Can I get a mortgage for a commercial property in the UAE?

How commercial mortgages differ from residential

Commercial property finance is priced and structured differently to a home loan. Loan-to-value is generally capped at 50-60% rather than 80%, terms are shorter — often 10-15 years — and pricing sits above residential rates to reflect higher perceived risk and shorter amortisation. Approval also tends to take longer, since the bank is underwriting a business or an income-generating asset, not just a salaried individual.

What lenders assess

• Rental yield and lease terms if the property is income-generating
• Business cash flow and trading history if you're buying for your own operations
• Your personal income and credit profile alongside the business case
• The property type and location, since financeability varies case by case
• Whether the purchase is in a personal or company name, which changes the documents required

Who typically uses commercial finance

Commercial mortgages suit business owners buying premises to occupy, investors buying offices, retail or warehouse space to lease out, and companies expanding their footprint. If you're simply buying a residential apartment to rent out, that's usually assessed differently — see our buy-to-let guide for how the two compare.

Typical terms at a glance

Getting started

1. 1Gather your trade licence and 2-3 years of company financials, or a signed lease if the property is tenanted
2. 2Compare lenders through commercial mortgage financing rather than a single bank
3. 3Model different loan-to-value scenarios with the mortgage calculator before making an offer