Obtaining a mortgage in Dubai as a non-resident provides access to one of the UAE’s largest property markets without requiring the full purchase price to be paid in cash.
Lending requirements for non-residents are generally stricter than for UAE residents, so understanding the rules, documentation and individual bank policies before selecting a property can make the application process significantly easier.
This guide explains how to get a mortgage in Dubai as a non-resident and what documents and costs you should prepare for.
Non-residents can obtain mortgage financing for qualifying property in Dubai, but financing conditions depend on the bank, property and borrower profile.
The Central Bank of the UAE Mortgage Loan Regulations establish maximum Loan-to-Value ratios for mortgage lending.
For expatriate borrowers, the regulatory maximums include:
These are maximum regulatory limits rather than guaranteed bank offers. Banks can apply lower LTV ratios depending on the applicant and the property.
For non-residents specifically, individual lenders apply their own policies.
For example, ADCB currently publishes financing of up to 50% of property value for non-residents, compared with up to 80% for eligible expatriate residents.
FAB also offers dedicated non-resident mortgages and currently states financing of up to 50% of the property value.
Therefore, a non-resident buyer should not assume that the maximum LTV available to a UAE resident will also apply to them.
Documentation differs between banks and borrower profiles, but non-resident applicants commonly need:
For example, ADCB’s current non-resident mortgage requirements include a valid passport, salary documentation, six months of bank statements and, depending on the applicant, tax returns and a credit-bureau report.
Mashreq’s non-resident home-loan programme requests an application form, passport and recent personal bank statements and is available to both salaried and self-employed applicants.
Banks may request additional documentation depending on the applicant’s nationality, country of residence, source of income and loan amount.
First, compare banks that actually provide mortgage financing to non-UAE residents.
Non-resident products are currently available from institutions including ADCB, FAB, Mashreq, HSBC and Dubai Islamic Bank, subject to each bank’s eligibility criteria.
Next, compare:
Some UAE mortgages use variable pricing linked to EIBOR.
The Central Bank of the UAE defines EIBOR as a benchmark reference rate used in UAE lending transactions, including mortgages.
For example, ADCB offers variable-rate mortgages based on the relevant EIBOR + bank margin, while FAB also offers non-resident variable-rate products that can be linked to EIBOR.
After choosing a lender, submit the requested documents and apply for mortgage pre-approval.
Pre-approval gives the buyer a clearer understanding of the amount the bank may be willing to finance before committing to a property.
Once financing capacity is established, select a property that meets the lender’s criteria.
Banks may consider factors such as:
After selecting a qualifying property, the buyer completes the full mortgage application.
The lender will normally arrange an independent property valuation before confirming the final financing amount.
For example, HSBC’s non-resident mortgage process includes property valuation followed by the formal mortgage offer and registration of the mortgage with the relevant Land Department.
Mortgage buyers should distinguish between the cost of registering the property purchase and the cost of registering the mortgage.
For a standard Dubai property purchase, the DLD sale-registration fee is 4% of the sale value under the applicable registration structure.
Mortgage registration is a separate cost.
The Dubai Land Department Mortgage Registration service currently lists a mortgage registration fee of:
0.25% of the mortgage value
plus applicable administrative, Title Deed and service-partner fees.
Bank-related costs can also include:
These fees vary between lenders.
For example, HSBC currently publishes a standard property valuation fee of AED 2,625 including VAT for its non-resident mortgage process.
The buyer should therefore calculate the complete acquisition budget rather than treating the 4% DLD property-registration fee as the total cost of obtaining a mortgage.
Maintain a strong and transparent financial profile.
Banks may review income, existing debts, bank statements, source of funds and credit history before approving financing.
It is also important to keep sufficient cash available beyond the down payment.
Depending on the transaction, additional expenses can include:
The exact total varies by bank, property value and financing structure, so a fixed percentage should not be assumed for every transaction.
If your income is denominated in a currency other than AED or USD, exchange-rate movements can also affect the effective cost of mortgage payments.
Finally, compare several lenders before choosing a mortgage.
Published bank products illustrate how different the conditions can be.
For example:
| Bank | Published non-resident mortgage features |
|---|---|
| ADCB | Up to 50% financing; term up to 15 years |
| FAB | Up to 50% of property value; loan amounts up to AED 10 million |
| Mashreq | Dedicated non-resident product; loan amounts up to AED 10 million; term up to 25 years |
| HSBC | Dedicated international/non-resident mortgage subject to Premier or Private Bank eligibility |
| Dubai Islamic Bank | Dedicated Sharia-compliant Non-Resident Home Finance programme |
These are published product conditions, not guaranteed offers. Final financing depends on credit approval, borrower eligibility and property valuation.
Obtaining a mortgage in Dubai without UAE residency is possible, but there is no single set of terms that applies to every non-resident buyer.
The most important variables are:
A non-resident buyer should therefore obtain financing guidance or pre-approval before committing to a property if the transaction depends on mortgage funding.
DDA Real Estate provides consulting services in the UAE and can help buyers identify properties suitable for mortgage financing and coordinate with banks and mortgage specialists during the purchase process.
Central Bank of the UAE — Regulations Regarding Mortgage Loans
Official regulatory framework for LTV, borrower affordability and mortgage lending.
Central Bank of the UAE — EIBOR Rates
Official EIBOR benchmark used as a reference rate for UAE lending products.
Dubai Land Department — Mortgage Registration
Official mortgage-registration procedure and current 0.25% mortgage-registration fee.
ADCB — Standard Mortgage Loan
Official conditions for resident and non-resident mortgage borrowers, including LTV, tenure, documentation and EIBOR-linked products.
FAB — Home Loans for Non-UAE Residents
Official non-resident mortgage product and financing conditions.
Mashreq — Home Loan for Non-Residents
Official non-resident mortgage eligibility, documentation and lending terms.
HSBC UAE — Non-Resident Mortgage
Official mortgage process, eligibility and valuation information for customers living outside the UAE.
Dubai Islamic Bank — Non-Resident Home Finance
Official Sharia-compliant property-finance programme for non-resident buyers.
