Can Non-Residents Get a Mortgage in Abu Dhabi?

## LTV Limits in Abu Dhabi UAE Central Bank regulations apply uniformly across Abu Dhabi and Dubai: | Buyer Type | Property Value | Max LTV | Min Down Payment | |---|---|---|---| | Non-resident | Up to AED 5M | 75% | 25% | | Non-resident | Above AED 5M | 65% | 35% | | UAE resident expat | Up to AED 5M | 80% | 20% | On a AED 1,750,000 Al Reem Island 2-bedroom: minimum non-resident down payment AED 437,500 + transaction costs AED 70,000–90,000. Total cash required: approximately AED 525,000. ## Abu Dhabi-Based Lenders - **First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)** — largest Abu Dhabi bank, active non-resident mortgage programme - **Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB)** — competitive rates, strong Abu Dhabi property expertise - **Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB)** — Sharia-compliant Murabaha home finance - Emirates NBD, Mashreq, HSBC, Standard Chartered — all active in Abu Dhabi property ## Abu Dhabi vs Dubai Mortgage Differences **Mortgage registration fee:** Abu Dhabi charges 0.1% of the loan value versus Dubai's 0.25%. On a AED 1.3M loan: Abu Dhabi costs AED 1,300 versus Dubai's AED 3,250. Meaningful saving. **Leasehold vs freehold:** Some banks apply stricter criteria for leasehold properties. Confirm with your lender that the specific community and ownership structure (freehold, usufruct) qualifies for mortgage lending before proceeding. **ADREC valuation:** Abu Dhabi banks require an ADREC-recognised valuation of the property before mortgage approval. This is different from Dubai where banks use their own approved valuers. ## DRE Advisory Note The FAB and ADCB non-resident mortgage products are among the most straightforward in the UAE for overseas buyers — their processes are designed for international income documentation. District can connect buyers with mortgage specialists who work specifically with Abu Dhabi Investment Zone properties.