Rates, fees and approval rules differ from bank to bank — and so does how they see your profile. We compare lenders for you, prepare your file and stay with you from pre-approval to transfer.

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Your borrowing limitsCBUAE rules · expat, first home

80%max loan-to-value

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Multiple lenders comparedConventional and Islamic options side by side
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Your file, prepared properlyFewer back-and-forths, faster decisions
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With you to the transferValuation, offer letter and DLD trustee day

How it works

From first question
to the transfer day.

01Day 1Profile check

Income, existing debts, residency and the property you want — we work out what you can realistically borrow under CBUAE limits.

02ComparisonCompare lenders

We compare rates, fixed periods, fees and early-settlement terms across banks that fit your profile.

03Pre-approvalPre-approval

We prepare and submit your documents so you can make offers knowing your budget.

04Final offerValuation & offer

The bank values the property and issues the final offer letter once the sale terms are agreed.

05KeysTransfer

The loan is registered and ownership transfers at a DLD registration trustee office.

Your options

Conventional or Islamic,
fixed or variable.

Two ways to finance, two ways to price it. The best choice depends on the total cost — not the label.

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Conventional

The bank lends you the money and charges interest on the outstanding balance.

Fixed rate for an initial period, then variable
Variable rates are usually linked to EIBOR plus a margin
Wide choice of lenders and products

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Islamic (Sharia-compliant)

No interest is charged. The bank's return comes from a profit or rent structure instead.

Murabaha — the bank buys the property and sells it to you at an agreed profit, paid in instalments
Ijara — the bank owns the property and leases it to you; ownership transfers at the end
Profit rates are also offered as fixed or variable

Predictable paymentsFixed

Your rate stays the same for an agreed period (often 1–5 years), then usually moves to a variable rate.

Can fall or riseVariable

Your rate moves with a benchmark — usually EIBOR — plus the bank's margin.

Beyond the headline rateWhat to compare

The fixed period, the rate after it ends, arrangement fees, early-settlement and partial-payment terms, and the life insurance the bank requires.

Get ready

Documents
banks usually ask for.

0 of 7 ready

Each bank sets its own checklist and may ask for more. We tell you exactly what your chosen lender needs before you submit.

UAE lenders

Banks
we compare.

ENBDEmirates NBD→ADCBADCB→FABFirst Abu Dhabi Bank→DIBDubai Islamic Bank→MSQMashreq→RAKRAKBANK→

Know your numbers first

Estimate your monthly payment, deposit and Dubai purchase costs in under a minute.

Open the mortgage calculator →

FAQ

Mortgage questions,
answered.

01How much can I borrow?

It depends on the property price, your residency status and your income. CBUAE limits cap the loan-to-value (for example, up to 80% for an expat's first home under AED 5 million), keep all monthly debt repayments within 50% of your income, and limit the loan to 7× annual income for expats (8× for UAE nationals). Use the mortgage calculator for a quick estimate.

02How much deposit do I need?

At least the part the bank can't lend — 20% for an expat's first home under AED 5 million, more for higher-value, second or off-plan homes — plus purchase costs such as the 4% DLD transfer fee. Typical Dubai purchase costs add roughly 7–10% of the price on top of your deposit, depending on whether you use an agent and a mortgage.

03Can non-residents get a UAE mortgage?

Yes — some UAE banks lend to non-residents, usually with a lower loan-to-value, stricter income checks and a shorter list of eligible properties.

04Islamic or conventional — which is better?

Neither is automatically cheaper. Compare the total cost: the rate or profit rate, the fixed period, fees and settlement terms. Some buyers choose Islamic finance for religious reasons; others pick whichever offer is best.

05Can I get a mortgage on an off-plan property?

Off-plan loans are capped at 50% loan-to-value, and fewer banks offer them — many lend only on projects close to completion. Most off-plan buyers follow the developer's payment plan and arrange a mortgage near handover.

06How long does the process take?

It varies by bank and how complete your documents are. Pre-approval, valuation and the final offer are the main stages; having your paperwork ready is the biggest thing you can do to speed it up.

Talk to an advisor

Find out what you can borrow.
Before you make an offer.

Tell us about your income, residency and the property you're looking at — we'll come back with realistic options from lenders that fit your profile.

Get mortgage advice Open the calculator

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Our Products

The right mortgage, not just any mortgage.

From first question
to the transfer day.

Conventional or Islamic,
fixed or variable.

Conventional

Islamic (Sharia-compliant)

Documents
banks usually ask for.

Banks
we compare.

Mortgage questions,
answered.

Find out what you can borrow.
Before you make an offer.

Dubai Land Department

The right mortgage, not just any mortgage.

From first questionto the transfer day.

Conventional or Islamic,fixed or variable.

Conventional

Islamic (Sharia-compliant)

Documentsbanks usually ask for.

Bankswe compare.

Mortgage questions,answered.

Find out what you can borrow.Before you make an offer.

From first question
to the transfer day.

Conventional or Islamic,
fixed or variable.

Documents
banks usually ask for.

Banks
we compare.

Mortgage questions,
answered.

Find out what you can borrow.
Before you make an offer.