5 UAE Developers Making Off-Plan Property Easier to finance

Several major developers and banks have introduced financing structures that allow eligible buyers to secure funding while a property is still under construction. The details vary considerably by developer, project, bank and buyer eligibility, so the headline percentage should never be treated as an automatic mortgage entitlement.

Here are five developers currently worth watching.

Aldar: Off-Plan Financing Is Moving Earlier in Abu Dhabi
One of the most important changes has come from Abu Dhabi.

In September 2026, Aldar and ADCB completed the first off-plan mortgage under a new Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre framework. Under the framework, a buyer who has already paid 50% of the property price can arrange financing against the off-plan unit before handover, with the lender funding the remaining instalments and final payment. 

The important shift is not simply the percentage being financed. It is the timing.

Previously, many buyers had to wait until handover to arrange their mortgage. Registering financing during construction can give qualifying buyers more certainty over the remaining payment obligation and reduce the amount of liquidity they need to keep aside until completion.

For Aldar buyers, this could make long construction-period payment plans easier to manage—but approval remains subject to the lender's eligibility and financing requirements.

Emaar Development: Up to 50% Pre-Approved Financing with ADCB

For qualifying off-plan customers, ADCB can provide pre-approval for financing of up to 50% of the property's value. The initial approval lasts 12 months and can be renewed annually through the construction period until handover. 

That annual renewal feature matters because off-plan projects may have several years between purchase and completion. It gives buyers an opportunity to establish financing earlier rather than reaching the final payment stage with no indication of whether a mortgage will be available.

At launch, the partnership also advertised rates starting from 3.49% per annum fixed for three years for eligible customers, alongside waived processing and valuation fees for a limited period. 

Those commercial terms can change, so buyers should confirm the current offer directly before basing a purchase decision on them.

Dubai Holding Real Estate: Multiple Banks Are Entering the Picture

Dubai Holding Real Estate—which includes Nakheel, Meraas and Dubai Properties has been particularly active in expanding financing options.

In April 2026, it partnered with Emirates NBD to introduce integrated off-plan mortgage solutions across developments under those brands. 

More recently, in September 2026, Dubai Holding Real Estate announced another partnership with ADCB.

Under that arrangement, eligible purchasers at Palm Jebel Ali, The Acres and Nad Al Sheba Gardens can access financing after paying 50% of the property's value, regardless of the project's construction progress. ADCB pre-approvals can remain valid for up to 18 months. 

Dubai Holding Real Estate has also introduced financing partnerships with ADIB and Commercial Bank of Dubai, giving qualifying buyers access to additional conventional and Sharia-compliant structures. 

This suggests an important market development: developers are increasingly integrating mortgage options into the sales journey rather than treating financing as something buyers arrange only at completion.

Ellington Properties: Up to 50% Off-Plan Financing with ADCB

Ellington Properties and ADCB announced their partnership in August 2026, offering financing for both ready and off-plan residential developments in Dubai.

Eligible off-plan buyers can receive pre-approved financing of up to 50% of the property's value. The approval is initially valid for 12 months and can be renewed annually until handover. 

The structure is particularly relevant for buyers considering premium off-plan properties but who do not necessarily want to commit all of their available capital to construction-stage instalments.

As with Emaar's ADCB arrangement, qualifying customers were also offered promotional financing rates starting from 3.49% per annum fixed for three years, together with waived processing and valuation fees for a limited period. 

Again, the distinction between pre-approved financing and guaranteed finance is important. Final lending still depends on the buyer continuing to meet the bank's requirements.

Modon: Up to 75% Off-Plan Financing with ADIB

Modon's partnership with Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank is one of the most significant developments because of the financing level involved.

Announced in July 2026, the programme allows eligible buyers of participating future Modon developments in Abu Dhabi to access financing of up to 75% of the property's value during the off-plan stage. 

The announced structure provides for a buyer contribution of 15% during construction and a further 5%–10% around handover, while ADIB can finance up to 75%, subject to eligibility. 

That is substantially different from simply taking a mortgage once construction is complete. Financing can potentially support the buyer throughout the development journey.

However, “up to 75%” is the maximum available under the programme not a guaranteed amount for every buyer or every Modon project.

Why This Matters for UAE Property Buyers

The bigger story here is not simply that banks are offering mortgages.

It is that the line between developer payment plans and traditional home finance is becoming less rigid.

Earlier access to financing can potentially allow buyers to preserve more cash, plan future payments with greater certainty and avoid depending entirely on a large mortgage application at handover.

For developers, easier access to finance may also widen the pool of potential purchasers beyond buyers who can comfortably fund 50%–70% of a property from cash during construction.

For investors, however, easier financing should not replace normal investment analysis.

A property still needs to make sense based on its purchase price, location, unit type, expected supply, service charges, rental demand, resale potential and total borrowing cost.

The Details Matter More Than the Headline Percentage

“50% mortgage” or “75% financing” makes a strong headline, but buyers should examine exactly when that financing begins.

Before reserving an off-plan property, it is worth confirming:

• how much must be paid personally before the bank steps in;

• whether financing depends on construction progress;

• whether the facility applies to that specific project and unit;

• how long the pre-approval remains valid;

• whether it must be renewed before handover;

• the interest or profit rate after any promotional period;

• processing, valuation, insurance and registration costs; and

• whether changes in income or creditworthiness could affect final approval.

The Bigger Picture

The UAE off-plan market is beginning to move beyond the simple model of “pay during construction and find a mortgage at handover.”

Emaar, Ellington, Dubai Holding Real Estate, Aldar and Modon are all participating in financing structures that bring banks into the property journey earlier.

That could make off-plan ownership more accessible—but it also makes understanding the financing structure almost as important as understanding the property itself.

For a buyer, the question is therefore no longer only:

“How much is the payment plan?”

It is also:

“At what stage can the bank step in, how much could it finance, and what happens if my circumstances change before handover?”

Those questions may ultimately matter more than the headline mortgage percentage.