FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

About Applicants

When considering how to determine mortgage affordability, it’s important to note that various banks may employ slightly different calculations. As a general guideline, most banks typically consider only 50% of your monthly income in this assessment. From this 50%, they will subtract any existing credit commitments you may have, such as car loans, personal loans, and approximately 5% of all your credit card limits, to establish your maximum affordability.
A stress test is then conducted by applying an interest stress rate, which varies between 3.5% to 8% depending on the specific bank. The purpose of this stress test is to ensure that you would still be capable of meeting your mortgage repayments even if interest rates were to increase to the specified test level.

You have the option to acquire an insurance policy that provides coverage if you are unable to meet your mortgage payments due to accident, illness, or unemployment, which may include redundancy. Unlike the life insurance mandated for obtaining a mortgage in the UAE, this specific policy is not offered by your bank during the mortgage application process. To arrange this type of coverage, you’ll need to consult with an insurance advisor. If you’re interested, we can connect you with insurance advisors for further assistance.

Certainly, a property can be jointly applied for by a husband and wife, even if one of them is not currently employed. The key consideration is the ability of the applicants to demonstrate their capacity to repay the home loan.

Certainly. Life insurance is a prerequisite for any mortgage in the UAE. Typically, the bank providing the funds for your property acquisition will insist on your enrollment in their in-house life insurance policy as a condition for the mortgage approval. However, we have secured exclusive arrangements with several banks, allowing you the option to opt for an external life insurance policy. This alternative choice could potentially lead to approximately a 50% reduction in costs compared to the bank’s in-house life insurance policy.

Certainly! Without a doubt, banks exhibit varying preferences for employed and self-employed applications. With our extensive experience in assisting self-employed clients, we are well-acquainted with the banks that view these applicants favorably.

Typically, the minimum age requirement is 21, while the maximum mortgage term extends until the age of 65 for employed expatriates or 70 for UAE nationals and self-employed expatriates.

Certainly, obtaining a mortgage in the UAE as a non-resident is a relatively straightforward process. If you are a non-resident seeking a mortgage in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any other Emirate, we will need three months’ worth of bank statements to verify affordability, along with a copy of your passport.

Certainly! Without a doubt, as an expatriate making your initial property purchase, you can borrow up to 75% of the property value for properties below AED 5 million. However, for properties exceeding AED 5 million, expatriates have the option to borrow up to 65% of the property value

Almost anyone can secure a mortgage in the UAE, provided they can substantiate their income. Income sources may include salary, commission, and rental income. Feel free to reach out to one of our mortgage brokers to discuss your individual circumstances.

Certainly. Upon leaving the UAE, you have the option to retain the property for buy-to-let purposes. The primary concern for most banks is that you continue meeting your mortgage repayments and avoid falling into arrears.

About Mortgages

Flat and reducing rates of interest are two methods of how interest can be calculated on a mortgage.

A flat rate of interest is where the rate of interest to be paid remains the same for the duration of the loan as it is always calculated against the original amount borrowed (principal).

A reducing rate of interest is where the amount of interest to be paid takes into consideration the repayments that have been made, so it is calculated against the remaining loan amount or outstanding balance, rather than the original principal amount.

On occasion, a flat rate of interest may be advertised at a lower, more appealing rate than its equivalent reducing rate. When taking a mortgage It is important to establish with the bank or your mortgage broker whether a flat or reducing rate has been applied.

Security cheques are required by banks in the UAE as they are used in instances where the borrower fails to meet the repayments for the mortgage. Should this happen, the bank will present the cheque and when it bounces they will then be able to initiate a legal case to take possession of the property to repay the outstanding debt.

This is not very different to other countries where the bank will have it written into their contract that they can repossess the property where the client defaults on the mortgage.

A security cheque is a type of guarantee required by every bank in the UAE when they give any type of credit facility including credit cards, personal or car loans or mortgages.

The bank will require you to provide them with an undated cheque which covers the full credit amount as a minimum.

Where your employer pays you a housing allowance, this can be taken into account when you are applying for a mortgage.

