UAE mortgage guides
These guides answer the questions buyers ask before taking a UAE mortgage, with each rule explained in dirhams.
All guides
How do you get a mortgage in the UAE in 2026?
Check eligibility against the 50% debt-burden ratio, get a pre-approval, pass the valuation, sign the final offer and transfer at the DLD. Aknaz handles each step for you, from the bank application to the transfer day, so you deal with one advisor instead of each bank.
How does the 50% DBR rule work for a UAE mortgage?
The 50% debt-burden ratio (DBR) rule caps your monthly debt repayments, including the new mortgage, at half of your gross monthly income. Banks also apply their own internal stress rate, so the instalment they test can be higher than your actual one, which lowers the most you can borrow.
How much deposit do you need for a UAE mortgage?
An expat buying a first home under AED 5,000,000 needs at least 20% of the price in cash, because the loan is capped at 80%. Higher prices, second homes and off-plan need more. The deposit comes from your own funds, and purchase fees are paid on top of it.
Mortgage broker vs mortgage advisor: what's the difference?
In the UAE, mortgage broker is the licensed category, and Aknaz holds Dubai Land Department registration number 48584. Mortgage advisor describes how the service is delivered, by a person who explains your options and works for you. Aknaz is both, and its advisors work fully for the client.
What is an offset mortgage in the UAE?
An offset mortgage charges interest on your loan minus your linked account balance: AED 50,000 saved against an AED 800,000 loan means interest on AED 750,000. Your savings stay available to withdraw, and the interest saved shortens the loan. Standard Chartered and RAKBANK offer it in the UAE, each with its own fees and conditions.
What is the minimum salary for a UAE mortgage?
Most UAE banks look for a monthly salary of AED 15,000 for an expat mortgage, and some accept from AED 10,000. Salary alone does not decide it, because your new instalment plus existing debts must stay within 50% of your gross monthly income, and the loan cannot exceed the loan-to-value limit for the property.
Every figure carries its source and the date it was last checked, and the worked examples are calculated by the same code as the pre-qualification tool.