Dubai Mortgages for Non-Residents — Eligibility and Costs
Compare written non-resident mortgage offers, applicable LTV ceilings, rate changes, documents, valuation and fees without relying on historic advertised rates.
Eligibility and regulatory ceilings: For a first house/owner-occupied property valued at AED 5 million or less, CBUAE maximum LTV is 85% for UAE nationals and 80% for expatriates. These are regulatory ceilings, not guaranteed lender offers: bank underwriting and borrower circumstances can result in lower LTV. Do not apply an owner-occupier ceiling to a non-resident investment loan without confirmation. Ask your lender for eligibility, the approved loan amount and cash needed, including any valuation shortfall and fees.
Read the whole rate schedule: Ask whether the rate is fixed or variable, the fixed period, the reference rate and margin afterward, reset frequency and any floor. Model a higher-rate case. Old advertised rates and a generic bank list do not establish that you can obtain a current non-resident product.
Documents and approval conditions: Request the lender’s current checklist for your employment or business income, residence, citizenship, bank statements, credit history and source of funds. Confirm whether pre-approval is conditional, its expiry and which property checks remain. Do not assume a universal salary threshold, age limit or approval period.
Valuation and upfront cash: Confirm how the bank determines the lending value and what happens if it is below the agreed price. Budget the approved buyer contribution, acquisition costs and any shortfall. Get written arrangement, valuation, registration, insurance and early-settlement charges without double-counting fees.
Off-plan and exit questions: Ask if the lender finances your particular development before or only after completion. Confirm construction-stage requirements and do not assume a general pre-handover LTV offer. Review refinancing, sale and early-repayment terms before signing.
Does the 80% expatriate ceiling guarantee a non-resident loan? No. Non-resident and investment cases need lender confirmation within applicable regulatory caps; underwriting may require a larger buyer contribution.
How long does approval take? Ask the bank for a schedule covering underwriting, valuation, final offer and settlement. Pre-approval is not guaranteed final funding.
Last reviewed 2026-10-19 by PropertyConnect Editorial
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