EIB tightens FTV for expat financing — 70% cap for select sectors, freeze on unpaid leave

Emirates Islamic Bank (EIB) has issued a quiet but consequential policy update, restricting Finance-To-Value (FTV) for expat mortgage applicants in specific industries — and pausing approvals entirely for anyone whose salary has not been credited in the past 30 days.

What changed

Effective from EIB’s 17 April circular, two restrictions now apply to expat mortgage applications:

• Maximum FTV reduced to 70% for expats employed in airlines, hotels, malls, event management, logistics, shipping, retail outlets, and travel & tourism.
• Approvals suspended until further notice for any applicant currently on unpaid leave — defined as no salary credit in the last 30 days.

Who this affects

The sector list is broader than it looks. It captures a meaningful slice of Dubai’s expat workforce — anyone working at the airports, in hospitality, mall-based retail, or freight and shipping operations. If you fall into one of these segments and were planning a Dubai purchase financed at 75%+ LTV with EIB, your maximum loan size has just dropped by roughly 5 percentage points of the property value.

The unpaid-leave clause is broader still. It affects anyone between contracts, on extended personal leave, on no-pay maternity, or in role transition.

What to do next

If your application was submitted with EIB before 17 April 2026, the previous FTV may still apply under the bank’s grandfathering norms — confirm in writing with your advisor or relationship manager.

If you are shopping now and your profile is affected, several other UAE banks still offer 75–80% FTV for these sectors. The right alternative depends on your salary band, employer category, and property type. Our advisory team can map the options in 15 minutes.