Licensed mortgage advisory · Licence No. 1660136
Licensed mortgage advisory · Licence No. 1660136
Mortgage services · Home loan
Home Loans in Dubai and the UAE
UAE expat residents can borrow up to 80% of a first home worth up to AED 5 million, with total debt payments capped at 50% of income.
Home loan
01
Who can get a home loan in the UAE?
UAE residents, non-residents and UAE nationals can apply for a home loan. Banks look at your income, employment history, existing debts, credit record and the property you want to buy.
- Salaried residents with a stable employer
- Self-employed people and business owners
- Expats buying a first home or an investment
- UAE nationals
Central Bank rules cap total monthly debt payments at 50% of your income. Expat residents buying a first home up to AED 5 million can borrow up to 80% of its value.
02
Documents banks ask for
Every bank has its own checklist, but most applications start with the same core documents.
- Passport, Emirates ID and residence visa
- Salary certificate and recent payslips
- Recent personal bank statements
- For business owners: trade licence and company bank statements
03
What you pay beyond the deposit
Your deposit is only part of the cost. Expat first-time buyers need at least 20% down on a home up to AED 5 million. Budget as well for the Dubai Land Department transfer fee of 4% of the price, the valuation, the bank’s processing and registration charges and any agent fee.
We list every cost before you commit, so there are no surprises at the trustee office.
04
Salaried and self-employed applications
Salaried applicants are assessed on their salary certificate and bank statements. Self-employed applicants are assessed on business bank statements, the age of the trade licence and company accounts.
Both can be approved, but the documents and the timeline differ. We prepare the file the way each bank wants it.
FAQ
Home loan questions, answered
Expat residents buying a first home up to AED 5 million can borrow up to 80% of its value. Your income also matters, because total monthly debt payments are capped at 50% of income.
Usually your passport, Emirates ID, visa, salary certificate, payslips and recent bank statements. Self-employed buyers add a trade licence and company statements. Each bank adds its own requirements.
Yes. Banks look at business bank statements, the age of the trade licence and company accounts. Approval is possible, but the documents and timeline differ from a salaried application.
Most UAE home loans run up to 25 years, and the loan usually has to end before you reach the bank’s age limit, often 65 for salaried applicants.
A fixed rate holds for an initial period, often one to five years, then moves with EIBOR plus the bank’s margin. We compare the cost over time, not only the starting rate.
Information on this page is general guidance, not legal or financial advice. Rules, fees and bank criteria change, and every mortgage is subject to bank approval and your eligibility. Last reviewed October 2026.
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