Discovering Excellence
Discovering Excellence
In order to estimate your eligibility, each bank refers to a Stress Test Rate, currently averaging across banks about 7.3% (the rate used in the calculator). The rate varies between 6.4% and 8.5% depending on the Bank and its policy.
As a rule of thumb, your loan amount is usually capped at around seven times your annual income, and your total monthly loan payments shouldn’t go over 50% of what you earn each month.
UAE banks assess your Debt-Burden Ratio (DBR) to decide how much you can borrow. It’s the percentage of your monthly income that goes toward repaying debts (including your future mortgage payments). Lenders use a slightly higher interest rate to calculate your mortgage — just to ensure you can still afford payments if rates rise in the future.
If you’re a resident, you’ll need at least 20% of the property price in cash to get a mortgage. For UAE nationals, it’s a bit lower at 15%. Non-residents can also apply, but they’ll need a minimum of 40% as a down payment. Don’t forget to budget for extra costs like fees, taxes, and registration which is typically an additional 8%.
