UAE Mortgage Deposit Calculator

CBUAE-verifiedUpdated 3 June 2026Reviewed by a UAE-qualified accountant

How much deposit do you really need — and how long will it take to save it? This calculator sets your deposit from the actual Central Bank Loan-to-Value caps, adds the upfront fees to give the true cash to buy, then turns your monthly saving into a clear timeline. For estimation only — not financial advice.

Your deposit is set by the Central Bank — not the bank

The single biggest myth about buying in the UAE is that the deposit is negotiable with your bank. It isn't. The Central Bank of the UAE sets a Loan-to-Value (LTV) cap for every type of buyer and property, and your deposit is simply the slice the bank cannot lend. Many rival calculators get these tiers wrong — so here is the verified table this tool uses:

Expat, first home ≤ AED 5M: 20% deposit (80% LTV).
Expat, first home > AED 5M: 30% deposit (70% LTV).
UAE national, first home ≤ AED 5M: 15% deposit (85% LTV).
UAE national, first home > AED 5M: 25% deposit (75% LTV).
Second / investment property: 40% expat, 35% national — at any value.
Off-plan (any buyer): 50% deposit (50% LTV).
Non-residents: typically 35–40%+ — this is lender practice, not a Central Bank tier, so it varies by bank.

For the full detail on each band, see our deposit and LTV guide.

The deposit isn't the whole cash story

People save hard for the deposit and forget the transaction fees — which can be another 6% to 8% of the price. On a mortgaged purchase you should budget for:

4% DLD transfer fee + ~AED 580 admin (the largest item).
Registration trustee fee — AED 2,000 or 4,000 + VAT.
2% agency commission + 5% VAT, if you use an agent.
Mortgage registration — 0.25% of the loan + AED 290.
Valuation (~AED 2,500–3,500) and any bank arrangement fee.

This calculator adds those to your deposit so the headline figure is the true cash to close, not a tempting under-estimate. For a line-by-line breakdown, use the purchase-cost calculator or read the true cost of buying in Dubai.

Turning the goal into a timeline

This is where most deposit tools stop — and where this one keeps going. Once you know the total cash, the real question is how long until I have it? Enter what you have saved and what you put aside each month, and the calculator counts the months to your goal, optionally compounding any return your savings earn. Seeing "3 years, 4 months" turns a vague ambition into a plan you can actually act on.

Three ways to reach your deposit faster

Aim at the right price. Because the deposit is a percentage, a slightly cheaper home cuts both your deposit and your fees. Check what a given price needs here before you fall in love with a listing.
Mind the AED 5M line. Crossing it lifts an expat's deposit from 20% to 30% — a big jump in cash for a small jump in price.
Put the savings to work. Even a modest return compounds over a multi-year savings run — set the return field to see the difference.

Then check what you can borrow

Saving the deposit is half the equation; the other half is whether a bank will lend you the rest. Your income, debts and the 50% Debt Burden Ratio decide that — run it through the eligibility calculator, or see what different salaries support in how much you can borrow on your salary. You can compare every tool from the calculators hub.

Frequently asked questions

How much deposit do I need for a mortgage in the UAE?

It is set by the Central Bank Loan-to-Value caps, not by the bank’s mood. On a first home up to AED 5 million, an expat needs 20% down and a UAE national 15%. Above AED 5 million it rises to 30% (expat) and 25% (national). A second or investment property needs 40% (expat) or 35% (national), and off-plan needs 50% — for any buyer. Non-residents typically put down 35–40%+, which is lender practice rather than a Central Bank tier.

Is the deposit the only upfront cash I need?

No — budget another 6–8% of the price in fees on top of the deposit. The big ones are the 4% Dubai Land Department transfer fee, ~AED 580 admin, the registration trustee fee, 2% agency commission (+VAT), and, with a mortgage, 0.25% mortgage registration + AED 290, a valuation and any bank arrangement fee. This calculator adds those to your deposit to show the true cash to buy.

Can I add the fees or the deposit to my mortgage?

Generally no. The Central Bank LTV cap means the bank lends only up to its percentage of the property value, so the deposit must be your own cash. The transaction fees are also paid upfront and cannot normally be financed. That is exactly why planning the full cash sum — and how long to save it — matters.

Why is the off-plan deposit so much higher?

If you take a mortgage on a property that is still off-plan, the Central Bank caps the Loan-to-Value at 50%, so you fund half the price. In practice many off-plan buyers instead use the developer’s payment plan during construction and arrange a normal-LTV mortgage at handover — so the cash to start can be lower even though the off-plan mortgage rule is stricter.

How long does it take to save a deposit?

It depends on the gap between what you have and the total cash needed, and how much you put aside each month. Enter your savings and monthly amount and the calculator shows the number of years and months to reach your goal — including any return if your savings earn interest.

UAE Mortgage Deposit Calculator

Your goal

Your savings plan