Dubai Mortgage & Affordability Calculator
How much property can you actually afford? Estimate your maximum mortgage, monthly payment and down payment under the Central Bank of the UAE limits on debt, loan-to-value and stress testing. A planning estimate, not a mortgage approval.
CBUAE regulation reviewed: 1 October 2026Calculate how much you can afford
Estimated affordable property range
AED —
Enter your gross monthly salary and an interest rate to see the property price range your income supports under the CBUAE mortgage limits.
How mortgage affordability works in Dubai
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) sets the maximum limits every UAE mortgage lender must respect. Your borrowing is capped by whichever limit you reach first.
- Debt burden ratio (DBR). All your monthly debt repayments, including the new mortgage, can be at most 50% of gross salary and regular income.
- Stress testing. The DBR is checked at 2 to 4 percentage points above your interest rate, not at the rate itself.
- Income multiple. The loan can be no more than 7 times annual income for expatriates and 8 times for UAE nationals.
- Loan-to-value (LTV). The loan can cover only part of the property value. The share depends on whether you are a UAE national or an expatriate, whether it is your first home, second home or an investment, whether it is off-plan, and, for a first home, whether it is worth more than AED 5,000,000.
- Term. The maximum mortgage term is 25 years. A longer term lowers the payment, so it raises what the DBR allows.
These are maximums. The regulation tells lenders not to apply the maximum DBR automatically and allows them to adopt more conservative limits, so a bank may lend less than this calculator shows.
Dubai mortgage LTV limits
The maximum share of the property value a lender can finance, from Article 3 of the CBUAE mortgage regulation.
| Property | UAE national | Expatriate |
|---|---|---|
| First home, value up to AED 5,000,000 | 85% | 80% |
| First home, value above AED 5,000,000 | 75% | 70% |
| Second home or investment property, any value | 65% | 60% |
| Off-plan property, any value or purpose | 50% | 50% |
Each borrower can claim only one property as a first home. Under CBUAE Board Resolution No. 31/2/2020, the higher first-home LTV applies to a value less than or equal to AED 5,000,000, for UAE nationals and expatriates alike: an expatriate buying a first home at exactly AED 5,000,000 can borrow up to 80%.
Non-resident buyers are not covered. The regulation does not set separate limits for them, and lender policies vary.
How the 50% DBR works
The DBR compares your monthly debt repayments with your monthly income. The maximum is 50% of gross salary plus regular income from a defined and specific source. Existing repayments come off the allowance first; what is left is the most your mortgage payment can be at the stress-tested rate.
- Gross monthly income
- AED 30,000
- DBR allowance (50%)
- AED 15,000
- Minus existing repayments
- −AED 2,000
- Maximum mortgage payment
- AED 13,000
- Loan that payment supports at 6.25% over 25 years4.25% rate + 2 points
- AED 1,970,684
Lenders decide which income counts. The regulation says bonuses and other non-standard income should be discounted or excluded, end-of-service benefits cannot be used, and for an investment property at least two months’ rental income must be deducted to allow for empty periods.
How much deposit do I need?
The minimum down payment is the part of the price the maximum LTV does not cover. It must come from your own resources, not another loan or a credit card. DLD, trustee, mortgage registration and agency costs are paid on top.
| Buyer and property | AED 2,000,000 | AED 6,000,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Expatriate, first home | AED 400,00020% | AED 1,800,00030% |
| UAE national, first home | AED 300,00015% | AED 1,500,00025% |
| Expatriate, second or investment | AED 800,00040% | AED 2,400,00040% |
| UAE national, second or investment | AED 700,00035% | AED 2,100,00035% |
| Any buyer, off-plan | AED 1,000,00050% | AED 3,000,00050% |
Add your available deposit in the calculator to see whether your cash, rather than your income, limits the price. To budget the purchase fees as well, use the Dubai Property Buying Cost Calculator.
How mortgage interest affects affordability
UAE mortgages are repaid on a reducing-balance basis: each fixed monthly payment covers that month’s interest on the outstanding balance, and the rest repays the loan. The payment on a loan of L over n months at a monthly rate i is L × i ÷ (1 − (1 + i)−n). The calculator runs the same formula in reverse to find the loan a given payment supports.
Higher rates mean higher payments, so the same DBR allowance supports a smaller loan. That is why the CBUAE requires the DBR to be tested at 2 to 4 percentage points above the current rate, and at the rate that applies after any introductory period. Each lender chooses its uplift within that range, so the calculator shows both ends rather than picking one.
- At 4.25%Example rate
- AED 8,667.81
- At 6.25%Example rate + 2 points
- AED 10,554.71
- At 8.25%Example rate + 4 points
- AED 12,615.20
Example Dubai mortgage affordability calculation
UAE resident expatriate buying a first home, AED 35,000 monthly salary, AED 3,000 of existing monthly repayments, a 4.25% interest rate and a 25-year term, paying the minimum down payment.
