EXPAT MORTGAGES
Expat Mortgage Dubai
Whether you are a UAE resident, an overseas investor or a UK buyer looking at Dubai for the first time — GCC Mortgages arranges home loans for expats across all seven Emirates from 37+ conventional and Islamic UAE banks.
Can expats get a mortgage in Dubai?
Yes — and it is more accessible than most first-time buyers realise. UAE banks lend actively to both resident and non-resident expats, provided income, employment history and credit profile meet the lender's criteria. The right lender for you depends heavily on your nationality, employment type and salary structure — this is where a specialist broker adds significant value.
GCC Mortgages compares 37+ UAE banks and Islamic finance providers simultaneously, identifying which lender best matches your profile and will offer the most competitive rate. Pre-approval typically issues in 3–5 working days, with transfer to completion in 30–60 days.
Who we help
- UAE-resident expats buying a first home or upgrading
- Non-resident overseas investors from the UK, Europe, GCC, India, Pakistan and beyond
- Self-employed expats — business owners and freelancers with a UAE trade licence
- Salaried professionals in banking, tech, healthcare, consulting
- Refinancers looking to switch to a better rate (buyout)
- Golden Visa holders investing in AED 2M+ property
Expat mortgage requirements
- Residents – minimum deposit
- 20% (property ≤ AED 5M) · 30% (property > AED 5M)
- Non-residents – minimum deposit
- 35% (higher for some nationalities)
- Minimum monthly salary
- AED 10,000 (salaried) · AED 25,000 (self-employed)
- Employment history
- 6+ months (residents) · 1+ year current employer (non-residents)
- Age at loan maturity
- Typically ≤ 65 for salaried, ≤ 70 for self-employed
- Max debt burden ratio
- 50% of monthly income (Central Bank rule)
- Typical loan term
- 5 – 25 years
- Broker fee
- Paid by the bank on completion — not by you
Documents you'll need
Salaried applicants:
- Passport copy and UAE visa (residents)
- Emirates ID (residents)
- 3 months of salary slips
- 6 months of bank statements
- Employer letter confirming role and salary
- Credit report (UAE and, for non-residents, home country)
Self-employed applicants additionally need:
- Trade licence (2+ years old typically)
- 2 years of audited accounts
- 6–12 months of business bank statements
- Memorandum of Association
What buying property in Dubai actually costs
Most expats budget for the deposit — and are caught off guard by transaction costs. Beyond your deposit, expect:
- Dubai Land Department fee: 4% of purchase price
- Mortgage registration fee: 0.25% of loan amount + AED 25
- Agent commission: typically 2% of purchase price
- Bank arrangement fee: 0.5–1% of loan amount
- Property valuation fee: AED 2,500 – 3,500
- NOC fee: AED 500 – 5,000 (developer-dependent)
On a AED 1,000,000 property, total upfront costs typically reach AED 270,000 – 280,000 — around 27–28% of the purchase price. We give every client a full cost breakdown before you commit.
Example: British expat buying a Dubai Marina apartment
A UK national on a UAE residence visa, earning AED 35,000/month, buying a AED 1.8M apartment in Dubai Marina:
- Deposit: AED 360,000 (20%)
- Loan amount: AED 1,440,000 (80% LTV)
- DLD fee: AED 72,000
- Agent commission (2%): AED 36,000
- Bank + registration + valuation fees: ~AED 20,000
- Total upfront: ~AED 488,000
- Monthly repayment (25-year term, 4.25% p.a.): ~AED 7,800
GCC Mortgages compares this profile across 37+ lenders — the rate difference between the best and worst can save AED 100,000+ over the loan term.
Which UAE banks lend to expats?
Nearly every major UAE bank offers expat mortgages, but each has different appetites, approval criteria and pricing depending on nationality and income profile. We work with:
- Conventional: Emirates NBD, HSBC, Mashreq, RAKBANK, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Standard Chartered, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), ADCB, and 20+ more
- Islamic finance: Emirates Islamic, Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), Mashreq Al Islami, and Sharjah Islamic Bank
The right bank for a self-employed British business owner buying in Dubai Marina is often not the same as the right bank for a salaried Indian professional buying in JVC. Matching profile to lender is the core of what we do.
The expat mortgage process — step by step
- Free consultation. We assess your profile, income and property brief.
- Lender matching. We identify 3–5 lenders best suited to you and compare rates.
- Pre-approval submission. Documents to the shortlisted bank(s). Approval in 3–5 working days.
- Property offer. Use the pre-approval letter to negotiate confidently. Sign MOU / Form F.
- Full application + valuation. Bank commissions a valuation. Final approval in 5–10 working days.
- Transfer. DLD trustee office appointment. You receive the keys. Bank funds are disbursed to seller.
Why use a specialist expat mortgage broker?
Going directly to one bank gets you one product. Going through GCC Mortgages gets you the best product across 37+ banks — often at a rate 1–2% lower than a direct application, saving tens of thousands of dirhams over the loan term.
Our fee is paid by the bank on successful completion — you pay us nothing directly. Our obligation is to find you the best deal, not the most profitable one for us.
Speak with an expat mortgage specialist
Free consultation. Pre-approval in 24 hours. Broker fee paid by the bank — not by you.