DBR Calculator (UAE Debt Burden Ratio)

CBUAE-verifiedUpdated 2 June 2026Reviewed by a UAE-qualified accountant

Your Debt Burden Ratio decides whether a UAE bank will lend to you. Enter your income and commitments to see your DBR against the Central Bank 50% cap, how much monthly repayment headroom you have left, and exactly how your credit-card limits eat into it.

Your figures

AED
AED

Car loan, personal loan, other mortgages.

AED

Banks count 5% of your total limit, even at a zero balance.

AED

Add a proposed loan/mortgage instalment to test it against the cap.

Your Debt Burden Ratio

18.0%of 50% cap
The vertical line marks the 50% Central Bank cap.
Credit-card allowance (5% of limit) Bank practice (not a CBUAE rule)AED 2,500 / mo
Total current obligationsAED 4,500 / mo
Headroom to the cap CBUAE Reg. 29/2011, Art. 7(a)AED 8,000 / mo

The credit-card 5%-of-limit figure is common bank practice, not a Central Bank rule — some banks use your minimum payment or outstanding balance instead.

What the Debt Burden Ratio means

The Debt Burden Ratio (DBR) is the single most important number in UAE consumer lending. It is the share of your gross monthly income absorbed by every debt repayment combined. Under Central Bank of the UAE Regulation 29/2011, your total monthly deductions for all loans and cards must not exceed 50% of gross salary and regular income. For UAE nationals borrowing under a government-guaranteed housing programme, the ceiling rises to 60%.

What counts toward your DBR

  • Personal, car and other loan instalments
  • Existing mortgage repayments
  • About 5% of your total credit-card limit — even at a zero balance (bank practice; some banks use the minimum payment instead)
  • The proposed new mortgage or loan instalment, stress-tested

Why this matters before you apply

Because banks count unused credit-card limits, many applicants are surprised to find their DBR is already high before they add a mortgage. Working it out in advance — and trimming card limits you don't need — is the quickest way to free up borrowing capacity. Once you know your headroom, use the mortgage eligibility calculator to convert it into a maximum loan.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Debt Burden Ratio (DBR) in the UAE?
The DBR is the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward all loan and credit-card repayments. The Central Bank of the UAE caps it at 50% (60% for UAE nationals under a government-guaranteed housing programme). Banks will not let your total repayments exceed this share of income.
How is DBR calculated?
Add up every monthly debt repayment — car loan, personal loan, mortgage, plus about 5% of your total credit-card limit — and divide by your gross monthly income. If the result is above 50%, you are over the cap and a bank would decline further borrowing.
Why do credit cards count toward my DBR if I pay them off?
Most UAE banks treat 5% of your total credit-card limit as a monthly obligation regardless of your balance, because the limit represents money you could draw at any time. This is bank practice rather than a Central Bank rule, and some banks use your minimum payment or outstanding balance instead.
What DBR do I need to get a mortgage?
Your total repayments including the new mortgage must stay at or below 50% of gross income. In practice banks prefer a comfortable margin, and they stress-test the mortgage at 2–4% above the actual rate, so aim well under the cap before adding a home loan.
How can I lower my DBR?
Clear or reduce existing loans, and lower or close credit cards you don’t use (each card limit silently adds ~5% to your obligations). Increasing your documented regular income also helps.

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