How much can I borrow for a mortgage in Dubai?

Your borrowing limit is the lower of two numbers: the amount whose monthly repayment keeps total debt within 50% of your monthly income, and the LTV cap on the property — 80% for an expat buying a first home under AED 5 million, 85% for UAE nationals. In practice the income test usually binds first.

Can expats get a mortgage in Dubai?

Yes. Expat residents can typically borrow up to 80% of the value of a first property under AED 5 million. Non-residents can also obtain mortgages from many UAE banks, though usually at 60–65% LTV and with a narrower choice of lenders.

What is the maximum mortgage term in Dubai?

25 years, set by UAE Central Bank regulation. Your age is often the tighter constraint: most lenders require repayment to finish by age 70 for salaried borrowers and 65 for the self-employed.

What is the debt burden ratio (DBR)?

The DBR is the share of your monthly income consumed by all debt repayments combined. UAE regulation caps it at 50%. Clearing a car loan or credit-card balance before applying can materially raise your borrowing power.

Can I get a mortgage on an off-plan property?

Yes, but financing is capped at 50% LTV for off-plan, so you would need a 50% deposit. Most off-plan buyers instead use the developer’s instalment plan during construction and arrange a mortgage at handover, when standard LTV limits apply.

Dubai Mortgage Affordability Calculator

Updated 6 August 2026 · Built by the Cresco Real Estate market team · Figures based on Dubai Land Department and UAE Central Bank published rules.

Find out how much you can actually borrow in Dubai, the maximum property price it supports, your deposit, and the total cash you need upfront — using the real UAE Central Bank lending rules.

Based on the UAE Central Bank 50% debt-burden cap and statutory LTV limits.

Monthly income (AED)

Existing monthly commitments (AED)

Interest rate (% per year)

Loan term (years, max 25)

Buyer status

Is this your first Dubai property?

How UAE banks decide what you can borrow

Three rules set your ceiling, and all of them come from the UAE Central Bank rather than the individual lender:

1. The 50% debt-burden ratio. Your total monthly debt repayments — mortgage, car loan, credit-card minimums, personal loans — cannot exceed half your monthly income. This is usually the binding constraint, not the property price.

2. Loan-to-value caps. How much you can borrow against the property is fixed by your residency status, whether it is your first Dubai property, and whether the valuation is above or below AED 5 million.

3. A 25-year maximum term, further limited by your age. Most banks require the loan to be fully repaid by age 70 for salaried borrowers and 65 for the self-employed, so a 50-year-old salaried applicant is realistically looking at 20 years, not 25.

Buyer	First property under AED 5m	First property over AED 5m	Second or more
UAE / GCC national	85% LTV	75% LTV	65% LTV
Expat resident	80% LTV	70% LTV	60% LTV
Non-resident	Typically 60–65% LTV, set by the individual bank		Bank discretion
Off-plan (any buyer)	Capped at 50% LTV

Costs the mortgage will not cover

Central Bank rules require your deposit and transaction costs to come from your own funds — you cannot borrow them. On top of your deposit, budget roughly 7% of the price for the DLD transfer fee, agency commission, registration, valuation and mortgage registration. This calculator adds that on top so the “cash needed upfront” figure is realistic.

Fixed or variable?

Most Dubai mortgages are fixed for an introductory period of one to five years, then revert to a variable rate tied to EIBOR plus a margin. A longer fixed period costs slightly more upfront but protects you from rate moves. Always check the reversion margin, not just the headline fixed rate — that margin is what you live with for the remaining twenty years.

Frequently asked questions

How much can I borrow for a mortgage in Dubai?: Your borrowing limit is the lower of two numbers: the amount whose monthly repayment keeps total debt within 50% of your monthly income, and the LTV cap on the property — 80% for an expat buying a first home under AED 5 million, 85% for UAE nationals. In practice the income test usually binds first.
Can expats get a mortgage in Dubai?: Yes. Expat residents can typically borrow up to 80% of the value of a first property under AED 5 million. Non-residents can also obtain mortgages from many UAE banks, though usually at 60–65% LTV and with a narrower choice of lenders.
What is the maximum mortgage term in Dubai?: 25 years, set by UAE Central Bank regulation. Your age is often the tighter constraint: most lenders require repayment to finish by age 70 for salaried borrowers and 65 for the self-employed.
What is the debt burden ratio (DBR)?: The DBR is the share of your monthly income consumed by all debt repayments combined. UAE regulation caps it at 50%. Clearing a car loan or credit-card balance before applying can materially raise your borrowing power.
Can I get a mortgage on an off-plan property?: Yes, but financing is capped at 50% LTV for off-plan, so you would need a 50% deposit. Most off-plan buyers instead use the developer’s instalment plan during construction and arrange a mortgage at handover, when standard LTV limits apply.

Related Cresco tools & guides

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Disclaimer: This calculator provides indicative estimates based on published Dubai Land Department fees and UAE Central Bank lending rules current at the time of writing. Actual costs vary by developer, bank, property and transaction structure. Figures are not financial, legal or tax advice. Speak to a licensed advisor and confirm all figures with your bank and the DLD before committing to a purchase.