BANKING · PERSONAL
Resident and non-resident personal banking
The difference between a resident and a non-resident account is not convenience. It is roughly a million dirhams of deposit on a three million dirham apartment.
WHAT YOU CAN OPEN
Resident against non-resident.
As a resident
Full current and savings accounts, resident-tier mortgages, credit cards and personal loans, and local brokerage accounts.
As a non-resident
Generally limited to savings accounts with higher minimum balances, without full services. Useful for holding funds, not for building a financial life here.
MORTGAGES
The caps that decide the deposit.
| Borrower and property | Maximum loan to value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Expatriate resident, first property up to AED 5 million | 80 percent | ConfirmedConfirmed |
| Expatriate resident, first property above AED 5 million | 70 percent | ConfirmedConfirmed |
| Second or investment property | 60 percent | ConfirmedConfirmed |
| Off-plan, all buyers | 50 percent | ConfirmedConfirmed |
| Non-resident | Roughly 50 to 65 percent | IndicativeIndicative |
Resident caps are set out in the Central Bank rulebook and are Confirmed. Non-resident caps are bank practice rather than codified and are Indicative.
WORKED EXAMPLE
A AED 3 million apartment.
~AED 600,000
Resident deposit
At 80 percent loan to value on a first property
~AED 1.5m
Non-resident deposit
At 50 percent, before fees
50%
Off-plan cap
Applies to everyone, resident or not
~AED 900,000
The difference
Residency is a financing decision, not a lifestyle upgrade
Last updated 13 August 2026 Next review Q4 2026
PRACTICAL LIFE
The driving licence, since everyone asks.
Licence exchange is available from over 50 approved countries through the Ministry of Interior service at roughly AED 600 without tests. Turkish licence holders additionally need a Driving Licence Data Certificate from the Turkish embassy or consulate before exchange. Dubai RTA often completes same day; Abu Dhabi runs through TAMM.
QUESTIONS
Asked by buyers and new residents.
Can a non-resident open a UAE bank account?
Generally only a savings account, with higher minimum balances and without full services. No resident-tier mortgage, no local cheque book in most cases.
How much deposit do I need on a AED 3 million apartment?
A resident at 80 percent loan to value needs roughly AED 600,000. A non-resident at 50 percent needs roughly AED 1.5 million. Residency is a financing decision as much as a lifestyle one.
Are non-resident mortgage caps official?
No. Non-resident caps of roughly 50 to 65 percent are bank practice rather than codified. The expatriate resident caps are set out in the Central Bank rulebook and are Confirmed.
Can I exchange my Turkish driving licence?
Yes. Turkish licence holders need a Driving Licence Data Certificate from the Turkish embassy or consulate before exchange, on top of the standard Ministry of Interior process.
Sources
- UAE Central Bank Mortgage Loan Regulations, loan to value caps
- Ministry of Interior driving licence exchange service
- Bank published personal banking tiers, used only where labelled Indicative
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