Imagine you want to buy a new home in Dubai. That’s pretty exciting for anyone, right? But here’s the thing – coming up with all the cash you need upfront can be tough. Don’t worry, though! Getting a mortgage or a home loan in Dubai can make it much easier. Instead of paying everything at once, you can manage your payments over time.
Now, whether you’re living in the UAE, from another country, working for a company, or running your own business, there are some bank requirements for mortgage application approval you need to follow them. This guide will help you understand what documents you’ll need to apply for a mortgage in different cases. Let’s make your dream of owning a home in Dubai a reality!
Bank Requirements for UAE Residents
For a mortgage, there are some requirements from the Bank of UAE for the nationals or residents of UAE. The Documentation required for the mortgage approval is listed below,
Eligibility Criteria
- For salaried employees, a minimum of 6 months in their current job is typically required.
- Self-employed individuals are generally expected to have been operating their business for at least 2 years.
- Maintaining a positive credit history is a crucial factor.
- Initial down payments usually begin at 20%, although some national Islamic funding options may require only 15%.
- Many banks set a minimum monthly income threshold, often starting at AED 15,000 (or AED 25,000 in salary or AED 3,000,000 in annual turnover for self-employed borrowers).
- Usually, banks cap the monthly loan repayment at 50% of your income.
- Typically, applicants should fall within the age range of 21 to 70 years old.
- Some banks may restrict loans to individuals employed in well-established institutions or government departments.
Moreover, in addition to these documents, banks also verify the identity, residency, employment status, and financial position of the lender for trustworthiness.
Pre-Approval & Final Approval Documents for Residents
Common documents for pre-approval for both Salaried and Self-Employed
- Passport
- Emirates ID
| Pre-approval | Final approval | |
| Salaried | Self-Employed | Fully Filled Mortgage Application |
| Current salary certificate | a valid copy of your trade license | Facility Approval Proof |
| Pay slips from the past 3-6 months | Memorandum of Association (MOA) with all updates | Executed Purchase Agreement (Form F + MOU) |
| If you’ve been in your current job for less than 3 years, show proof of your previous employment | Submit audited financial records from the last 2 years | NOC |
| recent credit card statements | bank statements for your company from the last 6 months | — |
| Labor ID (if applicable) | personal bank statements for the past 6 months | — |
These documents are typically required during the mortgage application process for the nationals of UAE to assess your financial situation and eligibility.
Bank Requirements for Expats
The Home loan eligibility criteria for ex-pats which are very similar to the eligibility criteria of UAE residents are listed below,
Eligibility Criteria
- For salaried employees, a minimum of 6 months in their current job is typically required.
- Self-employed individuals are generally expected to have been operating their business for at least 2 years.
- Maintaining a positive credit history is a crucial factor.
- Initial down payments usually begin at 20%, although some national Islamic funding options may require only 15%.
- Many banks set a minimum monthly income threshold, often starting at AED 15,000 (or AED 25,000 in salary or AED 3,000,000 in annual turnover for self-employed borrowers).
- Usually, banks cap the monthly loan repayment at 50% of your income.
- Typically, applicants should fall within the age range of 21 to 65 years old, 70 years for self-employed
- Loan duration up to 25 years.
- Some banks may restrict loans to individuals employed in well-established institutions or government departments.
Pre-Approval and Final Approval Documents for Expats
Common documents for pre-approval for both Salaried and Self-Employed
- Passport
- Emirates ID
- Proof of Residency with DEWA utility bills
| Pre-approval | Final approval | |
| Salaried | Self-Employed | Fully Filled Mortgage Application |
| Current salary certificate | a valid copy of your trade license | Facility Approval Proof |
| Pay slips from the past 3-6 months | Memorandum of Association (MOA) with all updates | Executed Purchase Agreement (Form F + MOU) |
| If you’ve been in your current job for less than 3 years, show proof of your previous employment | Submit audited financial records from the last 2 years | NOC |
| recent credit card statements | bank statements for your company from the last 6 months | — |
| Labor ID (if applicable) | personal bank statements for the past 6 months | — |
You can explore more home loans for ex-pats in the UAE for the understanding of applying for mortgage applications in the bank.
Bank Requirements for Foreigners
The typical Mortgage application process has also some bank requirements for mortgages for foreigners or non-residents of the UAE. The required documents are listed below,
Eligibility Criteria
- For salaried employees, a minimum of 6 months in their current job is typically required.
- Self-employed individuals are generally expected to have been operating their business for at least 2 years.
- Maintaining a positive credit history is a crucial factor.
- Initial down payments usually begin at 20%, although some national Islamic funding options may require only 15%.
- Many banks set a minimum monthly income threshold, often starting from $ 4,000 (or An annual turnover exceeding $816,000 for self-employed individuals).
- Usually, banks cap the monthly loan repayment at 50% of your income.
- Typically, applicants should fall within the age range of 21 to 65 years old.
- Loan duration up to 25 years.
Pre-Approval and Final Approval Documents for Foreigners
Common documents for pre-approval for both Salaried and Self-Employed
- Passport with all pages
- Local ID
- Overseas residential proof
| Pre-approval | Final approval | |
| Salaried | Self-Employed | Fully Filled Mortgage Application |
| Current salary certificate | Company establishment document | Facility Approval Proof |
| Pay slips from the past 3-6 months | Memorandum of Association (MOA) with all updates | Executed Purchase Agreement (Form F + MOU) |
| If you’ve been in your current job for less than 3 years, show proof of your previous employment | Submit audited financial records from the last 2 years | NOC |
| Reference letter with at least 45 years old | bank statements for your company from the last 6 months | — |
| Tax return for last two years | personal bank statements for the past 6 months | — |
| Chamber of Commerce registration copy | ||
| Labor contract copy | ||
How to Send These Mortgage Application Documents?
If you directly go to a bank or through a mortgage broker in Dubai for the application process then the bank gives to a list of required documents which they needed. These documents must be sent or you can WhatsApp them to the selected broker or bank to further examine the documents. After examination of documents, may be little mistakes found (Leading to numerous exchanges and discussions), which causes the delay of the application approval process.
Bottom Line
we’ve covered the eligibility criteria for both the pre-approval and final approval stages of the mortgage application process, focusing on UAE residents, UAE non-residents, and expats. These criteria are vital in meeting the bank requirements for mortgage applications. Understanding these prerequisites is key to making your dream of homeownership in the UAE a reality.