Getting mortgage pre-approval as a UAE resident

A pre-approval is the bank's written statement — valid 60 days typically — that they will lend up to a specified amount to a specified applicant for the purchase of a property not yet identified. In the Dubai secondary market, sellers increasingly ask to see a pre-approval before accepting an offer. Getting one first puts you in a stronger position.

Documents required (salary earners, UAE resident):

1. Passport copy and visa page 2. Emirates ID 3. Three months' salary transfer bank statements 4. Salary certificate from employer (dated within 30 days) 5. Last three months' payslips 6. Credit report (the bank will typically pull this themselves — AED 30) 7. Existing liabilities: credit card limits, personal loans, car loans

Documents required (self-employed):

1. Items 1 and 2 above 2. Trade licence (valid and dated back at least 2 years) 3. Company memorandum of association 4. 12 months of company bank statements 5. Last 2 years of audited financials (or management accounts for smaller companies) 6. 6 months of personal bank statements

Documents required (non-resident buyers):

1. Passport copy 2. 6 months of bank statements from your country of residence 3. Salary certificate or proof of income 4. Source-of-funds letter from your primary banker 5. Tax returns (last 2 years) where applicable

Loan-to-value (LTV) caps enforced by the UAE Central Bank:

- Resident, first property under AED 5M: up to 80 % LTV - Resident, first property above AED 5M: up to 65 % LTV - Resident, second property: up to 65 % LTV regardless of price - Non-resident: up to 50–60 % LTV depending on bank - Off-plan: up to 50 % LTV typically

Typical interest rate as of 2026: 3-month EIBOR + 1.2 % to 2.0 % spread, depending on loan size and borrower profile. Fixed-rate first-years (typically 3 years fixed, then floating) are common; ask the banker for the full rate card in writing before committing.

Timing: 3–5 working days for resident salary earners with clean paperwork; 7–10 for self-employed; 10–15 for non-residents.

We have standing relationships with Emirates NBD, Mashreq, and HSBC — enough to give you a realistic shortlist without forcing you into one. The choice of lender should be driven by the rate card and the pre-payment terms, not by the banker's charm.