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Off-plan mortgages and handover finance in the UAE

Financing a property while it is under construction and financing a completed property at handover are different situations. Plan both the developer payments and the lender’s release conditions.

Buying during construction

The CBUAE residential mortgage framework caps financing for off-plan property at 50% of value, regardless of buyer category. This is not a commitment that a bank will lend on every project. Confirm the approved development, stage of construction, required payments and disbursement process with the lender.

Financing a handover payment

A buyer may seek a mortgage for a balance due when the property is completed. The lender still assesses income, existing debts, the completed property and its valuation. Payments already made to a developer do not remove these checks or guarantee that the entire handover balance will be financed.

Example: identify the cash gap early

On an illustrative AED 2 million purchase, assume you have paid AED 800,000 and owe AED 1.2 million at handover. If the lender approves AED 1 million, the remaining AED 200,000 must come from you, plus any transaction and finance costs. A developer payment schedule and a bank's financing schedule may have different dates.

Ask these questions before signing

  • Is this project and the intended unit acceptable to the lender?
  • At what construction or completion stage can finance be released?
  • Which payments must come from my own funds before the bank pays?
  • What happens if handover is delayed or the valuation is lower?
  • When should income documents and pre-approval be refreshed?
  • Which completion, registration and insurance costs remain due?

Build a timeline with two tracks

Record every developer milestone on one line and each lender requirement on another. Add the due dates for valuation, the final offer, your own cash contribution and title or security registration. Treat an unconfirmed future mortgage as an unresolved funding need.

Read the pre-approval guide and test payments in the mortgage calculator. Select the lender's actual deposit and term; first-home defaults are not an off-plan approval.

Sources reviewed 24 October 2026: CBUAE off-plan financing limit · Dubai Land Department. Lender rules and individual offers can change.