The deposit you'll actually be asked for
Verified September 2026 · General information only · 4 min read
The good news first: Australians can borrow in Dubai. UAE banks lend to non-residents, in dirhams, against Dubai property, and they do it every day. The deposit is larger than the 20 per cent you see in the marketing, but it is predictable, and there are three ways to structure a purchase so the cash you need on day one is smaller than you might think.
The 20 per cent figure, and who it is for
Under the UAE Central Bank’s rules, a resident expatriate buying a first property under AED 5 million can borrow up to 80 per cent of the price. That is where the “20 per cent deposit” line comes from, and it is real. Above AED 5 million the cap is 70 per cent; on a second or investment property it is 60 per cent.
If you live and earn in Australia, you are a non-resident borrower, and lenders typically cap you at 50 to 60 per cent of the price. So on an AED 1,600,000 apartment, plan for a deposit of AED 640,000 to 800,000, roughly A$240,000 to 300,000 at current rates, plus the purchase costs below. Our calculator switches between resident and non-resident and shows the figure instantly.
What a lender is really looking at
A UAE bank assessing a non-resident is asking three questions, and knowing them in advance is most of the work.
Can you service it? Total monthly debt repayments, including what you already pay in Australia, capped at 50 per cent of gross monthly income. Australian salary and self-employed income both count; the bank will want payslips or two years of financials, an Australian credit report, and recent bank statements.
Is the property lendable? Completed, freehold, in a community the bank has approved. Most mainstream buildings qualify; the bank’s valuation confirms it.
Is the paperwork clean? Passport, proof of address, proof of deposit funds. Lenders like to see the deposit sitting in your account for a few months rather than arriving the week before.
None of this is exotic. It is the same conversation an Australian lender would have, with the numbers in a different currency.
Three ways the day-one cash gets smaller
1. Off-plan payment plans. Developers in Dubai sell new projects on staged plans, commonly 60 per cent during construction and 40 per cent on handover, and some run 80/20 or even post-handover plans where part of the price is paid after you receive the keys. Your “deposit” becomes a series of instalments over two or three years, with no bank involved until handover, if at all. Off-plan mortgages are capped at 50 per cent for everyone, so the final instalment is the one to plan.
2. Buy as a resident. If you are relocating, becoming a UAE resident before you buy can move you from the non-resident tier to the 80 per cent tier on a first property, once you have a UAE income history a bank can assess. The sequence matters; we map it in the brief.
3. A longer term, a fixed introductory rate. Terms run to 25 years and introductory fixed rates for the first one to three years sit around 3.99 per cent at the time of writing, reverting to a variable rate linked to EIBOR afterwards. A longer term does not change the deposit, but it changes the monthly figure the bank tests you against, which can be the difference between approved and not.
The costs that sit beside the deposit
Budget these on top, because the bank does not lend against them:
- Dubai Land Department transfer fee, 4 per cent of the price plus AED 580
- Agency fee, typically 2 per cent
- Mortgage registration, 0.25 per cent of the loan plus AED 290
- Trustee office fee, AED 4,200 on most purchases
- Bank valuation, AED 2,500 to 3,500
On the AED 1,600,000 example with a 60 per cent loan, that is about AED 106,000 of costs alongside the deposit. The calculator on our home page adds it all up in AED and Australian dollars.
How we help
We do the finance groundwork so your application goes in once and clean: which tier you fall in, what your borrowing capacity looks like on Australian income, which buildings lend easily, and the realistic cash figure. Then we introduce you to a licensed mortgage adviser in the UAE who arranges the loan itself.
We will run your numbers in both currencies.
Questions Australians ask
Can a non-resident Australian get a mortgage in Dubai?
Yes. UAE banks lend to non-residents against completed freehold property, typically up to 50 to 60 per cent of the price.
How much deposit do I need for a Dubai property?
Non-residents typically need 40 to 50 per cent. UAE residents buying a first property under AED 5 million can borrow up to 80 per cent, so 20 per cent down.
Can I use an off-plan payment plan instead of a mortgage?
Yes. Developer plans spread the price over construction, commonly 60/40 or 80/20, with no bank needed until handover.
What income does a UAE bank accept from Australia?
Salary and self-employed income, evidenced by payslips or financials, bank statements and an Australian credit report, with total repayments capped at 50 per cent of gross monthly income.
Olive Wealth Consultancy FZ-LLC provides research, consultancy and purchase project management. We are not a licensed mortgage broker and do not arrange credit, and we are not a licensed financial or tax adviser. Lending criteria, rates, fees and market figures change without notice; figures are indicative and current at September 2026. Obtain independent, appropriately licensed advice before acting.