For example, if you currently live in company provided accommodation and it is stipulated in your contract or salary certificate that you will be paid a housing allowance should you leave the provided accommodation, then the allowance you will be paid can be taken into account for your mortgage.

You will still be required to have the necessary down payment, but the allowance can contribute to your affordability and therefore can, in some cases, increase the amount you are able to borrow

Bonus income can be taken into account when applying for a mortgage. If it is a guaranteed bonus which is written into your contract or salary certificate then it is more likely to be accepted, but discretionary bonus can also be considered too.

Off-plan finance is available and is something we can assist with. It is important to note, however, that mortgages for off-plan purchases are often limited to projects which are being undertaken by larger, more established developers.

Yes, both residents and non-residents are able to get a mortgage to finance their handover payment to the developer.

Depending on how much has been paid prior to handover, Mortgage Finder will be able to arrange competitive terms with zero processing and arrangement fees.

Some banks will allow an element of the costs for purchasing a property to be added into the mortgage which helps save greatly on the upfront costs. Our mortgage brokers will be able to advise more on this.

Yes, generally it is quite easy to release equity (or cash) from your property as a non-resident. Similar to a non-resident mortgage, minimal documentation is required for this process and you can release up to 55% of the property value which can be used for other purposes.

Buying Process

A No Objection Certificate, commonly abbreviated to NOC, is a type of legal document issued by an organization or individual stating that there are no objections to the points made within the document.

When purchasing property in the UAE an NOC is normally required from the developer giving clear title on the property and showing all the service changes and utilities have been paid. The NOC in this case shows that there is no objection from the developer to another person buying the property.

A title deed is the document registered at the Land Department which shows ownership of a plot of land. If you have purchased the property with a mortgage then your name will be included on the deed as owning that property. The original title deed is kept with the bank as security until the mortgage has been fully repaid.

An MOU is a Memorandum of Understanding and is part of the purchasing process. It is an agreement put together by the real estate agent, signed by you and the seller, outlining the timescales and terms and conditions of the property purchase. We will always check the MOU on your behalf before you sign it.

There are certain costs that you will need to pay when purchasing a property in the UAE, these can differ slightly depending on whether you are in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or another Emirate. The table below outlines the general fees that you will need to pay in addition to the cash deposit (or downpayment).

Land Department Fee4%* of the purchase price plus AED 580 (Abu Dhabi 1%-2%)
Agent Fee2%* of the purchase price
Mortgage Registration Fee    0.25%* of the mortgage borrowed plus AED 290
Bank Arrangement Fee0 to 1.5%* of loan amount
Trustee FeeAED 4,000*
Valuation FeeAED 2,500 – AED 3,000*

*plus VAT

It is possible to incorporate some of these fees into the mortgage.

PROPERTY TYPES

Freehold is where you purchase the property in full (whether utilising a mortgage or in cash), so you own the property itself and the land that it is on. Leasehold is where you purchase the rights for the property for a limited period of time, normally for about 99 years.

Leasehold property is uncommon in Dubai and the UAE, but there are a few areas where you can purchase leasehold property for example Silicon Oasis and Green Community.

Our mortgage consultants will guide you through the property purchasing process in the UAE and will make getting a mortgage easy.

We also have access to exclusive mortgage products which are not available when you go to the banks directly.

Land financing is available and it can be provided to assist with both the purchase of the plot and construction on the land.

All types of property, whether freehold, leasehold, gifted or land-gifted properties.

MORTGAGE BROKERS

The benefit of using one of our mortgage brokers is that we are able to offer unbiased expert advice to help you find the best mortgage product for your situation. We will discuss all the available options with you and offer you our opinion on the best one for you, so that you can make an informed decision.

Our mortgage consultants will guide you through the property purchasing process in the UAE and will make getting a mortgage easy.

We also have access to exclusive mortgage products which are not available when you go to the banks directly.

A mortgage broker, otherwise known as a mortgage consultant, is an independent advisor who is able to arrange a loan between you and a bank to fund your property purchase.