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Is DIB Off-Plan Home Finance worth using now?

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SUMMARY

Yes, DIB Off-Plan Home Finance is worth using now for the right buyer, but it is mainly a liquidity tool for people who have already put substantial cash into an off-plan property rather than a way to buy with a small deposit.

The 50% headline financing limit can be misleading. DIB generally requires the buyer to have already contributed at least 50% of the property price, so someone entering a project with a 10% or 20% deposit gets little immediate benefit.

The product becomes much more interesting later in construction. Once an approved project has reached roughly 35% completion, DIB can progressively fund remaining developer instalments instead of forcing the buyer to keep supplying all the cash personally.

The profit-only period improves cash flow, but it does not make the financing cheap. Principal is simply postponed, and a buyer can reach the end of that period owing almost exactly what they owed at the beginning.

Construction delays create one of the less obvious risks. Full repayments can begin after two years of financing even if the property has still not been handed over, leaving an investor paying principal before any rental income exists.

DIB is unusually broad on eligibility. Eligible non-residents can apply, salary transfer is not compulsory, and the product is available across all seven Emirates, which gives it a real advantage over some developer-specific or resident-only alternatives.

That does not automatically make DIB the cheapest lender. ADCB is advertising rates starting from 3.49% on qualifying deals and can waive processing and valuation fees, while DIB's final profit rate depends on the borrower-specific margin added to its reference rate.

Fees matter more than they first appear. DIB's Forward Ijarah due-diligence and documentation charge is 1.05% of the finance amount, so an AED 1 million facility can carry an AED 10,500 charge before valuation and other third-party costs.

DIB approval should be treated as a useful project filter, not an investment recommendation. The bank may be comfortable with the developer and collateral while the apartment itself is still overpriced, exposed to heavy future supply or likely to produce disappointing rent.

The cleanest use case is a buyer who could finish paying the developer in cash but prefers not to lock so much liquidity into one unfinished property. If DIB is needed simply because the buyer has run out of money for the next instalment, the same financing becomes much harder to justify.

What has actually changed with DIB Off-Plan Home Finance?

DIB Off-Plan Home Finance has genuinely changed what some UAE buyers can do during construction because Dubai Islamic Bank can now step in before handover and fund remaining developer instalments progressively.

DIB launched the product recently for freehold properties under construction. The bank says financing can reach 50% of the property value, with payments released in line with the developer’s construction milestones. Eligible UAE nationals, residents and non-residents can apply.

That fills a real gap. Off-plan buyers have traditionally relied heavily on their own cash and the developer’s payment plan during construction, then arranged a normal mortgage closer to completion. DIB can now enter earlier.

DIB is also entering a market that is moving quickly. ADCB has introduced off-plan financing with developers including Emaar, Mashreq now markets financing for selected under-construction properties, and Emirates NBD has been building financing partnerships with major developers. Buyers therefore have more choice today than they did even a year ago.

DIB stands out mainly because its proposition is broad: all seven Emirates, eligible non-residents, no compulsory salary transfer and progressive financing before completion. Whether it is actually the best option depends much more on the price DIB offers an individual borrower.

Feature DIB ADCB Mashreq Conventional handover mortgage
Finance before completion Yes Yes, depending on programme Yes Usually near completion
Maximum advertised off-plan finance 50% Up to 50% Up to 50% Not applicable
DIB-style construction threshold 35% Programme dependent 35% on published offer Property normally completed
Buyer contribution before finance At least 50% Depends on programme At least 50% Standard mortgage deposit
Main attraction Broad eligibility and progressive funding Strong developer partnerships and pricing Selected-project finance Much higher potential LTV

Can you really buy an off-plan property with only 50% cash using DIB?

No. DIB Off-Plan Home Finance currently requires the buyer to have already paid at least 50% of the purchase price, so it does very little for someone trying to enter an off-plan project with a small deposit.

This is probably the single most important detail in the product.

Take a AED 2 million apartment. DIB can potentially finance up to AED 1 million, but the buyer must first have contributed at least AED 1 million. Someone who has only paid a 10% launch deposit cannot simply ask DIB to finance the next 40%.

The limit largely comes from UAE mortgage regulation. The Central Bank caps financing on off-plan property at 50% of the property value regardless of whether the buyer is Emirati or expatriate, whether the home is for personal use or investment, and regardless of price.

