Mortgage documents checklist for UAE home buyers

Most of the delays we see on mortgage applications come from paperwork rather than credit. A salary certificate that shows a different figure from the bank statements, or a passport that expires before transfer day, can hold a file up for a week while the bank asks questions.

Below is what UAE banks ask for, grouped by type of applicant. Requirements differ a little between banks, and we give you the exact list once we know which lenders suit your case.

Documents for salaried employees

• Passport copy, with enough validity left to cover the application and the transfer
• UAE residence visa
• Emirates ID, front and back
• Salary certificate from your employer, recent and addressed to the bank, showing basic salary, allowances, job title and joining date
• Payslips, usually for the last 3 to 6 months
• Bank statements for the last 6 months, showing your salary going in each month
• Latest statements or liability letters for any loans and credit cards you hold, if the bank asks

You do not need to bring a credit report. The bank pulls your record from the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB) with your consent, and scores run from 300 to 900. Check your own report before you apply anyway. A card you forgot about or an old disputed phone bill will show up there, and it is easier to sort out before a bank sees it.

Common problems with salaried files

The salary in your bank statements has to match the salary certificate. If your housing allowance is paid once a year, or part of your pay goes to a different account, tell us early. We can explain it to the bank in the cover note instead of waiting for them to query it.

Recent job changes need care. Some banks want you past probation, and some set a minimum time with your current employer. A move to a higher salary is usually fine with the right bank, but it narrows the list.

Names have to match across documents. A middle name that appears on your passport but not on your salary certificate can trigger a query, so ask HR to use your full passport name.

Salary paid in cash, or collected through an exchange house, is hard to finance. Most banks need to see it arrive in a UAE bank account.

Documents for self-employed buyers

Banks look at the business as well as you, so the list is longer.

• Trade license, usually showing at least 2 years of trading
• Memorandum of association (MOA), showing your shareholding
• Personal bank statements for the last 6 to 12 months
• Company bank statements for the last 6 to 12 months
• Audited financial statements for the last 2 years
• Passport, residence visa and Emirates ID

Some banks also ask for a short company profile or a list of main clients.

The bank works out your income from the business accounts. Many banks take your share of the net profit, so a 50% shareholder in a company with AED 600,000 net profit is treated as earning AED 300,000 a year, or AED 25,000 a month. Some also compare the money moving through the company account with the turnover in the audited accounts, so large gaps between the two will need explaining.

If your trade license is due for renewal in the next few weeks, renew it before you apply. An expired license stops the file.

Documents for non-residents

If you live and earn outside the UAE, banks ask for:

• Passport copy
• Bank statements for the last 6 months
• Proof of income: payslips if employed, or tax returns or audited accounts if self-employed
• A credit report from your home country
• Proof of address, such as a recent utility bill
• An employment letter, at some banks

The statements need to show your income arriving. Documents in a language other than English or Arabic may need a translation. Our non-resident mortgage guide covers the income levels and deposits involved.

Joint applications

If you apply with your spouse, each of you provides the full set for your applicant type. Some banks also ask for a marriage certificate. Where one of you is salaried and the other self-employed, each brings their own list.

Property documents, after you find a home

Pre-approval comes first and is based on your personal documents. It typically takes 3 to 7 working days once the file is complete and lasts 60 to 90 days, so start the property search with it in hand.

Once you agree a price, the bank needs papers on the property itself. For a resale purchase:

• Form F, the memorandum of understanding signed by you and the seller
• A copy of the seller's title deed
• The seller's passport copy
• If the seller has a mortgage, a liability letter from their bank showing the amount needed to clear it

For a home bought from a developer and due for handover:

• The sale and purchase agreement with the developer
• Receipts for the instalments you have paid
• The Oqood registration certificate
• The developer's statement of the balance due at handover

The bank then sends a valuer, issues the final offer letter and arranges the transfer at a trustee office. On a resale, the developer also has to issue a no objection certificate (NOC) before transfer. It usually costs AED 500 to 5,000 plus VAT, and the developer will only issue it once the service charges on the unit are paid up.

How to send your documents

Scans or PDFs are accepted at most banks. A few habits save days:

• Send full pages rather than cropped photos
• Download bank statements as PDFs from online banking where you can, although some banks still ask for stamped statements from the branch
• Remove passwords from PDFs, or send the password separately
• Send everything in one go, so the bank assesses a complete file

Once you have your set together, start on the pre-approval page and we will check the file before it goes to any bank.