An individual is eligible for the 10-year renewable residency program if they acquire a property in the UAE valued at AED 2m. This is regardless of whether it’s off-plan, completed, mortgaged or not mortgaged.

Many of the local lenders cap their max. loans at AED 20m, which is a relatively low amount considering properties often sell in excess of AED 100m. There are however a handful of global private banks that lend in excess of AED 50m, subject to certain conditions.

As opposed to the UK, when taking out a mortgage in the UAE the pricing does not hinge on things like LTV. No matter how much you borrow or how the property will be utilised, the pricing is almost always unchanged. Non-residents pay a higher premium than residents. The documentary requirements are often much lighter, with some lenders requiring only bank statements.