Completed property can be much more heavily financed. For a first home worth AED 5 million or less, the regulatory maximum is 80% for an expatriate and 85% for a UAE national.

On a AED 2 million home, that creates a huge difference. An expatriate buying a completed first home can potentially borrow AED 1.6 million. The same buyer purchasing off-plan is capped at AED 1 million.

So DIB is most useful once the buyer has already built substantial equity in the project. It does not suddenly make off-plan property accessible with a 10% or 20% cash contribution.

AED 2m property Buyer equity required Potential maximum finance Maximum LTV
DIB off-plan finance AED 1,000,000+ AED 1,000,000 50%
UAE regulatory off-plan maximum AED 1,000,000 AED 1,000,000 50%
Ready first home, expatriate AED 400,000 AED 1,600,000 80%
Ready first home, UAE national AED 300,000 AED 1,700,000 85%

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Why does DIB wait until the project is 35% complete?

DIB’s 35% construction rule cuts out much of the very early development risk, although buyers also lose access to financing during the stage when they usually need the most cash.

DIB says the project normally needs to be at least 35% complete and approved by the bank. Mashreq’s published off-plan financing proposition uses the same 35% threshold.

That gives the lender much more evidence to work with. By then, the project should have moved well beyond marketing renders and initial site preparation. Construction progress can be checked, the developer’s execution becomes easier to judge and a meaningful amount of capital has already gone into the scheme.

Dubai buyers have some additional protection through the regulatory system. Off-plan projects are registered with Dubai Land Department, buyer payments flow through project escrow arrangements, and DLD publishes project-status information including recorded construction progress.

Still, 35% complete leaves plenty of work ahead. A project can cross that threshold and still suffer delays, contractor problems or slower sales.

For owner-occupiers, DIB’s threshold is fairly sensible because it pushes financing toward projects that have already demonstrated some progress. Investors trying to buy very early at launch will find it more restrictive.

A project at 70% construction with a reliable developer is clearly a safer financing proposition than one that has only just crossed DIB’s minimum.

Does paying only profit during construction actually save much money?

DIB’s profit-only period can make monthly payments much easier during construction, but the buyer still pays for the borrowed money and the outstanding principal does not fall.

DIB currently allows the customer to pay only the profit amount until completion or for two years from the start of financing, whichever comes first.

The cash-flow advantage can be meaningful.

Suppose DIB eventually finances AED 1 million at an illustrative effective rate of 5%. If the entire AED 1 million were outstanding for a year, the financing cost would be roughly AED 50,000 before principal repayments begin.

Progressive releases can reduce that. If DIB pays the developer in several tranches and the average outstanding balance during the year is only AED 500,000, the equivalent financing cost at 5% falls to around AED 25,000.

That is useful for a buyer who may still be paying rent while waiting for the property, or an investor who cannot earn rental income from the apartment yet.

There is a trade-off, though. During the profit-only period, an AED 500,000 outstanding balance can still be AED 500,000 a year later. The lower instalment comes from postponing principal repayment.

Illustrative average balance 4.5% annual cost 5.0% annual cost 5.5% annual cost Principal repaid during profit-only phase
AED 250,000 AED 11,250 AED 12,500 AED 13,750 AED 0
AED 500,000 AED 22,500 AED 25,000 AED 27,500 AED 0
AED 750,000 AED 33,750 AED 37,500 AED 41,250 AED 0
AED 1,000,000 AED 45,000 AED 50,000 AED 55,000 AED 0

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What happens to DIB finance if the developer delays handover?

A long construction delay can make DIB Off-Plan Home Finance uncomfortable because full repayments start at completion or after two years of financing, whichever happens first.

This is one of the conditions we would pay the most attention to.

Imagine DIB starts financing an apartment that is expected to be delivered 18 months later. If the developer stays close to schedule, the structure works neatly: DIB funds the remaining construction instalments, the buyer pays profit during the build, and normal principal repayments begin around the time the keys arrive.

Now imagine handover slips by another nine months. The two-year financing limit can arrive while the apartment is still unfinished.

At that point, the buyer could be making the full financing payment without being able to occupy the property or collect rent from it.

Construction delays are common enough that Dubai Land Department has formal systems for monitoring delayed and suspended projects and periodically updating expected completion information.

That makes the remaining construction timeline important when choosing whether to use DIB. We would be much more comfortable financing a strong project that is already well advanced than one sitting just above the 35% minimum with an ambitious handover date.

