How Much Can You Borrow in Dubai?
UAE lenders cap repayments at 50% of income and require 20–35% down. Work out the property price that actually clears both tests.
UAE Central Bank rules cap total debt repayments at 50% of income (the debt burden ratio) and set maximum LTV by buyer type and price. Lenders apply their own additional criteria, so treat this as the ceiling rather than a pre-approval.
What you need to know
Two separate rules decide what you can borrow in the UAE, and you have to clear both. The first is the debt burden ratio: total monthly repayments, including any existing car loan or credit card minimum, cannot exceed 50% of your monthly income. The second is loan-to-value, which caps the loan as a share of the property price.
LTV depends on who you are and what you are buying. A UAE resident buying a first property under AED 5 million can borrow up to 80%. Above AED 5 million that drops to 70%. Non-residents are typically capped at 65%, and a second property at 60%. The gap is your deposit, and it has to be cash.
The number people most often miss is the DLD transfer fee at 4% of the purchase price. It cannot be added to the mortgage — it is payable in cash at transfer, on top of the deposit. On a AED 2 million property that is AED 80,000 before agency commission and trustee fees.
Common questions
What is the debt burden ratio in the UAE?
UAE Central Bank rules cap total monthly debt repayments at 50% of monthly income. Existing car loans, personal loans and credit card minimum payments all count toward that ceiling.
How much deposit do I need in Dubai?
20% for a UAE resident buying a first property under AED 5 million, 30% above that, and typically 35% for non-residents. The deposit must be cash and cannot be financed.
Can I add the DLD fee to my mortgage?
No. The 4% DLD transfer fee is payable in cash at the point of transfer, separate from your deposit.
More tools in financing
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.
Mortgage Refinance Calculator
See what switching rate saves you monthly and over the remaining term, net of the fees involved in moving lender.
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.