UAE Home Loan Eligibility

How UAE home loan eligibility works (2026)

Two ceilings determine how much you can borrow for a UAE property. Whichever is smaller wins.

1. Loan-to-Value (LTV) cap — set by CBUAE

• UAE National, first property under AED 5M — up to 85% LTV (15% down)
• UAE National, first property over AED 5M — 75% LTV
• UAE National, second property — 65% LTV
• Expat Resident, first property under AED 5M — 80% LTV (20% down)
• Expat Resident, first property over AED 5M — 70% LTV
• Expat Resident, second property — 60% LTV
• Non-Resident (foreign buyer) — typically 50-65%, bank-specific
• Off-plan (any buyer) — 50% LTV

2. Debt-Burden Ratio (DBR) — 50% of income

The CBUAE caps all monthly debt at 50% of gross income. That includes credit cards, car loans, personal loans, and the new mortgage. Whatever room you have left dictates how big a monthly mortgage payment the bank will support — which translates into a maximum loan amount given the interest rate and tenor.

3. Stress test

Banks must qualify you at your offered rate plus 3 percentage points. If the stressed payment still fits under the 50% DBR, you're good — otherwise expect a shorter tenor or a smaller loan.

What this calculator doesn't do

It doesn't pull live bank rates, doesn't run a credit check, and doesn't guarantee approval. Individual banks apply their own income minimums, employment-tenure rules, and risk policies on top of CBUAE rules. Use these numbers to scope the deal before you walk into a bank.