Non-residents
This page covers lending for people living and working outside the UAE. This includes individuals who have an Emirates ID card, but whose income is outside of the country.
The basics
You can absolutely get a mortgage if you have zero association with the UAE, apart from the fact that you want to purchase a property. Banks will lend to you even if you do not have an Emirates ID or visa. You just need verifiable, consistent income.
The maximum lending amount you can receive is 65%. That means you need to deposit 35% using your own funds, in addition to approximately 7% in transaction fees. That's a minimum upfront payment of 42% of the property purchase price.
Who qualifies
You will generally qualify for a mortgage if:
- Your after-tax salary is AED 15,000 or
- Your average bank balances are AED 40,000+ and
- Your employment or business has been in place for over one year
Banks tend to look at your personal income if you're a non-resident, even if you're a business owner. Most banks don't want to look at your company revenue, but instead how much you pay yourself out of your business.
Non-resident financing is complex, so it is best to reach out so I can understand your income in detail before advising whether a mortgage is possible or not.
What if my salary is not enough?
If you do not meet the minimum income requirements, there is one bank that will still give a mortgage to you as long as you maintain personal bank account balances of AED 40,000 / USD 11,000 / EUR 10,000 in the six months prior to applying for a mortgage pre-approval. This applies to both employees and business owners.
What's the process
- 1
Get bank pre-approval
Issued within 1–3 weeks, valid for 30–60 days. The bank confirms how much they'll lend and under which terms.
- 2
Find your property
Once pre-approved, you're ready to sign on a property.
- 3
Valuation and final approval
The bank values the property, and I request your final mortgage approval. You'll need to fly to the UAE once we receive the final approval.
- 4
Transfer
The property transfer can be managed via a Power of Attorney.
Required documentation
- Passport
- Local ID / Driver's license
- Employment letter or business incorporation and shareholding documents
- Personal bank statements (last six months)
- Residential address proof (e.g. utility bill)
- Credit report (for some banks)
In some circumstances, you will need to provide additional documentation: tax returns, payslips, and company bank statements if you're self-employed.