How much can I borrow for a UAE mortgage?
Enter your salary, existing commitments and the property price to see the largest UAE mortgage you are likely to qualify for. The result applies the Central Bank's 50% debt-burden cap, the 7x annual-income limit for expats and the loan-to-value limit for your property, and shows which rule limits you. No documents needed.
Estimated maximum loan AED 1,111,890
Maximum monthly instalment AED 6,500 (50% of salary, less AED 6,000 existing). Maximum term 25 years (limit 25 years or age 65).
- Debt-burden limit (this limits you)50% DBR over 25 years at 5%AED 1,111,890
- Income cap 7× annual incomeAED 2,100,000
- Loan-to-value limit 80% of priceAED 2,400,000
- LTV applied
- 80%
- Minimum deposit
- AED 600,000
- Deposit needed at this loan
- AED 1,888,110
- Estimated fees
- AED 205,525
- Cash needed (deposit + fees)
- AED 2,093,634
- Indicative instalment at 5%
- AED 6,500 a month
Fees itemised
- DLD transfer fee 4% of price + AED 580AED 120,580
- Mortgage registration 0.25% of loan + AED 290AED 3,070
- Agency commission 2% of price + 5% VATAED 63,000
- Bank arrangement fee up to 1% of loan + 5% VATAED 11,675
- Valuation AED 3,000AED 3,000
- Trustee office fee AED 4,000 + 5% VATAED 4,200
Estimate only, not an offer of finance. Banks make the final decision.
How the result is worked out
Three separate limits each give a maximum loan. Your estimate is the lowest of the three, and the page tells you which one it is. All figures are in dirhams.
Debt-burden ratio (DBR)
Your total monthly debt repayments, including the new mortgage instalment, may not exceed 50% of your gross monthly income. So the largest new instalment is salary × 50% minus what you already pay each month. That instalment is converted into a loan using the term and the rate: a longer term or a lower rate lets the same instalment repay a larger loan.
Credit cards count even when you do not use them. Banks treat 5% of the total limit on all your cards as a monthly commitment, on top of loan and car-finance instalments.
Income cap
The loan is also capped at a multiple of annual income: 7 times for expats and non-residents and 8 times for UAE nationals. Annual income is monthly salary × 12.
Loan-to-value (LTV) and deposit
The loan cannot exceed a share of the property price, and you pay the rest as a deposit. For an expat buying a first ready home the limit is 80% up to AED 5,000,000 and 70% above it. An additional home is limited to 60% for expats. Off-plan property is limited to 50%. Other residencies have their own limits, which the tool applies automatically.
Tenure and age
The longest term is 25 years, and it must end before you reach the age limit, which is 65 for expats. A 35-year-old expat therefore gets 25 years; a 50-year-old gets 15. The minimum applicant age is 21. A shorter term means a smaller DBR loan for the same instalment.
Many banks also look for a salary of about AED 15,000 a month. This is a guide rather than a rule, so the tool shows a note instead of refusing.
Key numbers used
| Rule | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum debt-burden ratio (all monthly repayments ÷ gross monthly income) | 50% [VERIFY] | CBUAE Mortgage Loans Regulation |
| Credit-card limits counted as a monthly commitment | 5% of the total limit [VERIFY] | CBUAE Mortgage Loans Regulation |
| Maximum loan, expats | 7× annual income [VERIFY] | CBUAE Mortgage Loans Regulation |
| Maximum loan, UAE nationals | 8× annual income [VERIFY] | CBUAE Mortgage Loans Regulation |
| Maximum loan-to-value, expat first home up to AED 5,000,000 | 80% [VERIFY] | CBUAE Mortgage Loans Regulation |
| Maximum loan-to-value, expat first home above AED 5,000,000 | 70% [VERIFY] | CBUAE Mortgage Loans Regulation |
| Maximum loan-to-value, expat additional home | 60% [VERIFY] | CBUAE Mortgage Loans Regulation |
| Maximum loan-to-value, off-plan | 50% [VERIFY] | CBUAE Mortgage Loans Regulation |
| Maximum mortgage term | 25 years [VERIFY] | CBUAE Mortgage Loans Regulation |
| Age limit at the end of the term, expats | 65 [VERIFY] | CBUAE Mortgage Loans Regulation |
| Monthly salary most banks look for | AED 15,000 [VERIFY] | UAE market practice |
Worked example
An expat aged 35 earns AED 25,000 a month, pays AED 6,000 a month in loans, has no credit cards and wants a ready first home at AED 3,000,000. The illustrative rate is 5%.
- Largest instalment: AED 25,000 × 50% = AED 12,500, minus AED 6,000 = AED 6,500 a month.
- Term: 25 years.
- Loan by debt-burden limit: AED 6,500 over 25 years at 5% = AED 1,111,890.
- Loan by income cap: AED 25,000 × 12 × 7 = AED 2,100,000.
- Loan by LTV: AED 3,000,000 × 80% = AED 2,400,000.
The lowest is the debt-burden limit, so the estimated maximum loan is AED 1,111,890. That leaves a deposit of AED 1,888,110 and estimated purchase fees of AED 205,525, so about AED 2,093,634 in cash. The instalment on that loan is about AED 6,500 a month.
Frequently asked questions
Does pre-qualifying affect my credit score?
No. This tool does not contact any bank or credit bureau and asks for no documents. It applies published rules to the figures you type in. A bank checks your credit report only when you make a formal application, so you can try different numbers freely.
Is the result a guarantee that a bank will lend?
No. It is an estimate of what the rules allow, using an illustrative rate of 5%. Each bank applies its own credit policy, checks your documents and values the property, so the final amount can be lower. An advisor can confirm which banks are likely to say yes.
Why is my maximum loan lower than seven times my salary?
The income cap is only one of three limits, and the lowest one applies. For most salaried buyers the debt-burden limit is lower, especially with existing loans or credit cards. Your result shows all three limits side by side, with the one that limits you highlighted.
Do credit cards count if I never use them?
Yes. Banks count 5% of each card's total limit as a monthly commitment, whether or not you carry a balance. Closing cards you do not need before you apply lowers your commitments and can raise the loan you qualify for.
Figures marked [VERIFY] are being confirmed against the CBUAE rulebook.
Results are estimates, not an offer of finance. Banks make the final lending decision. See the guides for the rules in more detail.