DIB and Expo City Dubai off-plan home finance: what buyers should know

Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) and Expo City Dubai announced a home-finance partnership on 6 October 2026 for eligible properties under construction within Expo City Dubai. DIB says buyers may arrange finance during construction in a DIB-approved project, subject to milestone, eligibility and approval conditions. This is a specific offer for approved projects—not a blanket mortgage promise for every off-plan property in Dubai. See DIB's announcement and WAM's report.

The headline terms

DIB's published announcement sets out these headline conditions:

• Project: the property must be under construction within Expo City Dubai and in a project approved by DIB.
• Construction milestone: the project must have reached at least 35% completion.
• Buyer-payment milestone: the customer must have paid at least 50% of the purchase price.
• Maximum finance: DIB may finance up to 50% of the property value once the stated conditions are met.
• Term: finance may be available for up to 25 years.
• Customer group: eligible UAE nationals, residents and non-residents may apply; a salary transfer is not required.
• Approval: eligibility, credit, regulatory and final approval requirements still apply.

The milestone figures are not an approval or a guaranteed amount for an individual buyer. The announcement describes a maximum and makes the facility conditional on the project and customer meeting DIB's requirements. Ask DIB to confirm that the exact project and unit qualify and how the property value and approved finance amount will be established. DIB's announcement is the primary source for these terms.

When do full monthly instalments begin?

DIB says eligible buyers can arrange finance during construction and pay only the profit amount during that period. The bank says full monthly instalments begin at handover or within 24 months of taking the finance, whichever comes first. Because the earlier of those two events is the stated trigger, buyers should not assume that full instalments will always wait until handover. See DIB's release and WAM's report.

Before committing, request a written payment schedule showing the amount due during construction, how it is calculated, the dates payments are due, and the date full instalments would start under the proposed arrangement. DIB describes this as Shariah-compliant Home Finance; this article therefore uses the bank's term ‘profit amount’ rather than describing it as conventional-loan interest. The product remains subject to DIB's final assessment and approval.

Who may find it relevant?

The announcement may be worth checking for buyers considering an eligible Expo City Dubai home that is still under construction, including eligible UAE nationals, residents and non-residents. The lack of a salary-transfer requirement is one stated feature, but it should not be read as removing other eligibility, credit, regulatory or approval checks.

The key first question is whether the specific project—and the property being considered—is approved by DIB. The announcement does not say that every Expo City property or every off-plan development qualifies. Buyers should also confirm the finance amount, valuation basis, term, required documents and all charges directly with the finance provider before relying on the headline terms.

Is this an option for refinancing an existing villa?

Not on the terms described in this announcement. The new arrangement concerns finance for eligible properties under construction within DIB-approved Expo City projects. DIB's release does not describe a refinancing or equity-release offer for an existing completed home.

If you already own a Dubai property and are reviewing a refinance, treat that as a separate assessment. The outcome and costs depend on the existing facility, property valuation, lender criteria and any applicable settlement or transaction charges. Our Dubai mortgage refinance guide explains the separate questions to consider. This distinction matters: an off-plan purchase facility should not be presented as a solution for an existing borrower seeking new finance. See the Dubai mortgage refinance guide.

Questions to ask before reserving

Before relying on the announcement, ask for clear answers to these questions:

• Is the exact project and unit approved for this facility?
• How will the 35% construction-completion milestone and the buyer's 50% payment be verified?
• How will the property value and maximum finance amount be determined?
• What is payable during construction, and how is the profit amount calculated?
• Does the proposed schedule start full instalments at handover or earlier under the 24-month trigger?
• What term, documents, fees and other approval conditions apply to this particular applicant, including a non-resident applicant?
• What happens to the financing schedule if the project's construction or handover timing changes?

These are due-diligence questions, not additional terms announced by DIB. Obtain the current written offer and applicable product documents before making a reservation or financial commitment.

The bottom line

DIB's partnership with Expo City Dubai introduces a specific construction-stage Home Finance option for eligible buyers in DIB-approved projects. Its most important details are the 35% construction milestone, the requirement that at least 50% of the purchase price has been paid, finance of up to 50% of property value, and the earlier-of-handover-or-24-months trigger for full instalments. The term may extend up to 25 years, and no salary transfer is required, but all eligibility and final-approval conditions remain.

For a buyer, the practical next step is to verify the project, unit, valuation, payment schedule and approval conditions in writing. If you are comparing off-plan finance or reviewing finance on an existing villa, contact the team to discuss the questions relevant to your situation. No finance amount, approval or rate is promised by this article.