Mortgage Calculator
Work out your monthly mortgage payment and the total upfront cost of buying a home in the UAE — down payment, DLD transfer fee, agent commission and bank fees — in dirhams. Free, no sign-up.
Purchase Details
Expat resident, first home under AED 5M: max 80% loan, so 20% down. 25% above AED 5M, more for a second property or off-plan. UAE nationals can borrow up to 85%.
UAE mortgage rates are usually fixed for 1–5 years and then float with EIBOR (which tracks US rates via the dollar peg). Enter the rate you expect to pay on average.
The Dubai Land Department transfer fee is 4% of the price (paid by the buyer, plus a small admin fee). Abu Dhabi is around 2%. It cannot be added to the mortgage.
Estate agent commission ~2% + 5% VAT, a bank arrangement fee ~1%, a mortgage registration fee (0.25% of the loan), a valuation (~AED 3,000) and trustee fees — together roughly 3.5%.
Your Mortgage
Monthly Payment
AED 6,670
AED 1,200,000 loan · 4.5% · 25 years
💬 In Plain Words
To buy a home priced at AED 1,500,000 with a 20% deposit, you borrow AED 1,200,000 and pay about AED 6,670 a month for 25 years. Over the full term you pay AED 800,997 in interest. On the day you buy, you need AED 412,500 in cash — the down payment plus the DLD transfer fee, agent commission and bank fees — none of which can go into the mortgage.
Cash Needed at Purchase
Estimate for educational purposes. Not included: mortgage life and property insurance the bank requires, the exact tiered fees, and the step-up when a fixed rate ends and floats with EIBOR. Assumes one level-payment loan at a constant rate. The 50% debt-burden ratio also caps how much you can borrow. Confirm every figure with your bank and conveyancer before you commit.
How the Mortgage Payment Is Worked Out
👋 Simple Explanation
A mortgage is a loan secured on the property. You put down a deposit, borrow the rest, and repay it with interest over 20 to 30 years. Early on, most of each payment is interest; later, most is principal. Paying a little extra each month, or making a lump sum when you can, cuts the total interest sharply because it shortens the term.
Payment = L × [r(1+r)ⁿ] / [(1+r)ⁿ − 1]
Where L = loan amount, r = monthly interest rate (annual ÷ 12), and n = the number of monthly payments (term in years × 12).
Costs and Rules When Buying a Home in the UAE
The big upfront items, all paid in cash on top of the price, are the down payment (at least 20% for an expat's first home under AED 5M, as the loan is capped at 80% of value), the Dubai Land Department transfer fee of 4% (Abu Dhabi ~2%), the estate agent commission of about 2% plus 5% VAT, a bank arrangement fee of about 1%, a mortgage registration fee of 0.25% of the loan, and a valuation. Budget roughly 7–8% of the price for fees. Your borrowing is also capped by a 50% debt-burden ratio of income. There is no government housing loan for expats — a UAE national has access to subsidised housing programmes. Add every cost up before you decide how much you need saved.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does it cost to buy a home in Dubai besides the price?
- In Dubai the buyer pays the Dubai Land Department transfer fee of 4% of the price plus a small admin fee, a mortgage registration fee of 0.25% of the loan amount plus AED 290, an estate agent commission of about 2% plus 5% VAT, a bank arrangement fee (around 1%), a property valuation fee (roughly AED 2,500–3,500), and trustee office fees. Abu Dhabi charges a lower transfer fee (around 2%). None of it can be added to the mortgage — it must be paid in cash.
- How big a down payment do I need for a UAE mortgage?
- For an expatriate resident buying a first home under AED 5 million, the maximum loan-to-value is 80%, so you need at least 20% as a down payment (25% above AED 5M, and more for a second property or an off-plan purchase). A UAE national can borrow up to 85%. On top of the down payment you need the ~7–8% of purchase costs in cash. Your total monthly debt repayments must stay within a 50% debt-burden ratio of income.
- Can a foreigner buy property in the UAE?
- Yes, in designated freehold areas — most of the popular parts of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Outside those areas, foreigners can typically only hold leasehold or usufruct rights. Buying a qualifying property (from AED 2 million) can also make you eligible for a 10-year Golden Visa.