Financing a Dubai property purchase is genuinely accessible to non-resident and expat buyers, but the process and terms differ from what many buyers are used to in their home countries, so it's worth understanding the basics before you start shopping for a loan.
UAE banks generally apply different maximum loan-to-value ratios depending on whether you're a UAE national, a resident expat, or a non-resident buying from abroad — non-residents typically face a lower maximum financing percentage and need a larger cash deposit as a result.
Getting a mortgage pre-approval — an indicative, conditional confirmation of how much a bank is willing to lend — before you start viewing properties gives you a realistic budget and signals seriousness when you do make an offer, particularly on resale property.
The details shift over time as banks adjust their policies, so treat this as a starting framework and confirm current rates and eligibility directly with lenders before committing to a specific property.