Is DIB Off-Plan Home Finance cheap right now?

We cannot say DIB is currently the cheapest off-plan lender because the bank does not advertise one universal all-in profit rate, while ADCB is publicly offering some qualifying borrowers rates starting from 3.49%.

DIB publishes its reference base rates, but the borrower’s actual financing cost includes a margin added by the bank. That margin varies with the facility and borrower.

For example, a reference rate around 3.6% combined with a 1.25 percentage-point margin would put the effective rate close to 4.85%. A different customer profile could produce a different spread.

The headline base rate alone tells us very little.

Competition has also become more serious lately. ADCB is advertising rates starting from 3.49% a year fixed for three years on qualifying properties, alongside no processing fee and no valuation fee. Its Emaar partnership provides renewable pre-approval through construction, although the advertised fixed rate applies at handover under the published conditions.

DIB might still produce the better individual quote. Its broader eligibility could also matter more than a few tenths of a percentage point for certain buyers.

But we would never choose DIB today before seeing the actual approved profit rate. With several banks now pushing into off-plan finance, comparison shopping has become much more valuable.

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Are DIB’s off-plan finance fees expensive?

DIB’s fees are meaningful, particularly on smaller facilities, and they make it harder to justify choosing the bank purely for convenience.

DIB’s published Home Finance Schedule of Charges lists a Forward Ijarah due-diligence and documentation fee of 1.05% of the finance amount, with a minimum of AED 5,250 and a maximum of AED 105,000.

That works out at AED 5,250 on AED 500,000 of financing, AED 10,500 on AED 1 million and AED 21,000 on AED 2 million.

DIB also lists a AED 1,575 pre-approval fee, which is adjusted against the relevant final fee when the financing proceeds. Valuation generally costs around AED 2,500 in most Emirates and around AED 3,000 in the Northern Emirates, subject to the valuation company.

Developer, land-department and other third-party charges can come on top.

Current competition makes those fees more noticeable. ADCB’s qualifying Emaar proposition, for example, advertises no processing fee and no valuation fee.

A AED 10,500 documentation charge should not decide a AED 2 million property purchase on its own, but once two banks offer similar financing rates, fees can easily break the tie.

DIB published charge Rate or amount AED 500k finance AED 1m finance AED 2m finance
Forward Ijarah due diligence/documentation 1.05% AED 5,250 AED 10,500 AED 21,000
Pre-approval AED 1,575, subject to adjustment AED 1,575 AED 1,575 AED 1,575
Typical valuation in most Emirates Around AED 2,500 AED 2,500 AED 2,500 AED 2,500
Early settlement 1.05%, capped at AED 10,500 Up to AED 5,250 Up to AED 10,500 Up to AED 10,500

Is DIB Off-Plan Home Finance actually easier to get for residents and foreign buyers?

DIB currently has one of the broadest eligibility propositions because salary transfer is not compulsory and eligible non-residents can also apply.

For salaried borrowers, DIB publishes a minimum monthly salary of AED 10,000. The maximum repayment period is 25 years, while the maximum age at maturity can reach 70 subject to the bank’s income requirements.

Removing compulsory salary transfer is useful for residents who want property financing without moving their main banking relationship.

The non-resident option is arguably more interesting. Many overseas buyers own UAE off-plan property but earn their income abroad, which can narrow the pool of banks willing to finance them during construction. DIB explicitly says its new product can be available to eligible UAE nationals, residents and non-residents.

Mashreq’s current published off-plan proposition, by comparison, is marketed to UAE residents.

None of this means DIB approves foreign borrowers as easily as local salaried employees. The bank still needs to assess income, employment, country risk, credit history and affordability. A non-resident also needs the specific development to qualify.

The AED 10,000 salary threshold should be interpreted carefully as well. UAE mortgage rules cap debt-service ratios, and DIB applies its own credit criteria. Someone earning AED 10,000 with personal loans and card debt is obviously in a different position from someone earning AED 40,000 with no other borrowing.

Still, DIB deserves a closer look today if the applicant earns outside the UAE or simply refuses to transfer salary.

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Will DIB finance any off-plan project in the UAE?

No. DIB offers Off-Plan Home Finance across all seven Emirates, but the individual project still has to be approved by the bank.

The distinction between geographic availability and project eligibility is easy to miss.

