An off-plan mortgage is a bank loan used to buy a property that is still under construction. Unlike a mortgage on a finished home — where the bank hands over the full loan at completion — an off-plan mortgage is released in stages tied to construction progress, and it comes with one rule that surprises most buyers: the bank will only lend you half.
Can I get a mortgage on off-plan property in Dubai?
Yes — several UAE banks finance off-plan property, but only on projects from approved developers, and the maximum loan is 50% of the property's value. You fund the other 50% plus fees yourself, and the bank releases its share in stages as construction hits agreed milestones.
The reason the cap is so much lower than a normal mortgage comes down to risk. Until the building is finished, there is no physical property for the bank to repossess if something goes wrong — so the Central Bank limits how much lenders can put in. That single fact shapes everything else about how these mortgages work.
Off-plan mortgage — the numbers that matter (2026)
- Maximum LTV
- 50%All nationalities — Central Bank rule
- Your deposit
- 50%+Plus fees, from your own funds
- Indicative rate
- ~4.49%With salary transfer · fixed 3 yrs
- Rate without transfer
- ~4.99%Fixed 3 years, then variable
- Construction needed
- ~35–50%Before the bank releases funds
- Pre-approval valid
- ~90 daysSecure it before you commit
What is the maximum LTV on off-plan property in Dubai?
The maximum LTV for an off-plan mortgage in Dubai is 50% of the property's assessed value, set by the UAE Central Bank and applied regardless of your nationality, income or credit profile.
This is the biggest difference between off-plan and ready-property financing. On a completed first home, a resident expat can borrow up to 80% and a UAE national up to 85%. On off-plan, everyone is capped at 50% — there is no profile strong enough to change it. So your developer, the project's completion timeline and your own cash position matter far more than your salary or credit score.
Worked example — AED 2,000,000 off-plan apartment
Figures are indicative and exclude valuation and broker fees. The point is simple: the "I can afford the monthly payment" question is not the same as "I have the cash to close." Off-plan is about freeing up liquidity during construction — not about borrowing your way in with a small deposit.
How much deposit do I need for an off-plan mortgage?
You need at least 50% of the property value in cash, plus fees. Buyers usually pay a booking deposit of 10–20% to the developer first, then build toward their full 50% share through the developer's milestone payments, with the bank's 50% released alongside as construction progresses.
When does the bank actually release the money?
Most UAE banks release off-plan mortgage funds only once the project reaches roughly 35–50% construction completion, verified by official inspection, and after you have already paid a meaningful share of the price. The money then comes in stages tied to construction milestones — never as one lump sum at booking.
This is where buyers get caught out. If you book on a "10/90" plan expecting a mortgage to cover the 90%, you may find the bank won't release anything until the project is well advanced and you've paid far more than 10% yourself. Here's the typical sequence:
Book the unit
Pay a booking deposit — often 10–20% — directly to the developer. Funds go into a DLD-controlled escrow account, not to the developer's pocket.
Get pre-approved
Secure mortgage pre-approval (valid ~90 days) so you know your ceiling before construction reaches the drawdown stage.
Reach the completion milestone
Once the project hits ~35–50% construction, the bank commissions a valuation and prepares to release its share.
Staged drawdown
The bank releases funds in phases against verified construction milestones, alongside your own instalments, through to handover.
Off-plan mortgage rates in Dubai (2026)
As of mid-2026, indicative off-plan rates are around 4.49% with salary transfer to the lending bank, or 4.99% without, fixed for three years. After the fixed period the rate becomes variable and tracks EIBOR. Off-plan pricing sits slightly above ready-property rates.
One thing worth planning for: model your affordability against the revert rate, not just the headline. When the three-year fix ends, your rate becomes EIBOR plus a margin — and that margin is negotiable. Getting it right at the outset can save tens of thousands over the life of the loan. This is exactly the kind of detail a broker earns their keep on.
Which banks finance off-plan property in Dubai?
Only select banks finance off-plan, and only on their own list of approved developers. Lenders active in off-plan in 2026 include Mashreq, Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD and Arab Bank — each with different approved projects, construction thresholds and income requirements.
If your chosen project isn't on a bank's approved list, that bank simply won't finance it — no matter how strong you are as a borrower. Approved developers typically include:
Because approvals, thresholds and income rules differ so much between lenders, matching the right bank to your specific project is most of the work — and where using a broker who compares the whole market saves the most time.
Can non-residents get an off-plan mortgage in Dubai?
It's difficult. As a general rule most UAE banks do not finance off-plan property for non-residents — non-resident products usually target completed, titled property at around 50–60% LTV. A broker can identify the few lenders and structures that might work for a non-resident off-plan purchase.
Off-plan mortgage vs developer payment plan
This is the real decision most buyers face, and neither answer is automatically right:
- Developer payment plan — spreads the cost across construction (and sometimes post-handover) with little or no interest. If you can meet the scheduled instalments comfortably, it's usually cheaper in total cost of ownership.
- Off-plan mortgage — you'll pay more overall because of interest, but you free up capital during construction to invest elsewhere or hold in reserve. It's about liquidity and flexibility, not saving money.
The right choice depends on your cash position, your other opportunities for that capital, and how comfortable you are with the developer's schedule. We help buyers model both side by side before committing.
Thinking about an off-plan purchase?
Get free, independent advice on whether an off-plan mortgage or a developer payment plan is right for your situation — and which banks will finance your project.
Frequently asked questions
You pay the developer first. A booking deposit (often 10–20%) goes into the project's DLD-controlled escrow account, and you continue paying your own share through early milestones. The bank only begins releasing its 50% once construction reaches the required completion stage.
Most banks require roughly 35–50% verified construction completion before they'll release mortgage funds. The exact threshold varies by lender and by project — some are stricter than others, which is why the choice of bank matters.
In many cases yes — once a project is advanced enough and from an approved developer, you can bring in a mortgage to replace remaining developer instalments, subject to the 50% LTV cap and the bank's approval. We assess whether this makes financial sense for your specific plan.
With complete documents, pre-approval typically takes a few working days and is valid for about 90 days. Securing it early — before you fall in love with a specific unit — is one of the biggest things that separates smooth off-plan purchases from stressful ones.
Yes, and they can be high. Some off-plan products carry premium salary requirements — for example minimum monthly income thresholds well above those for ready-property mortgages. Requirements vary sharply by bank, so it's worth checking your eligibility before committing to a unit.
This guide is general information about Dubai's published mortgage rules and current market practice as of July 2026 — not legal or financial advice. LTV caps, rates, fees and lender criteria change and vary by bank, developer and individual circumstances. Figures shown are indicative and subject to lender approval and property valuation. Always confirm exact terms with the bank issuing your offer. Your property may be at risk if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.