Eligibility
How much down payment do I need for a mortgage?
Your required down payment in the UAE typically ranges from 15% to 50% of the property value, depending on your residency status, the property price and whether it's your first home. Expat residents buying a first home under AED 5M typically need at least 20% down; non-residents and investment purchases need more.
Down payment by scenario
The down payment is simply the inverse of the maximum loan-to-value (LTV) a bank will offer. UAE Central Bank mortgage caps set the boundaries, though individual banks can be more conservative:
| Buyer / property type | Typical max LTV | Minimum down payment |
|---|---|---|
| UAE national, first home under AED 5M | 85% | 15% |
| Expat resident, first home under AED 5M | 80% | 20% |
| First home above AED 5M | 70% | 30% |
| Second or investment property | 60% | 40% |
| Off-plan property | ~50% | ~50% |
| Non-resident buyer | 50-60% | 40-50% |
Worked example: cash needed on a AED 2,000,000 property
The down payment is only part of the cash you need on completion day. Here's the full picture for an expat resident buying a first home at 80% LTV:
| Item | Basis | Approx. amount |
|---|---|---|
| Down payment | 20% of price | AED 400,000 |
| DLD transfer fee | 4% of price + AED 580 | AED 80,580 |
| Mortgage registration fee | 0.25% of AED 1.6M loan + AED 290 | AED 4,290 |
| Agency commission | ~2% of price | AED 40,000 |
| Trustee office fee | Fixed | ~AED 4,200 |
| Valuation fee | Fixed | ~AED 2,500-3,500 |
| Total cash required | ~AED 531,570-533,570 |
In other words, on a AED 2 million purchase, expect to need roughly AED 530,000-535,000 in liquid funds before you get the keys — around 26-27% of the property price in total, not just the 20% headline deposit.
Why non-residents and investment buyers need more
Banks apply lower LTVs when the risk profile is higher — a non-resident's income and employment are harder to verify locally, and investment or second properties are viewed as more likely to be sold or defaulted on if the market turns. This is why these categories typically require 40-50% down rather than 20%. See non-resident mortgage rules for the full detail if this applies to you.
Costs beyond the down payment
The down payment isn't the only upfront cost. You'll also need funds for the 4% DLD transfer fee, agency commission of roughly 2%, and other one-off charges — these must be paid from your own funds and generally cannot be added to the mortgage. See the full cost breakdown for the complete list.
Planning your deposit
Use the mortgage calculator to test different down payment sizes against your monthly repayment, and read about family gift funding if you need help topping up your deposit.
Run the numbers on your own case
Free Lenddoo tools and guides related to this article.
Last reviewed 8 July 2026
