Who can own, what to budget, which forms you sign, and what happens at the registration trustee when the home becomes yours.
Mortgage help for buyers in Dubai
How much a bank can lend you, which documents it needs, and the order to do things in, from pre-approval to registration at DLD.
Mortgage help is part of buying with us; the bank charges a valuation of typically AED 2,500 to 3,500 plus VAT and an arrangement fee of up to 1% of the loan plus VAT, and DLD charges 0.25% of the loan plus AED 270 to register the mortgage.
In short
- Enesco helps buyers prepare for a mortgage, obtain pre-approval and reach a final offer with UAE banks, then registers the mortgage at the Dubai Land Department alongside the sale.
- The Central Bank of the UAE caps lending at 80% of the price for an expatriate's first home up to AED 5 million, 70% above that, 60% for a second home and 50% off-plan; UAE nationals may borrow five points more on ready homes.
- A mortgage runs for up to 25 years and all monthly debt repayments must stay within 50% of income.
- Enesco is not a lender and does not give investment advice. The bank decides whether to lend and on what terms.
Assessment.
We look at your income, existing debts, deposit and the kind of home you want, and show what the Central Bank limits and the 50% debt burden rule mean for your budget with the mortgage calculator.
Documents.
We prepare the pack the banks ask for and check it before it goes in, so the application is not held up by a missing page.
Pre-approval.
The bank reviews your income and debts and confirms how much it will lend. You view and make offers knowing the ceiling.
Form F with the right dates.
When you agree a purchase, we set a transfer date in Form F that leaves time for the bank's valuation and its final offer.
Valuation and final offer.
The bank values the home and makes its final offer. If the valuation is below the price, the bank lends against the lower figure and your deposit grows, so we flag that risk before you offer.
Transfer and registration.
The bank pays the seller at the registration trustee, and its mortgage is registered against your title deed at DLD for 0.25% of the loan plus AED 270.
How much you can borrow
| Home | Expatriates | UAE nationals |
|---|---|---|
| First home, AED 5 million or less | 80% | 85% |
| First home, over AED 5 million | 70% | 75% |
| Second or investment home | 60% | 65% |
| Off-plan home | 50% | 50% |
Non-residents are lent to at each bank's discretion rather than under the regulation, commonly 50% to 60% of the price of a ready home and 50% off-plan. The rest of the price is your deposit, and the buying fees come on top.
Term, age and affordability
- Term. A mortgage can run for up to 25 years
- Age. Each bank sets the age by which the loan must be repaid; many use about 65 for salaried borrowers and 70 for the self-employed
- Debt burden. All your monthly debt repayments together, the new mortgage included, may not exceed 50% of your income
AED
20%At least 20%
% a year
years
- Monthly repayment
- AED 8,893
- Loan
- AED 1,600,000
- Interest over the term
- AED 1,067,996
- Monthly income needed, with no other debts
- AED 17,787
- Mortgage fees at the start
- AED 24,220
An estimate at one rate for the whole term; your bank's offer sets the real rate, fixed period and fees. Loan limits are the Central Bank of the UAE's; lending to non-residents is set by each bank and shown here at 50%. Monthly debt repayments may not exceed half your income. How mortgages work in Dubai
What the banks ask for
- Passport, and for residents the Emirates ID and residence visa
- Proof of income: a salary certificate and payslips for employees, or trade licence and audited accounts for the self-employed
- Bank statements showing salary credits and existing commitments
- Once a home is agreed, Form F, the seller's title deed and the developer's NOC
Each bank has its own list, and non-residents are asked for more on income and funds. We confirm the exact list with the bank before the application goes in.
Mortgage fees
- Dubai Land Department mortgage registration: 0.25% of the loan plus AED 270
- Bank valuation: typically AED 2,500 to 3,500 plus VAT
- Arrangement fee: typically 0.5% to 1% of the loan plus VAT, set by the bank
- Early settlement: capped by the Central Bank at 1% of the outstanding balance or AED 10,000, whichever is lower
Enesco is not a lender and does not give investment advice. We help you prepare and present your application; the bank decides whether to lend and on what terms.
What it costs
Mortgage help is part of buying with us; the bank charges a valuation of typically AED 2,500 to 3,500 plus VAT and an arrangement fee of up to 1% of the loan plus VAT, and DLD charges 0.25% of the loan plus AED 270 to register the mortgage.
Questions about this service
What deposit do I need for a mortgage in Dubai?
At least 20% of the price for an expatriate buying a first home worth up to AED 5 million, and 15% for a UAE national, because the Central Bank caps lending at 80% and 85%. Above AED 5 million the minimum rises to 30% and 25%; a second home needs 40% and 35%; an off-plan home needs 50%.
Can non-residents get a mortgage in Dubai?
Yes. Each bank sets its own limit for non-residents, commonly 50% to 60% of the price on a ready home and 50% off-plan. We work with banks that lend to non-residents and confirm their document list before you apply.
How long can a Dubai mortgage run?
Up to 25 years. Each bank also sets the age by which the loan must be repaid, often about 65 for salaried borrowers and 70 for the self-employed.
How much can I borrow on my income?
Your monthly repayments on all debts, the new mortgage included, must stay within 50% of your income. The mortgage calculator shows the income a repayment needs.
Should I get pre-approval before I view?
Yes. Pre-approval tells you how much the bank will lend before you make an offer, and sellers take an offer with pre-approval behind it more seriously.
Is Enesco a lender?
No. Enesco is a real estate brokerage. We help you prepare and present a mortgage application to UAE banks and we do not give investment advice; the bank decides whether to lend and on what terms.
Guides that go with this service
The cost of buying property in Dubai, fee by fee
Costs and mortgages
What the Dubai Land Department charges, what the broker, developer and bank charge, who pays each one, and a worked example at AED 2,000,000.
Mortgages in Dubai: what a bank will lend and what it costs
Costs and mortgages
The Central Bank's loan limits, the deposit each one implies, the 25-year term, the 50% debt rule, the fees, and the order to do things in.
The same decision from both sides: what you pay and when, what a bank will lend, where your money sits, and when you get the keys.
Other services
A buyer's broker who shortlists, checks every advert, negotiates the price and stays with you to the title deed.
A valuation from real sales data, a permitted listing, qualified buyers and a transfer handled from the first viewing to the trustee office.
A tenant's adviser who shortlists, checks the landlord, negotiates the terms and registers the contract on Ejari.