- 1. DBR allowance (50%)
- AED 17,500
- 2. Minus existing repayments
- −AED 3,000
- 3. Maximum mortgage payment
- AED 14,500
- 4. Loan it supports at 6.25%
- AED 2,198,070
- 5. Income cap (7 × AED 420,000)
- AED 2,940,000
- 6. Modelled maximum mortgageLower of steps 4 and 5
- AED 2,198,070
- 7. Property price at 80% LTVMortgage ÷ maximum LTV
- AED 2,747,588
- 8. Minimum down payment
- AED 549,518
- 9. Monthly payment at 4.25%
- AED 11,907.78
- 1. DBR allowance (50%)
- AED 17,500
- 2. Minus existing repayments
- −AED 3,000
- 3. Maximum mortgage payment
- AED 14,500
- 4. Loan it supports at 8.25%
- AED 1,839,050
- 5. Income cap (7 × AED 420,000)
- AED 2,940,000
- 6. Modelled maximum mortgageLower of steps 4 and 5
- AED 1,839,050
- 7. Property price at 80% LTVMortgage ÷ maximum LTV
- AED 2,298,813
- 8. Minimum down payment
- AED 459,763
- 9. Monthly payment at 4.25%
- AED 9,962.83
The estimated affordable property range is AED 2,298,813 to AED 2,747,588. The DBR, not the income multiple, is the limit here: the stress-tested DBR loan is below the AED 2,940,000 cap. Prices are rounded up to the dirham so the full mortgage fits within the LTV; loans are rounded down.
What this calculator does not determine
The calculator applies the CBUAE’s published maximums. It cannot tell you what a particular lender will offer, because each lender also assesses:
- your employment, length of service and employer
- your credit history and Al Etihad Credit Bureau report
- the bank’s own valuation of the property (the LTV applies to the appraised value)
- which income it recognises, and how it treats credit card limits and household expenses
- its own affordability policy, which can be stricter than the regulation
- your age at the final payment and your retirement income
- the final interest rate, fees and product terms
- whether to approve the mortgage at all
It does not cover non-resident buyers, government housing programmes, interest-only loans or refinancing. Purchase costs are in the buying cost calculator, and registration fees alone in the DLD fee calculator.
Official sources and methodology
Every ratio comes from the Central Bank of the UAE’s Regulations Regarding Mortgage Loans (Circular 31/2013, as amended), read directly on 1 October 2026. No bank-specific rule is assumed. Your interest rate, income and debts are your own inputs.
- Central Bank of the UAERegulations Regarding Mortgage Loans, Article (3): Important Ratios (opens in a new tab)
- Central Bank of the UAEBoard of Directors' Resolution No. 31/2/2020 Amending Circular No. 31/2013 (first-home LTV) (opens in a new tab)
- Central Bank of the UAERegulations Regarding Mortgage Loans (Circular 31/2013, as amended) (opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
How much mortgage can I get in Dubai?
Under the CBUAE regulation, the most you can borrow is the smallest of three limits: the loan your income supports at a 50% debt burden ratio when stress tested, 7 times annual income for expatriates (8 times for UAE nationals), and the maximum loan-to-value for the property. In our worked example, a AED 35,000 salary with AED 3,000 of existing repayments gives a modelled maximum of AED 1,839,050 to AED 2,198,070. Lenders can lend less.
What is the maximum DBR for a UAE mortgage?
50% of gross salary plus regular income from a defined and specific source. All your monthly debt repayments, including the new mortgage, must fit within it. The regulation also tells lenders not to apply the maximum automatically, so many use a lower figure in practice.
What is the minimum down payment in Dubai?
It depends on who you are and what you buy. For a first home up to AED 5,000,000: 20% for expatriates and 15% for UAE nationals. Above AED 5,000,000: 30% and 25%. For a second home or investment property: 40% and 35%. For off-plan property: 50% for everyone. Purchase fees are paid on top.
Can an expat get an 80% mortgage in Dubai?
80% is the CBUAE maximum loan-to-value for an expatriate buying a first home worth up to AED 5,000,000. It is a ceiling, not an entitlement: the lender can offer less, and the loan must also pass the DBR and income-multiple limits.
What happens above AED 5,000,000?
For a first home, the maximum loan-to-value drops to 70% for expatriates and 75% for UAE nationals once the property is worth more than AED 5,000,000, so the minimum down payment jumps from 20% to 30% (expatriates). The threshold does not change the limits for second homes, investment or off-plan property.
How much can I borrow based on my salary?
Two salary limits apply. The DBR limit: 50% of monthly income, minus existing repayments, is the most your mortgage payment can be at the stress-tested rate. The income multiple: no more than 7 times annual income for expatriates, 8 times for UAE nationals. The lower of the two applies, and the calculator shows which one limits you.
What is the maximum mortgage term in the UAE?
25 years. Lenders also set a maximum age at the final payment, and where a loan runs past retirement they must check it can still be repaid from retirement income.
Does existing debt reduce my mortgage amount?
Yes. Every dirham of monthly repayments on car loans, personal loans and credit cards comes straight out of the 50% DBR allowance, leaving less for the mortgage payment. Because of how mortgage maths works, AED 1,000 a month less capacity can mean well over AED 100,000 less borrowing.
How do banks stress test a UAE mortgage?
The CBUAE requires lenders to check your DBR at 2 to 4 percentage points above the loan's current rate, depending on where rates are in the cycle, and at the rate after any introductory period ends. Each lender chooses its own uplift within that range, so the calculator shows results at both +2 and +4 points.
Is this a mortgage pre-approval?
No. It is a planning estimate based on the CBUAE's maximum limits. A lender also looks at your employment, employer, credit history, the property valuation, which income it accepts and its own policy, and only a lender can approve a mortgage.