Eligibility & affordability

The bank's analysis of income, obligations and credit profile that determines the actual loan amount and rate offered, which may differ from advertised rates.

The borrower's maximum permitted age when the loan ends (65–70 depending on segment: salaried expats 65, nationals/self-employed 70).

The UAE federal credit bureau whose score and payment history banks check at origination and report defaults and late payments to.

A RAKBANK underwriting track for borrowers without conventional salary proof, priced higher and charged a distinct IPA fee.

The borrower's creditworthiness grade from the bureau, driving both eligibility and the fixed start rate offered.

Ratio of total debt servicing obligations to income; capped by CBUAE at 50% of gross salary and regular income (60% for guaranteed government housing-program loans).

A person's income after basic personal expenses, net interest/profit and dividends received, and payment of taxes and social contributions.

Terminal employment gratuity which CBUAE prohibits as a source of mortgage repayment.

Assignment of the employee's end-of-service gratuity to the lending bank as additional repayment security, required alongside salary transfer in some green products.

The ratio of finance amount to property value, capped by CBUAE at 85% for UAE nationals and 80% for expatriates on first homes.

A citizen of a Gulf Cooperation Council state, treated like a UAE national for eligibility at RAKBANK.

Government-established housing schemes (e.g. for UAE nationals) that receive preferential regulatory treatment when loans are government-guaranteed (DBR up to 60%).

A third-party sustainability rating of the property required to qualify for a green mortgage, assessed by the bank via evaluation agencies.

Total salary before deductions; the income base, with regular income from defined sources, against which the 50% DBR cap is measured.

The identity-verification and compliance checks the bank must complete, including during the cooling-off period, before account services are enabled.

Minimum employment or business track record required (e.g. 6 months salaried, 3 years in business for the self-employed).

CBUAE cap on total mortgage financing: up to 8 years' annual income for UAE nationals and 7 years' annual income for expatriates.

The floor on monthly income for eligibility (e.g. AED 15,000 at HSBC/RAKBANK, 12,000 salaried at CBD, 20,000 self-employed).

An applicant living outside the UAE, eligible at lower LTV (50–65%) and higher rates, sometimes restricted to premium segments.

A conditional confirmation of borrowing capacity (valid ~60 days) issued before property selection, usually for a fee adjusted against the processing fee.

An employed borrower with a fixed monthly salary, the standard income segment for mortgage underwriting.

Routing the borrower's monthly salary into an account with the lending bank for the loan's duration; mandatory for some products, pricing-linked at others.

A borrower running their own business, underwritten on company and personal bank statements with higher income floors and rates.

Affordability test required by CBUAE assessing whether the borrower could still service the loan at 2–4 percentage points above the current interest rate (post-introductory rate where applicable).