A buyer can own an apartment in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or Ras Al Khaimah and still discover that DIB will not finance that particular development.

DIB’s published conditions specify that the 35% construction threshold applies to DIB-approved projects. The bank has also said it is expanding collaborations with leading UAE developers, which suggests the approved-project network will continue developing after launch.

Competitors are moving in the same direction. ADCB has public arrangements involving Emaar and other developers, while Emirates NBD has announced financing collaborations connected to names including Sobha and Dubai Holding Real Estate brands.

These partnerships matter because off-plan finance depends heavily on the bank being comfortable with the developer, escrow structure, project status and future collateral.

Before relying on DIB to fund a coming developer instalment, the buyer should get confirmation that the exact project is eligible. “DIB finances off-plan property” is too broad to use as part of a purchase budget.

Does DIB approval mean the off-plan property is safe?

DIB approval is reassuring, but it cannot tell a buyer whether the apartment is overpriced, whether rents will disappoint or whether resale demand will still be strong at handover.

The bank does provide an extra filter. DIB has money at risk and therefore has good reasons to avoid developments it considers unacceptable collateral. Requiring at least 35% construction progress also removes many very early projects from consideration.

Dubai’s wider regulatory structure helps as well. Off-plan projects are registered, project escrow accounts are used for purchaser funds, and Dubai Land Department tracks construction progress.

Those safeguards deal mainly with project execution and financial controls.

Investment performance is another question entirely.

A development can finish on time and still produce poor returns. The launch price may have been too high. Hundreds of similar apartments may complete nearby. Rents may fall short of the broker’s projection. Buyers who intended to flip before handover may discover that the resale market is crowded.

We would therefore treat DIB approval as one useful piece of due diligence. The purchase price, developer history, competing supply and likely rental economics still need to stand up on their own.

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Why are banks suddenly pushing off-plan finance so hard?

Banks are moving into off-plan finance because under-construction property now accounts for an enormous share of UAE residential sales, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The size of the shift is difficult to ignore.

Dubai recorded around 80,000 residential transactions in the first half of 2026, and Engel & Völkers calculated that 71.3% were off-plan. Other classifications using Dubai Land Department data put the share slightly higher. CBRE had already found that nearly three-quarters of Dubai residential transactions in 2025 were off-plan.

Abu Dhabi is even more concentrated. The latest Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre report shows AED 70.4 billion of residential unit sales in the first half of 2026. Off-plan purchases represented 89% of sales value and 82% of transactions.

When seven or eight purchases out of every ten are happening before completion, leaving buyers almost entirely dependent on cash and developer payment plans becomes a major gap in the mortgage market.

Banks have noticed.

There is also a reason to stay selective now. CBRE reported that Dubai’s residential market moderated in the second quarter as demand softened, transaction activity declined and new supply reduced some of the pressure on prices.

Abu Dhabi remains much stronger, but future supply is large there too. ADREC currently expects approximately 71,000 additional residential units by 2030, with deliveries peaking around 2028.

So easier financing is arriving alongside a large development pipeline. That combination can support sales, but it also makes project selection more important. Cheap monthly financing cannot rescue an apartment bought at the wrong price.

Market Latest off-plan evidence What is happening now What it means for DIB buyers
Dubai More than 70% of H1 residential transactions Demand remains high but has become more selective Financing helps cash flow, but project choice matters more
Abu Dhabi 82% of deals and 89% of sales value Off-plan demand remains extremely strong Financing has a large potential buyer base
Abu Dhabi future supply About 71,000 additional units projected by 2030 Deliveries expected to peak around 2028 Buyers need to check competing future supply
UAE mortgage market Several banks launching off-plan products Competition is increasing Borrowers now have more leverage to compare offers

Is borrowing from DIB smarter than paying the remaining instalments in cash?

DIB financing makes the most sense when keeping the cash is genuinely valuable to the buyer and worth more than the financing cost.

Suppose an investor still owes AED 1 million to the developer and already has that AED 1 million sitting in cash or liquid investments.

Paying the developer directly removes the financing cost.

Using DIB allows the investor to keep some of that capital available elsewhere. At an illustrative effective financing rate of 5%, keeping an average AED 1 million borrowed for one year would cost around AED 50,000. Progressive drawdowns could reduce the actual figure.

The relevant question then becomes very practical: what is the buyer doing with the money that DIB allows them to keep?

