The Dubai down payment rule everyone quotes is 20%. The actual cash you need at transfer is closer to 26-27%, and the gap is where first-time buyers get ambushed.
The down payment is the buyer’s initial cash contribution toward the purchase, with the balance financed by mortgage. UAE Central Bank rules set minimum down payments for expats at 20% on properties under AED 5M and 30% above that; Emirati residents get marginally better terms. For off-plan, banks are usually willing to finance only up to 50% of the contract price until handover.
A client last month budgeted AED 300k on a AED 1.5M ready unit, expecting 20%. Actual cash required at transfer landed at AED 420k. We had to pause the deal while he liquidated a position.
Model 27%, not 20%. Sleep better.
Related: LTV, Mortgage, DLD Fee, Transfer Fee.
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