How much down payment do I need to buy property in Dubai as an expat?
The Central Bank caps expat borrowing at 80% loan-to-value for a first property up to AED 5 million - a 20% deposit; above AED 5 million it's 70% (30% deposit), and a second property is capped at 60% (40% deposit). Budget another ~7-8% for fees: 4% DLD transfer, ~2% agency, 0.25% mortgage registration and valuation.