Process
The Dubai mortgage process, step by step
From pre-approval to collecting your keys: each step of getting a mortgage in Dubai, what happens and how long it typically takes.
Key takeaways
- From application to keys typically takes 3 to 6 weeks for a ready property.
- Pre-approval usually takes 2 to 5 working days and lasts about 60 days.
- The transfer happens at a registration trustee office, with the bank and seller.
The steps
- 1
Check your budget
Work out what you can borrow and what you’ll need for the deposit and costs.
- 2
Get pre-approved
The bank reviews your income and credit. This usually takes 2 to 5 working days and is valid for about 60 days.
- 3
Find a property
Agree the price and sign the sales agreement (Form F), usually with a 10% security deposit.
- 4
Valuation
The bank’s valuer confirms the property is worth the price. The loan is based on the lower of price and valuation.
- 5
Final offer
The bank issues your final offer letter. Read the rate, fees and early settlement terms before signing.
- 6
Transfer
At the trustee office, the bank pays the seller, the property is registered in your name and the mortgage is recorded.
- 7
Keys
You collect your keys. Repayments typically start the following month.
How long it takes
For a ready property, most purchases complete 3 to 6 weeks after the application, depending on the documents, the valuation and the seller. Deals where the seller still has a mortgage take longer, because two banks are involved; see seller buyouts.
How to avoid delays
- Gather your documents before you apply; incomplete files are the most common cause of delay.
- Get pre-approved before you make an offer.
- Check that your pre-approval won’t expire before the transfer date.
Buying off-plan instead? The timeline follows construction; see off-plan mortgages and handover payments.
Figures are typical for UAE mortgages and are for general information only. Your offer depends on your profile and the lending bank.
