Dubai Mortgage Rates for Expats

Expats in Dubai are quoted rates by each bank, not a set national rate. Advertised fixed rates reported in July 2026 started from about 3.75 percent, and your own rate depends on your residency, income, the loan size and the bank. The Central Bank sets the limits on how much you can borrow.

Almost every Dubai mortgage is fixed for an initial period and then moves to a variable rate linked to EIBOR. Rates move often, so use any figure below as a guide and get a written quote. Rules are as published on the Central Bank of the UAE rulebook, read on 30 October 2026.

What mortgage rate do expats get in Dubai?

Khaleej Times reported on 12 July 2026 that major UAE banks were offering the following advertised fixed rates:

These are the lowest advertised figures, not what every expat is offered. A bank prices the loan on your salary, employer, deposit and whether you bank with it. We have not published a separate non resident rate, because we could not verify one from a bank or regulator.

What does the Central Bank allow expats to borrow?

The Central Bank of the UAE sets the maximum loan to value (LTV) that banks may lend to expatriates. A bank can lend less, but not more.

Other limits in the same rules: a maximum term of 25 years, a debt burden ratio of 50 percent of gross income, and total financing of up to 7 years of annual income for expatriates. End of service benefits cannot be used to repay the loan.

For example, an expat earning AED 30,000 a month before deductions (AED 360,000 a year) could borrow at most 7 times that, AED 2.52 million, and all loan payments together must stay within AED 15,000 a month. This is an illustration of the rule, not an approval.

Is there a different rate or limit for non residents?

The Central Bank rulebook sets its limits for UAE nationals and expatriates and does not give a separate non resident table. In practice banks set their own policies for people living abroad: which countries they accept, how much they lend and at what price. Ask each bank for its non resident terms in writing before you agree a price. Our guide to buying property in Dubai from overseas covers the wider process.

Are Dubai mortgages fixed or variable?

Most start with a fixed rate for a short period. One bank's published key facts statement describes a rate fixed for an introductory period of 2, 3 or 5 years, after which the loan moves to EIBOR plus a margin. In that bank's worked example the margin is 1.89 percent, but each bank sets its own. The statement carries no date, so ask your bank for its current one.

The margin is the number to compare. A headline fixed rate with a wide margin after the fixed period can cost more over the term than a slightly higher fixed rate with a narrow margin. EIBOR itself changes, so the monthly payment on the variable part will move.

The Central Bank also requires lenders to stress test your repayments at 2 to 4 percentage points above the current rate. Where there is an introductory rate, the stress test uses the rate that applies when the introductory period ends. This is one reason a bank may approve less than you expect.

Can an expat get a buy to let mortgage in Dubai?

Yes, within the investment limits above: 60 percent LTV on a second or investment property. Banks must also deduct at least two months of rental income when working out your debt burden, to allow for empty periods. Loans for investment properties can defer repaying the principal, but not for longer than 5 years from the first drawdown. If the property you want has a loan on it already, read buying a Dubai property that has a mortgage on it.

What else does an expat mortgage cost?

The bank adds its own processing and valuation fees. One bank's key facts statement lists a processing fee of 1.05 percent of the loan and a valuation fee of AED 3,150 for a completed property, both including VAT. Treat that as an example of the scale, not a current quote. Our DLD fees guide lists the full set of fees that every buyer pays.

How do I find the best expat mortgage rate?

Do not compare the headline rate alone. Ask each bank for the same details in writing:

• The fixed rate, the length of the fixed period, and the EIBOR margin that follows.
• The maximum LTV it will give you, since the Central Bank figure is a ceiling.
• The processing, valuation and insurance costs, and the early settlement fee.
• The total cost of the loan over its life. The Central Bank requires lenders to give borrowers this information.

The rules also say banks cannot change a loan's terms during its life without your written agreement, and must give two months' notice of changes to fees.

What will the bank want to see?

Banks typically ask for proof of income, recent bank statements and a valuation of the property, and they check your existing debts against the 50 percent limit. Get a pre-approval before you agree a price, because the deposit and closing costs must be paid in cash. Our guide to getting a mortgage in Dubai as an expat goes through the steps. See the wider process in buying property in Dubai as a foreigner, or get in touch.