UAE Debt Burden Ratio Calculator
Your DBR decides whether a bank will lend at all. Work out where you stand before you apply.
UAE Central Bank rules cap the debt burden ratio at 50% of income. Banks count 5% of your total credit card limit as a monthly commitment whether or not you use the card — closing unused cards can meaningfully improve your position.
What you need to know
The debt burden ratio is the first test a UAE lender applies, and it is a hard cap: total monthly debt repayments cannot exceed 50% of your monthly income. Fail it and the application does not proceed, regardless of your deposit.
The rule that surprises most applicants concerns credit cards. Banks count 5% of your total credit limit as a monthly commitment, whether or not you carry a balance. An unused AED 100,000 limit consumes AED 5,000 of monthly headroom — often enough to change what you can borrow.
That makes it worth tidying up before you apply. Closing unused cards, settling a car loan early, or reducing limits on cards you keep can free up material borrowing capacity. Do it a couple of months ahead so it reflects in your credit report.
Common questions
What is the DBR limit in the UAE?
50% of monthly income, set by the UAE Central Bank. Total debt repayments including the new mortgage must sit below it.
How do credit cards affect my DBR?
Banks count 5% of your total credit limit as a monthly commitment regardless of usage, so unused limits still reduce your borrowing capacity.
How can I improve my DBR?
Close unused credit cards, reduce limits, or settle existing loans. Allow a couple of months for changes to reflect in your credit report.
More tools in financing
Mortgage Affordability Calculator
UAE lenders cap repayments at 50% of income and require 20–35% down. Work out the property price that actually clears both tests.
Down Payment Calculator
Work out the total cash you need on day one — deposit, DLD fee, agency commission and trustee charges.
Mortgage vs Cash Calculator
Compare the total cost of financing against paying cash, and see what your deposit would need to earn elsewhere to justify the loan.
Want these numbers checked against a real property?
Send us the unit you are looking at and we will run the actual figures — service charge for that building, current market rent, and what comparable units transacted at.