Mortgages
Non-resident mortgage
For buyers who live and earn outside the UAE. Fewer banks lend to non-residents and each one has its own list of countries, minimum income and property rules. We know which ones will look at your file.
Who can apply
Non-residents can buy freehold property in Dubai and finance it with a UAE bank. Lending is set by each bank rather than a single rule, so the answer depends on where you live, how you are paid and what you are buying.
- Salaried or self-employed income outside the UAE, usually with a higher minimum than for residents.
- A clean credit report from your home country.
- A ready property in a freehold area. Off-plan financing for non-residents is rare.
- Age within the bank limit by the end of the loan, usually 65.
How it works from abroad
We collect your documents by email, get a pre-approval, and arrange the valuation once you have agreed a price. Signing can happen on a visit to Dubai or through a power of attorney, which we can help you set up. You may only need to fly in once, or not at all.
Income in a currency other than dirhams is converted by the bank, sometimes with a discount for exchange risk. If your income is close to the minimum, it helps to know this before you make an offer.
Documents to have ready
What we usually ask for
- Passport
- 6 months of personal bank statements
- Proof of income: payslips and an employment letter, or tax returns and accounts if self-employed
- Credit report from your country of residence
- Proof of address, such as a utility bill
Banks can ask for more depending on your case. We send you a checklist for your specific bank once we know which one fits.
Questions about non-residents
How much can a non-resident borrow?
Most banks lend 50% to 60% of the price to non-residents, with the same 25-year maximum term. The amount also depends on your income and existing debts, using the same 50% debt burden limit as residents.
Do I need to be in Dubai to get the mortgage?
Not for most of it. Applications, pre-approval and valuation are done remotely. Signing the final documents and the transfer either happen on one visit or through a power of attorney.
Which countries do banks accept?
Each bank keeps its own list and it changes. Tell us where you live and are paid, and we will tell you which banks are open to you before you send any documents.
Find out what the banks will offer you
Two minutes of questions, then a broker comes back to you with the banks that fit and what they are likely to lend.