Yes — you do not need to be a UAE national to own property or take a mortgage here. Expat residents and overseas (non-resident) buyers can both borrow against property in the UAE's designated freehold areas. What changes with your status is the deposit, the minimum salary and the rate, not your right to buy.
Expat residents
If you live and work in the UAE, you are treated as an "expatriate" under the Central Bank rules. For a first home you can borrow up to:
- 80% of the value if the property is AED 5 million or less (a 20% deposit);
- 70% if it is above AED 5 million (a 30% deposit).
A second or subsequent property is capped at 60% (40% deposit), and any off-plan purchase at 50%. These are Central Bank maximums — individual banks may lend a little less.
Non-residents (buying from overseas)
If you do not hold a UAE residence visa, you can still get a mortgage from several local banks, but the terms are tighter — and importantly, the Central Bank does not set a separate "non-resident" cap. The lower limits you see are each bank's own policy. In practice expect:
- A deposit of roughly 35–40% (LTV around 60–65%), sometimes more.
- A higher minimum income, often AED 30,000+ per month equivalent.
- A shorter list of eligible banks and, usually, a higher interest rate.
- Lending limited to completed property in approved freehold developments.
In our eligibility calculator you can switch between "Expat resident" and "Non-resident" to see how the deposit and maximum loan change — the non-resident figure is clearly labelled as bank practice rather than a Central Bank rule.
What you'll need to apply
- Passport (and Emirates ID / visa if resident).
- Proof of income — salary certificate and bank statements, or audited accounts if self-employed.
- Several months of personal bank statements.
- Proof of the deposit and funds for the ~6–8% in purchase costs.
Don't forget the rest of the cash
Your deposit is not the only upfront cost. On top of it, budget another 6–8% of the price for the 4% DLD transfer fee, registration, agency commission and (for mortgaged buyers) valuation and bank fees. Our Dubai purchase-cost calculator itemises every one of these.
The bottom line
Expats and non-residents are very much part of the UAE mortgage market — the difference is how much deposit and income you need. Run your profile through the eligibility calculator to see your realistic borrowing range before you start viewing.