Mortgage Advisory & Property Financing Services in the UAE

Yes. Both expatriate residents and non-resident overseas buyers can obtain UAE mortgages, though the terms differ, non-residents typically face a larger down payment requirement and a narrower choice of lenders. Eligibility also depends on the property being in a designated area open to foreign ownership. We assess your specific profile before approaching any bank.

Pre-approval is often issued within a few working days once your documents are complete. Full approval takes longer, because it depends on the bank's credit review and an independent valuation of the property. Timelines vary by lender and by how quickly documentation is provided, we give you a realistic expectation up front rather than a headline figure.

Yes, though banks assess self-employed applicants differently. Expect to evidence the business rather than just yourself: trade licence, audited financial statements (usually two years), company bank statements, and often VAT returns. Lenders are looking for demonstrable, stable income, which is why preparing the file properly matters more here than for salaried applicants.

Yes. Refinancing can secure a better rate or restructure your repayment terms, and it's worth reviewing if your circumstances or market rates have moved since you borrowed. Bear in mind that early settlement fees may apply on your existing loan, so the saving needs to be weighed against the cost of switching, we'll work that comparison through with you honestly rather than assume refinancing is always the right call.

Under the Central Bank of the UAE's mortgage rules, an expatriate buying a first home worth up to AED 5 million can borrow up to 80% of its value, so the deposit starts at 20%. Above AED 5 million the cap is 70%. UAE nationals can borrow up to 85%, or 75% above AED 5 million. Second homes and off-plan property carry lower caps, and banks usually ask non-residents for a larger deposit. On top of the deposit, budget for the transfer fee, valuation, mortgage registration and agency commission, none of which the loan covers. We confirm your exact figure against your profile and the lender before you commit.

No. Approval rests entirely with the bank, which applies its own credit criteria, risk appetite, and property valuation. What we control is the quality of your application, eligibility assessed honestly up front, the right lender approached, and documentation presented the way banks expect. That is what materially improves your odds; a guarantee from any advisor would not be credible.

Two limits bind you. Under the Central Bank's loan-to-value caps, an expatriate can finance up to 80% of a first home worth up to AED 5 million (a UAE national up to 85%), so you need roughly 20% in cash, plus fees. Separately, the debt burden ratio cap means your total monthly debt repayments can't exceed 50% of your gross salary and regular income. Whichever limit bites first is your real ceiling, and for most buyers it's the debt burden ratio, not the deposit. We calculate both against your actual figures before you start viewing.

This is where budgets break. Expect the DLD transfer fee (4% of the property value), property registration charges, a bank valuation fee, a mortgage arrangement fee, and agency commission where applicable, on top of your deposit. Together these routinely add several percent to the purchase. We itemise them for your specific transaction up front, because discovering them at the transfer stage is a genuinely bad day.

Your own bank is one option, not automatically the best one, it can only offer you its own product. Rates, flexibility, early-settlement terms, and approval criteria differ substantially between lenders, and the bank you already hold an account with has no obligation to give you its best. We hold no preferred-lender partnerships or volume commitments, so we compare across the market and recommend based on your profile rather than our incentives. If your own bank genuinely is the best fit, we'll tell you that.