Compare Home Finance in United Arab Emirates

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20 live offers compared from 15 providers, from 3.25% APR. Updated daily.

Home finance in the UAE: October 2026 at a glance

Giraffy compares 20 home finance offers from 15 UAE banks. Listed rates start at 2.75% at ADIB and Dubai Islamic Bank, then 2.99% at ADCB, Emirates NBD, FAB, Mashreq and Emirates Islamic, up to 3.99% at HSBC. Listed loan-to-value reaches 85% of the property value for UAE nationals at FAB, ADIB and Dubai Islamic Bank, and 75% for expats.

Most offers run up to 25 years, while Ajman Bank, Al Hilal Bank and Sharjah Islamic Bank cap the term at 20 years. Islamic banks offer diminishing Musharaka: the bank buys the property with you and you buy out its share with each instalment. Before you sign: ask what the rate becomes after the fixed period, and check processing, valuation and early-settlement fees and the insurance required with the finance — these can outweigh a quarter-point difference in the rate. See also home insurance and personal finance.

What is home finance in the UAE?

Home finance, or a mortgage, is a long-term loan secured against a property that you repay in monthly instalments over a term of up to 25 years. In the UAE it is central to the Dubai and Abu Dhabi property markets, where residents and, in designated freehold zones, some overseas buyers purchase homes. Products come in conventional (interest-based) and Islamic forms, the latter structured as Ijara (lease-to-own) or Murabaha (cost-plus sale) so that ownership can be financed without conventional interest, giving buyers a genuine choice of approach.

How the UAE market works

The Central Bank of the UAE sets the core lending rules that shape every mortgage. Expatriates can generally borrow up to 80% of the value of a first property priced under AED 5 million, meaning a 20% deposit, with the required deposit rising for higher-value homes, while UAE nationals qualify for slightly higher loan-to-value limits. Rates are typically quoted as fixed for an initial period and then variable, usually linked to EIBOR plus a margin. Crucially, total monthly debt repayments across all borrowing are capped at 50% of gross income.

Benefits of home finance

Access to ownership — Lets you buy without paying the full price upfront, spreading the cost over decades.

Fixed-rate certainty — Introductory fixed periods protect your repayments against short-term rate rises.

Islamic options — Ijara and Murabaha structures let buyers finance a home in a Sharia-compliant way.

How to choose

Compare the initial rate but pay equal attention to the follow-on variable rate and the margin over EIBOR, since that governs most of a long mortgage term. Weigh arrangement, processing and valuation fees, the early-settlement charge, and whether the product is fixed or variable overall. Decide between conventional and Islamic finance, factor in mandatory building insurance and life cover, and obtain a pre-approval to confirm your realistic budget before you start viewing properties.

Leading providers in the UAE

Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank, ADCB, HSBC UAE, RAKBank and Standard Chartered are major conventional lenders, while Dubai Islamic Bank and ADIB lead on Sharia-compliant home finance. Rates, fees and eligibility criteria vary between them and with the specific property and buyer profile, so comparing offers, or using a mortgage adviser, can save a significant sum over the life of the loan.

What it costs

Mortgage rates in the UAE commonly start from around 3.25% for an introductory period, with arrangement fees, valuation costs and insurance adding to the total outlay. Monthly repayments run to several thousand dirhams and the principal into the millions on prime property. Because the follow-on variable rate drives long-run cost, confirm it, the deposit required and all upfront charges before committing to a lender.

Protections and regulation

The CBUAE regulates mortgage lending, capping loan-to-value ratios, the maximum term at 25 years and the debt-burden ratio at 50% of income, and limiting early-settlement fees. Lenders require building insurance and usually life cover assigned to the loan. Read the offer letter closely for the variable-rate mechanism, the reference index and the settlement terms, so there are no surprises once the fixed period ends.

Common questions

How much deposit do I need? — Usually at least 20% for expats on a first property under AED 5 million, more above that threshold.

Fixed or variable? — Most deals fix for an initial period then move to an EIBOR-linked variable rate.

Can I get Sharia-compliant finance? — Yes, Islamic banks offer Ijara and Murabaha home finance.

Home Finance in United Arab Emirates — FAQ