# UAE mortgages for expats: how much you can borrow

> Central Bank rules set how much a UAE bank can lend you for a home. The down payment you need as an expat, the 25-year limit, the 50% debt rule and the upfront costs.

- Section: Real estate › Mortgages › Eligibility
- Last updated: 2026-10-02
- Source: https://nuzan.ai/en/knowledge/uae-mortgage-rules-for-expats

## Overview

Every home loan in the UAE follows the **Central Bank of the UAE's** mortgage regulations. They cap how much of the price a bank may lend (the loan-to-value, or LTV) and how much of your income can go to repayments.

## How much you can borrow

| Property | Expats | UAE nationals |
| - | - | - |
| First home, AED 5 million or less | Up to **80%** | Up to 85% |
| First home, above AED 5 million | Up to **70%** | Up to 75% |
| Second and later homes | Up to 60% | Up to 65% |
| Off-plan property | Up to 50% | Up to 50% |

So as an expat buying a first home of AED 5 million or less, you need a **down payment of at least 20%**.

## Requirements

- Monthly debt repayments, including the new loan, of no more than **50% of your income**
- A loan term of at most **25 years**
- Banks' own rules on minimum salary, length of employment and age (many require the loan to end by 65 for employees)

## Costs

On top of the down payment, plan for the 4% Dubai Land Department transfer fee, **0.25% of the loan** to register the mortgage, a valuation fee and the bank's arrangement fee (up to 1% of the loan).

## Timeline

A pre-approval usually takes a few days; the full approval follows the valuation, within one to three weeks.

## Recommended next step

Ask two or three banks for a **pre-approval** before you make an offer, so you know your budget and can sign Form F with confidence.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can non-residents get a mortgage in the UAE?

Some banks lend to non-residents, usually with a lower loan-to-value and stricter income checks.

### Can I pay off my mortgage early?

Yes. The Central Bank caps the early settlement fee at 1% of the outstanding amount, up to AED 10,000.

Arabic version: https://nuzan.ai/ar/knowledge/uae-mortgage-rules-for-expats