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. The ~2% agency line applies to a RESALE. On off-plan and direct-from-developer purchases the developer covers our fee, so you pay us no commission - budget the 4% DLD fee plus a developer admin fee of roughly AED 1,000-6,000 instead. (Figures as of 2026-08-04 - confirm with your agent.)