DIB and ADCB are expanding financing options for off-plan buyers, introducing solutions that can cover up to 50% of eligible property values and support financing before handover.
August 27, 2026 | Palak Kataria | UAE | Real Estate | 2 Min Read
Buying off-plan in the UAE has traditionally meant that financing becomes most relevant closer to handover. A new wave of banking products is beginning to bring that conversation earlier into the construction cycle.
Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) has introduced an off-plan home finance proposition for eligible buyers purchasing freehold properties from participating developers across the UAE, while Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) is expanding pre-approved off-plan financing through partnerships with developers.
DIB’s newly announced product allows eligible UAE nationals, residents and non-residents to finance up to 50% of a property's value during the under-construction phase.
ADCB is taking a pre-approval-led approach.
Its off-plan mortgage offering provides eligible customers with financing of up to 50% of the property value, with pre-approval initially valid for 12 months and renewable annually through to handover for participating developers.
The bank has recently been applying that model through direct developer collaborations.
On August 19, ADCB and Ellington Properties announced a partnership covering both ready and off-plan homes in Dubai. Eligible Ellington buyers can obtain pre-approved financing of up to 50% of the property value, with the 12-month approval renewable annually until handover.
ADCB introduced a similar arrangement with Emaar Development in July, extending the model across the developer’s portfolio of ready and off-plan residential communities in Dubai.
There is a practical reason these products matter for the property market.
Off-plan purchases involve payments spread across a development’s construction period. Bringing bank financing into that journey earlier can give eligible buyers greater visibility over how future milestone and handover payments may be funded.
ADCB’s current offer, for example, allows the transition from pre-approval to final financing once 50% of the property's value has been paid or at handover, subject to credit assessment and applicable terms.
The recent launches therefore point to a broader evolution in UAE property finance. As the off-plan market grows, mortgage products are becoming more closely aligned with how off-plan homes are actually bought and paid for.
For buyers, that means financing is increasingly becoming part of the property decision before the keys are ready, not simply something arranged at the end of the construction journey.
Source(s): Dubai Islamic Bank; Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank; Ellington Properties; Emaar Development; Khaleej Times.
