months and a separate 1.05% processing fee. It excludes down payment, valuation, land-department, mortgage-registration, trustee, developer, insurance or takaful, legal, account, late-payment, early-settlement and other property or lender-specific costs. Actual variable-rate payments may change.

Mortgage application journey

How the UAE mortgage process usually works

The order can vary by lender and transaction, but affordability approval and property approval are separate parts of the process.

Eligibility and pre-approval

Submit income, employment, liabilities, residency and deposit information to estimate borrowing capacity.

Property selection

Choose a property that meets your budget and the lender’s location, developer and title requirements.

Valuation and final approval

The bank reviews the property valuation, transaction documents and any updated credit or income information.

Registration and disbursement

Complete the down payment, insurance, mortgage registration, transfer formalities and lender disbursement.

Mortgage FAQs

Common mortgage loan questions in the UAE

Answers to important questions buyers and property owners often ask before approaching a lender.

What is a mortgage loan in the UAE?

A mortgage loan or home finance facility is secured against a qualifying property. The bank or Islamic finance provider assesses the borrower, income, liabilities, property, valuation and down payment before deciding the amount, rate or profit rate and repayment terms.

How much down payment is required?

The required deposit depends on nationality, property value, whether it is a first or subsequent property, residency status and lender policy. CBUAE rules set maximum LTV ratios, but a bank may finance less after assessing the customer and property. Transaction costs are normally additional to the down payment.

What is the maximum mortgage tenure in the UAE?

Many leading banks publish resident mortgage tenures of up to 25 years. The approved term can be shorter because of the applicant’s age at maturity, affordability, income profile, property type and lender policy.

What salary is needed for a UAE mortgage?

Minimum income requirements vary. Selected official bank pages publish resident minimum salaries starting from AED 10,000 or AED 15,000. Meeting the minimum is only an entry condition and does not guarantee approval, the maximum tenure or a particular finance amount.

Can self-employed applicants get a mortgage?

Yes, selected lenders consider self-employed applicants. They usually request a valid trade licence, ownership documents, business and personal bank statements, turnover evidence, financial statements, liabilities and an established operating history.

Can non-residents get a UAE mortgage?

Selected banks offer non-resident mortgages for qualifying applicants and properties. The maximum LTV and tenure may be lower than resident products, and additional identity, address, income, tax-residency, banking and property documents can be required.

What is EIBOR and why does it matter?

EIBOR is a UAE interbank benchmark. A variable mortgage or the variable period after an initial fixed rate may be priced as EIBOR plus a contractual bank margin. If EIBOR changes, the applicable rate and instalment may change, subject to any floor or other terms.

What happens if the valuation is lower than the purchase price?

The bank usually calculates LTV using its accepted valuation and applicable rules. When the valuation is lower than the agreed purchase price, the buyer may need to contribute a larger amount from personal funds or renegotiate the transaction.

Can an existing mortgage be transferred to another bank?

Yes, mortgage buyout or refinance options may be available. Compare the new rate and term with the current facility and include settlement, valuation, registration, insurance and processing costs when estimating the actual saving.

Does LoanFinder issue or approve mortgage loans?

No. LoanFinder.ae is not a lender and does not issue mortgages or make credit decisions. It provides discovery, eligibility and connection support. The selected bank or finance provider decides approval, property acceptance, amount, rate, fees and repayment terms.

Planning a UAE property purchase?

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