The deposit you'll actually be asked for

By Ben Barsoum · Reviewed 15 September 2026 · General information

Start with a lender assessment and a complete cash budget. The deposit depends on your circumstances and the property.

Buying while you live in Australia

Non-resident lending is a separate assessment from resident lending. Ask the bank whether it accepts your residency, income type and chosen property, and what loan amount it can consider. Do not assume the regulatory maximum is the amount you will receive.

Use a planning scenario

The website calculator starts with a 50% deposit as an illustration for a non-resident buyer. On an AED 1,000,000 purchase, that means AED 500,000 of deposit and an AED 500,000 loan. Change it when you have a lender quote.

For resident expatriates, the CBUAE first-home framework allows up to 80% at or below AED 5 million and 70% above that level, subject to the applicable rules and bank assessment. Investment, subsequent-property and off-plan categories have different limits.

Add the costs around the deposit

Allow for land-registration charges, trustee services, valuation, mortgage registration and any agreed advisory or agency fees. Ask which costs apply to your transaction and whether the quoted amounts include VAT. Avoid counting the same agency or advisory service twice.

Olive Wealth mortgage assistance is charged at 0.5% of the amount borrowed. On the illustrative AED 500,000 loan, that is AED 2,500 before any applicable tax. We receive no bank commission.

Understand a payment plan separately

An off-plan developer schedule is a contractual payment plan, not a mortgage approval. Check when each payment is due and how you intend to fund it. A future mortgage depends on the bank’s assessment at that time.

Prepare before you commit

Obtain a current document checklist from the lender, clarify your borrowing options and review the purchase terms with the appropriate adviser. The mortgage guidance service explains the support available. You can model the cash requirement in the calculator.

References: CBUAE mortgage regulations; DLD sale-registration fees. Reviewed 15 September 2026. Deposit example is an assumption, not a lending offer.