You found the apartment. The price works, the area is right, and the seller is ready to move. Then the bank asks for a deposit far bigger than you planned, a credit report from your home country and a stack of attested documents.
This is where many overseas buyers stall. Only a limited group of UAE banks lend to non-residents, and each sets its own rules. Documents issued abroad can take weeks to attest. Pre-approval drags on while other buyers move faster and sellers lose patience. Get the order wrong and you can lose the property, or find out too late that your cash was short by hundreds of thousands of dirhams.
A mortgage for non-residents in Dubai is possible. Here is how to get a mortgage in Dubai as a non-resident, step by step, before you make an offer.
How to Get a Mortgage in Dubai as a Non-Resident (Step by Step)
Getting a mortgage in Dubai for non-residents takes seven steps. The sequence matters because you pay a deposit to the seller before the bank issues its final offer.
- Head over to Let’s Prosper official website
- Under ‘Mortgages’, select ‘mortgage for non-residents’.
- Click ‘Get started’ and you’ll have to fill out a short form detailing your personal and property insights.
- A mortgage advisor will be assigned to you as per your application.
- Your advisor will go over your case and draw a comparison between the best mortgage options from different banks.
- You will receive tailored offers along with the interest rate, terms, and perks of each lender.
- Once you decide to go ahead with a lender, Let’s Prosper helps you with handing over your documents to the bank.
- Before you proceed to sign the offer letter, Let’s Prosper’s mortgage experts check everything to ensure it’s accurate.
Mortgage Eligibility for Non-Residents in Dubai
Banks assess every application individually, but most mortgage requirements in Dubai come down to the points below. A mortgage in Dubai for non-residents is judged on them, and an expat mortgage in Dubai is assessed on the same points, usually with a lower deposit.
| Requirement | What banks usually look for |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Your country must be on the bank’s approved list. These lists change, so check before you apply. |
| Age | Commonly between 21 and 65. Each bank sets its own limit. |
| Income | Stable, provable income from employment or your own business. Income from well-regulated countries is viewed more favourably. |
| Minimum salary | The minimum salary for a mortgage in Dubai is set bank by bank. Residents on a salary often need AED 10,000 to 15,000 a month. For non-residents, some banks ask for an average monthly balance of around AED 30,000 over the last three months. |
| Existing debts | Banks count all your debts, including home-country loans and credit cards. Total debt payments, including the new mortgage, generally cannot exceed 50% of gross monthly income. |
| Credit history | A clean record. Some banks ask for an international credit report or a bank reference. Defaults or recent missed payments hurt your chances. |
| Property | Must be in a designated freehold area. Off-plan property is available with fewer lenders and from approved developers only. |
| Deposit | Non-residents are offered a lower share of the property value than residents. Most banks ask for about 35% to 50% upfront, compared with around 20% for a resident buying a first home under AED 5 million. |
| Loan term | Up to 25 years at most banks. |
Documents Required for a Non-Resident Mortgage
Banks publish their own checklists, so ask for yours early. The table shows what most of them request.
| Applicant | Documents |
|---|---|
| Every non-resident | Passport valid for at least 6 months. Proof of address dated within the last 3 months. Credit report from your home country or a bank reference. Details of any existing loans. |
| Salaried | Salary certificate or employer letter. Recent payslips. Bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months, and some banks ask for more. |
| Self-employed | Trade licence and company ownership documents. Share certificate. Personal and company bank statements. Tax returns where applicable. |
Some banks also ask for a source-of-funds declaration and a UAE bank account. Documents issued outside the UAE may need to be attested or translated, so start early.
Mortgage Fees Breakdown: What a Non-Resident Purchase Costs Upfront
The deposit is only part of what you pay. A financed purchase in Dubai also carries one-time fees to the Dubai Land Department, a trustee office, your agent and the bank.
Not every fee behaves the same way, which is what lets you adjust the example for your own purchase:
- Set by the property price: the Land Department fee (4%) and agent commission (typically 2% plus 5% VAT). These are the largest items and rise or fall with the price.
- Set by the loan amount: the mortgage registration fee (0.25%) and the bank’s processing fee (0.25% to 1%).
- Fixed: the registration trustee fee (AED 4,000 above AED 500,000, AED 2,000 below), the knowledge fee (AED 290) and the valuation fee (AED 2,500 to 4,000).
To estimate your own costs, take 4% of the price plus AED 580, 2% of the price plus VAT, and 0.25% of the loan plus AED 10, then add the fixed fees. Add the bank’s processing and valuation fees last, as a range, because they depend on the lender and the valuer. Fees change, so confirm current figures with the Land Department or your bank.
| Cost | How it is calculated | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Down payment | 40% of the property value | 480,000 |
| Land Department fee | 4% of the property value plus AED 580 admin fee | 48,580 |
| Registration trustee fee | AED 4,000 for property above AED 500,000 | 4,000 |
| Mortgage registration fee | 0.25% of the finance amount plus AED 10 admin fee | 1,810 |
| Agent commission | Typically 2% of the property value plus 5% VAT | 25,200 |
| Knowledge fee | Fixed fee | 290 |
Your Next Steps as a Non-Resident Buyer
A mortgage in Dubai as a non-resident is possible, but it rewards preparation. Check that your nationality and chosen area qualify, collect your documents early, get pre-approved before you make an offer, and budget for fees on top of a deposit that is likely to be 35% to 50% of the price.
If you want to test your own numbers first, Let’s Prosper, a Dubai property app, has a mortgage calculator with a non-resident option that shows the upfront costs for the property price and deposit you choose. The example in this guide uses figures from that calculator. Through its mortgage partner, Let’s Prosper can also connect you with an advisor who compares offers from UAE banks, which helps when you are applying from abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get a mortgage in Dubai without a residence visa?
Yes. Several UAE banks offer non-resident mortgages, and you do not need a UAE residence visa to apply. You do need a nationality the bank accepts, proof of income, a credit history and a property in a freehold area. Expect a larger deposit than a resident would pay.
How much deposit do non-residents need for a mortgage in Dubai?
The Dubai mortgage down payment for non-residents is about 35% to 50% of the property value at most banks, depending on the lender and the property. Residents buying a first home under AED 5 million often pay around 20%. You also need cash for the Land Department fee, commission and other costs on top of the deposit.
How much mortgage can I get in Dubai?
It depends on the property value, your income and your existing debts. Banks lend a share of the value, often 50% to 65% for non-residents, and your total monthly debt payments, including the new mortgage, generally cannot exceed 50% of gross income. On a AED 1,200,000 property with a 40% deposit, the loan is AED 720,000.
How long does mortgage approval take for non-residents?
Pre-approval can take a few weeks for non-residents, and longer when documents need attesting. Residents are sometimes pre-approved within a week. From application to ownership transfer, plan for several weeks.
Can non-residents get a buy-to-let mortgage in Dubai?
Dubai does not have a separate buy-to-let product the way the UK does. A standard mortgage can usually be used to buy a property you plan to rent out, subject to the bank’s non-resident rules. Ask each lender how it treats rental plans.
Can non-residents get a mortgage for off-plan property in Dubai?
Some lenders offer it, but fewer than for ready property, and usually only for projects by approved developers. Limits can be stricter. Many off-plan buyers pay through the developer’s instalment plan instead of taking a mortgage.
Are Islamic mortgages available to non-residents in Dubai?
Islamic home finance, such as Murabaha and Ijara, follows Sharia principles and does not charge interest. It is open to non-Muslims as well. Whether a bank offers it to non-residents varies, so ask the lender directly.