UAE mortgage down payments and cash needed
Your down payment is only one part of the money needed to complete a purchase. Keep the deposit, transaction fees and a cash reserve as separate budget lines.
Residential financing ceilings
The following CBUAE maximum loan-to-value ratios are ceilings, not approvals. Banks may lend less. The first-home category is for an eligible owner occupier and can only be claimed for one property.
| Category | Maximum financing | Minimum deposit implied |
|---|---|---|
| UAE national, first home up to AED 5 million | 85% | 15% |
| UAE national, first home above AED 5 million | 75% | 25% |
| Expatriate, first home up to AED 5 million | 80% | 20% |
| Expatriate, first home above AED 5 million | 70% | 30% |
| UAE national, subsequent or investment property | 65% | 35% |
| Expatriate, subsequent or investment property | 60% | 40% |
| Off-plan property, all categories | 50% | 50% |
Why your cash requirement may be higher
A lender can set a lower financing limit or value the property below your purchase price. Suppose you agree AED 2 million but the accepted financing base is AED 1.9 million: 80% of that is AED 1.52 million. You would need AED 480,000 towards the price, before purchase costs, rather than AED 400,000.
Build the completion budget
- Subtract the confirmed loan from the price to find your own contribution.
- Add the applicable registration and transfer charges.
- Add the actual lender, valuation, agency, legal and insurance quotes.
- Allow separately for moving, furnishing and ongoing property costs.
- Check when each payment is due and which sums must clear before transfer.
The CBUAE framework requires the down payment to come from the borrower's own resources rather than other borrowing. Disclose your funding source and ask the lender how to evidence it.
See the Dubai cost example or the Abu Dhabi checklist. Non-residents should confirm their lender-specific limits before relying on the table.
Sources reviewed 24 October 2026: CBUAE mortgage regulations · CBUAE Financial Stability Report 2024 · Dubai registration charges. Lender rules and individual offers can change.
