Can I get a UK mortgage while living in the UAE?

Yes. UAE residents take out UK mortgages regularly, whether they’re British expats in Dubai or foreign nationals working in Abu Dhabi. What changes is the lender list. Many high street banks won’t lend to someone living abroad, so the work is finding the private banks and specialist lenders that will, then presenting your income the way they want to see it.

Do UK lenders accept dirham income?

Many do. Most apply a haircut to foreign currency income before they work out what you can borrow, to allow for exchange rate movements. The size of that haircut varies by lender and currency, commonly somewhere between 10% and 25%.

Here’s how it plays out. On a salary of AED 900,000, a 20% haircut means the lender works from AED 720,000 before converting to sterling. Pick a lender with a 10% haircut and the same salary counts as AED 810,000. That gap can decide whether the loan you want is available at all.

Tax-free pay helps too. Your take-home is close to your gross, so the affordability picture is often stronger than a UK earner on the same headline figure.

How much deposit will I need?

Expect to put down more than a UK resident would. For a home you’ll live in, or keep for family, 25% is a common starting point with specialist lenders. Buy-to-let and larger loans can need more.

Private banks work differently. If you’re willing to place investments with the bank, the lending terms can improve, and that’s worth raising at the start.

What will lenders ask to see?

A stable employment contract, recent payslips and bank statements showing the salary landing each month. Housing and schooling allowances can sometimes count, depending on how they’re paid. If you own a free zone company, expect to provide company accounts and a longer trading history.

End of service gratuity can fund a deposit. Lenders will want to see where it came from and when it was paid.

Will I pay extra stamp duty?

If you’re buying in England or Northern Ireland and you’re not UK resident for stamp duty purposes, a 2% surcharge applies on top of the normal rates. If you already own a home anywhere in the world, the 5% higher rate can apply as well. Our guide to stamp duty for non-UK residents works through the numbers.

How do we help UAE clients?

We work by video call and phone around the time difference, collect your documents once and go to lenders that already lend to Gulf residents. Our international mortgages page explains the full service. When you’re ready, start with our international mortgage application.

Frequently asked questions

This article is general information, not advice. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Changes in the exchange rate may increase the sterling equivalent of your debt. Some buy-to-let mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.