Leaving AED 1 million in an account earning 3% while borrowing it at 5% creates a negative spread of roughly AED 20,000 a year before other costs.

A business owner who can use the same AED 1 million productively may make a completely different calculation. So might an investor who values maintaining a large emergency reserve rather than putting nearly all liquid wealth into one apartment.

This is where DIB’s product is strongest. Buyers with enough capital to finish the developer payment plan themselves can choose to preserve part of that liquidity.

Using financing because there is simply no money left to meet the next instalment deserves far more caution. The bank can solve the immediate cash shortage while simultaneously adding a long-term monthly obligation.

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Would it be cheaper to wait until handover and get a normal mortgage?

Waiting until handover can be much better for buyers who want maximum leverage because the regulatory financing limit on a completed first home can be dramatically higher than DIB’s 50% off-plan limit.

For an expatriate buying a first owner-occupied property worth AED 5 million or less, the Central Bank currently allows up to 80% LTV once the property is completed. UAE nationals can reach 85%.

Off-plan property remains capped at 50%.

On a AED 2 million home, an expatriate could therefore move from a potential AED 1 million of financing during construction to AED 1.6 million once the property qualifies as a completed first home.

That additional AED 600,000 can completely change the capital required.

Waiting also avoids paying financing costs during construction. The problem is that the buyer has to fund the developer instalments in the meantime, and there is no guarantee that a future mortgage will be approved on the expected terms.

Income can change. Interest rates can move. Bank policies can tighten. The property valuation at handover can also come in below the purchase price.

DIB gives the buyer earlier financing certainty and reduces the amount of cash tied up before delivery. Waiting preserves the possibility of much higher leverage later.

Buyer priority DIB during construction Wait until handover
Preserve cash before completion Better Worse
Lock in financing earlier Better Worse
Reach maximum possible LTV Worse Better
Avoid construction-period financing cost Worse Better
Reduce handover financing uncertainty Better Worse
Buyer already has enough cash for instalments Optional liquidity tool Often financially simpler

Is DIB better than ADCB, Mashreq and the other off-plan lenders now?

DIB currently looks strongest for broad eligibility, while ADCB has the more aggressive publicly advertised pricing on qualifying deals.

ADCB’s current off-plan proposition offers up to 50% financing for eligible customers and renewable 12-month pre-approval through to handover for selected developers. Its published Emaar offer advertises rates starting from 3.49% fixed for three years, with no processing or valuation fees.

Mashreq also advertises financing of up to 50% for selected under-construction properties, with a maximum 25-year tenure and a 35% project-completion threshold.

Emirates NBD has been building financing arrangements through major developer partnerships rather than pushing one simple universal off-plan rate.

ADIB has also introduced developer-linked structures in Abu Dhabi. Its collaboration with Modon goes further than the standard 50% headline under specific conditions, although that is a specialised developer arrangement rather than a general off-plan product available across the UAE.

DIB’s advantage is different. Eligible non-residents can apply, salary transfer is not required, the product is available across all Emirates and financing can be released progressively as the developer reaches milestones.

That makes DIB particularly interesting for overseas investors and residents whose project is eligible but who do not fit neatly into another bank’s developer partnership.

For a normal UAE resident buying from a major developer such as Emaar, we would compare DIB directly with ADCB rather than assuming DIB wins. Current competition is simply too good to accept the first quote.

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Who gets the most value from DIB Off-Plan Home Finance?

DIB Off-Plan Home Finance works best for buyers who already have substantial equity, have chosen a reasonably advanced project and want to keep more cash available during construction.

Consider someone buying a AED 3 million apartment who has already paid AED 1.5 million. The buyer also has enough liquid capital to fund the remaining AED 1.5 million but would rather keep part of that money invested or available for another purpose.

If the project is approved and sufficiently advanced, DIB can step in for eligible future payments. The buyer keeps more liquidity and initially pays only the profit component.

That is a strong use case.

Now consider someone who bought a AED 2 million property, has already paid AED 1 million and has almost exhausted all savings. DIB could potentially help cover the remaining instalments, but the buyer would finish construction with a sizeable financing balance and little financial cushion.

The second buyer is taking much more risk.

A third buyer who has only paid a 10% launch deposit gets very little help from DIB for now because the minimum 50% customer contribution still has to be reached.

The pattern is fairly clear. DIB creates the most value for people who already have money and want to use that money more efficiently.

