Can You Get a Mortgage on Off-Plan Property in Dubai?

The Central Bank's Regulations Regarding Mortgage Loans (Circular 31/2013, as amended by Resolutions 96/2019 and 31/2/2020) set these maximum LTV ratios:

Each borrower can claim only one property under the first-home category. LTV is measured against the appraised value from an independent valuation, not simply the price you agreed. If the valuation comes in below the price, you fund the gap. You can read the full text in the CBUAE Rulebook.

During construction, your own money goes in first and the bank pays the developer only as building milestones are reached. The Central Bank regulations require lenders to use the owner's equity portion before releasing any loan money, and to base payments on completion milestones physically confirmed by the bank or an independent, suitably qualified professional.

Some UAE banks have launched dedicated off-plan products in 2026. For example:

• ADCB announced on 30 April 2026 an off-plan solution with pre-approval for up to 50% of the property value on purchases from participating UAE developers. Pre-approvals are valid for up to 12 months, renewable annually through to handover, with a transition to final approval and financing once 50% of the value is paid or at handover.
• Dubai Islamic Bank, as reported by Khaleej Times in August 2026, offers finance of up to 50% of the value for eligible UAE nationals, residents and non-residents. Funds are released to developers by construction milestone, the buyer pays only the profit component during construction, and full repayments start at handover or within 24 months of taking the finance, whichever comes first.

Product terms, eligible developers and promotional rates change, so confirm current terms directly with the bank. Off-plan units recorded in the interim register can legally be mortgaged under Dubai Law No. 13 of 2008, which is why Oqood registration matters for financing.

The alternative is to pay the construction instalments from savings and borrow the balance at handover. By then the unit is complete, the bank can value the finished property, and you take a standard home loan subject to the lender's policy and the Central Bank rules.

Illustrative example (not a real project): on an AED 2,000,000 apartment with a 60/40 plan, you pay AED 1,200,000 during construction. At handover, you borrow the AED 800,000 balance. That loan equals 40% of the price, below every Central Bank cap, provided the valuation supports the price and you pass the bank's affordability checks.

Practical timing tips:

• Start talking to banks several months before the expected handover date, and check how long any pre-approval stays valid.
• Ask the developer when it expects to issue the completion notice and final payment statement, so you can share them with your bank promptly.
• Keep a cash buffer for fees and any valuation shortfall.

If your plan includes payments after handover, read our guide to post-handover payment plans first, as the developer's balance usually has to be cleared before a bank can register its own mortgage.

Even if the LTV fits, the bank must be satisfied that you can repay. The Central Bank regulations set these limits:

• Debt burden ratio: total debt repayments cannot exceed 50% of gross salary and regular income.
• Stress test: affordability is tested at 2 to 4 percentage points above the loan's current rate.
• Maximum term: 25 years.
• Maximum loan size: up to 7 years' annual income for expatriates and 8 years' for UAE nationals.
• Own funds: the down payment must come from your own resources, not personal loans or credit cards.
• Investment property: at least two months' rent must be deducted when assessing rental income.
• Retirement: if the loan runs beyond retirement age, it must remain affordable on post-retirement income.

Lenders must also take account of your other debt-servicing obligations, including credit card debt. Tell the bank about any instalments you still owe a developer.

A mortgage adds registration and bank costs on top of the purchase price. The Dubai Land Department lists a mortgage registration fee of 0.25% of the mortgage value on its mortgage registration service page.

Banks may also charge arrangement or processing fees, valuation fees and life or property insurance. The Central Bank requires lenders to set out all fees and charges in a separate schedule attached to the loan contract, and limits early repayment and refinancing charges. Ask for this schedule before you commit. For the purchase-side fees, see our guide to DLD fees on off-plan purchases.

Banks ask for proof of identity, income and the property. Lists vary by lender. As an example, Emirates Islamic publishes these requirements for salaried residents:

• passport with valid residence visa (Emirates ID for UAE nationals)
• labour contract copy
• salary certificate less than 45 days old, or a salary transfer letter
• three months of payslips, if applicable
• six months of bank statements showing salary credits
• liability letter less than 30 days old
• property documents: seller's quote or offer letter, sale and purchase agreement, title deed and site plan, and receipts for any down payment

For salaried non-residents, the same bank lists a passport, salary certificate, payslips, six months of bank statements, a liability or reference letter and, where applicable, two years of tax returns and a credit bureau report. Self-employed applicants are asked for trade licence and company documents, two years of audited financials and business bank statements. An off-plan unit has no title deed yet, so ask the bank which documents, such as the SPA and Oqood certificate, it will accept instead.

The Central Bank caps distinguish between UAE nationals and expatriates, and between first homes and investment property. Each bank then sets its own eligibility, which is often stricter for non-residents.

For example, ADIB's non-resident home finance page lists a minimum monthly salary of AED 15,000 for salaried applicants, an age range of 25 at application to 65 at maturity, and financing of up to 50% of the property value. Emirates Islamic lists a minimum monthly income of AED 20,000 for resident applicants. Age limits, eligible developers and other criteria differ by lender.

If you live abroad, compare several banks before booking a unit, and check whether your target developer and project are on the bank's approved list. Our guide to getting a mortgage in Dubai explains the process step by step.

The right choice depends on your cash flow and how long you plan to hold the property. A bank mortgage spreads repayments over up to 25 years but adds interest and fees. A developer plan usually has no explicit interest but a shorter repayment period, and the financing cost may be built into the price.

• Choose a handover mortgage if you can fund the construction instalments and want lower monthly payments over a longer term.
• Consider a post-handover plan if you prefer not to borrow from a bank and can manage higher instalments over a few years.
• Use an off-plan mortgage if you want bank funding during construction and meet the bank's conditions.

Model your options with our off-plan payment calculator, and browse projects handing over in 2026 or 2027 if you want to finance a completed unit sooner.