Dubai mortgage limits: what the CBUAE regulation sets
The UAE Central Bank (CBUAE) caps how much a bank may lend on a home. Its Regulations Regarding Mortgage Loans, consolidated 8 April 2020 and read 9 October 2026, set the maximum loan as a share of the property's value, a maximum term and a maximum loan per year of income.
The figures below are maximums. The regulation says lenders should use lower ratios where risks are higher.
What is loan-to-value?
Loan-to-value (LTV) is the loan divided by the property's appraised value. The rest of the price is the buyer's down payment.
What are the maximum loan-to-value ratios?
Maximum LTV under the CBUAE mortgage regulation, consolidated 8 April 2020 (read 9 October 2026). The value limit in the table is AED 5 million, as set in that regulation (read 9 October 2026).
| Buyer and property | Value up to the limit | Value above the limit |
|---|---|---|
| UAE national, first home, owner-occupied | 85% | 75% |
| UAE national, second home or investment | 65% | 65% |
| Expatriate, first home, owner-occupied | 80% | 70% |
| Expatriate, second home or investment | 60% | 60% |
| Any buyer, property bought off-plan | 50% | 50% |
The regulation (read 9 October 2026) words the expatriate first-home bands as "less than AED 5 million" and "more than AED 5 million". Off-plan means bought before the building is finished. The off-plan cap in the regulation (read 9 October 2026) is 50% whatever the buyer's purpose, the property's value or the buyer's category.
How long can the loan run?
The regulation (read 9 October 2026) sets a maximum term of 25 years.
How much can be borrowed against income?
Two limits apply in the regulation (read 9 October 2026). The debt burden ratio, meaning all monthly debt repayments divided by income, may not exceed 50% of gross salary and regular income (read 9 October 2026). The loan may not exceed 7 years of annual income for expatriates or 8 years for UAE nationals.
Lenders must also stress test the repayment at 2 to 4 percentage points above the loan's interest rate, according to the same regulation (read 9 October 2026). For an investment property, they must deduct at least two months' rent when they assess repayment.
Where is the regulation?
The text is on the CBUAE Rulebook as "Regulations Regarding Mortgage Loans". Its page, read 9 October 2026, says it was amended in 2019 and 2020 and is in force.
Keyva's mortgage calculator is a separate page. A bank's own terms can be stricter than the regulation.
Updated 9 October 2026: figures and wording corrected.