Is DIB Off-Plan Home Finance worth using now?

Yes, DIB Off-Plan Home Finance is worth using now for the right buyer, but we would compare the actual DIB quote with at least one competing bank before signing.

The product solves a real problem. DIB can finance up to 50% of an eligible off-plan property, release the money progressively, allow profit-only payments during the initial construction period, avoid compulsory salary transfer and consider eligible residents as well as non-residents across the UAE.

The restrictions are equally important.

The buyer must already have contributed at least 50% of the purchase price. The project normally needs to be at least 35% complete and approved by DIB. The profit-only period ends at completion or after two years, whichever comes first. A serious construction delay can therefore leave the buyer making full repayments before receiving the property.

Price is the final test. DIB does not currently advertise one universal off-plan profit rate, while competing offers can start at 3.49% under specific conditions and sometimes waive processing or valuation fees. DIB therefore deserves a place on the shortlist rather than automatic selection.

We would be comfortable using DIB when the property already made financial sense before financing entered the discussion, the project has a credible path to completion and keeping the remaining cash has clear value.

We would be much more cautious if DIB is the only thing allowing the buyer to meet upcoming developer instalments.

UAE off-plan sales are still extremely strong, but the market is changing. Dubai buyers have more projects to choose from, supply is building and banks are competing harder for off-plan borrowers. That makes this a good time to negotiate financing rather than stretch the budget.

The cleanest DIB case today is someone who could finish paying the developer from cash but prefers to keep part of that money available.

For that buyer, DIB Off-Plan Home Finance can be genuinely useful.

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OUR METHODOLOGY

This analysis tests whether DIB Off-Plan Home Finance is worth using based on the product available today. We treat it as a financing decision rather than a simple product review, comparing access to finance, required buyer capital, timing of funding, borrowing cost, construction risk, eligibility, project restrictions and realistic alternatives.

We prioritised primary sources for the product mechanics. Dubai Islamic Bank’s own material was used for the 50% maximum financing, minimum customer contribution, 35% project-completion requirement, progressive developer payments, profit-only period, borrower eligibility, tenure and published fees.

The regulatory comparison comes from the Central Bank of the UAE. Its mortgage rules are the basis for the 50% off-plan financing ceiling and the higher maximum LTVs available on qualifying completed homes, which is why we compare financing during construction with waiting until handover.

We treated advertised rates carefully. A bank’s “starting from” rate is useful for comparing offers, but it is not the same as an approved borrower rate. DIB’s published reference rate and customer margin are therefore kept separate, while ADCB’s advertised pricing is used as a competitive benchmark rather than as a rate every buyer can obtain.

Project approval, construction progress and escrow protection are treated as project-risk controls, not guarantees of investment performance. Dubai Land Department material was used to check the role of project registration, escrow accounts and recorded construction progress, while the purchase price, future supply, rental demand and resale economics remain separate investment questions.

For the wider market, we used institutional and official sources to understand why banks are expanding off-plan financing now. Engel & Völkers and CBRE provide the recent Dubai transaction context, while Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre provides the official Abu Dhabi sales and future-supply figures used in the analysis.

Competitor comparisons focus on identifiable current off-plan propositions rather than every mortgage lender in the UAE. The main benchmarks are ADCB’s off-plan and Emaar programmes, Mashreq’s selected-project financing, Emirates NBD’s developer partnerships and ADIB’s specialised arrangement with Modon.

Key sources include Dubai Islamic Bank’s Off-Plan Finance product page, DIB’s Off-Plan Home Finance launch announcement, DIB’s Home Finance Schedule of Charges, the Central Bank of the UAE mortgage regulations, Dubai Land Department’s Project Status Enquiry, ADCB’s off-plan mortgage offer, Mashreq’s Off-Plan Home Loans page, ADREC’s H1 2026 market report release, CBRE’s UAE Real Estate Market Review Q2 2026, and Engel & Völkers’ Dubai Residential Market Report H1 2026.

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Jean-Charles Salvin 🇫🇷

Co-Founder, Best Dubai Condos

With over 13 years of real estate expertise, Jean-Charles co-founded BestDubaiCondos to help clients navigate the dynamic property market across the UAE. Whether it’s Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any other thriving emirate, Jean-Charles is a trusted advisor for making smart, strategic property investments in the UAE. We spoke with him at the final stage of writing this blog posts and used his ideas to fix, expand, and personalize the content.