The UAE is one of the most popular destinations for British professionals working overseas, with many British expats choosing to maintain financial and property connections with the UK. Whether you are living in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or elsewhere in the UAE, you may still want to buy a UK home, retain a property you already own or invest in UK property.
Living overseas does not automatically mean you cannot obtain a UK mortgage. However, your UAE residency, income, currency and employment circumstances can all form part of the lender's assessment.
British citizens living in the UAE can potentially obtain a mortgage on UK property, but there is no single set of criteria that applies to every expat.
Lenders will generally need to understand your individual circumstances, including where you live, how you earn your income, what currency you are paid in and the type of property you want to finance.
The fact that you are living in Dubai or Abu Dhabi is therefore only one part of the application.
Many British expats in the UAE work for established multinational companies, professional firms or other recognised organisations.
If you have permanent employment and a consistent salary, your income may be relatively straightforward to evidence. However, some professionals may also receive bonuses, allowances or other elements of remuneration.
A lender may consider factors such as:
The way these factors are assessed will vary between lenders.
The UAE dirham is another important consideration for British expats applying for a UK mortgage.
If your income is paid in AED rather than sterling, the lender may need to consider how your income translates into pounds and how currency movements could affect affordability.
This does not necessarily prevent an application, but different lenders can have different approaches to foreign-currency income.
It is therefore important to understand how your particular circumstances may be assessed rather than assuming that every lender will treat AED income in exactly the same way.
Whether you live in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or another part of the UAE, your location can form part of the lender's assessment.
Your employment and financial circumstances may be more significant than the particular emirate in which you live.
For example, a British engineer working for an international company in Abu Dhabi may have a very different mortgage application from a self-employed consultant based in Dubai.
The important point is that expat mortgage applications are assessed individually.
There are several reasons why British expats in the UAE might want to purchase UK property.
You could be:
The intended use of the property matters.
If you intend to live in the property, residential mortgage considerations will apply. If you plan to rent it out, you may instead need to consider a buy-to-let mortgage.
Many British expats move to the UAE after already owning a home in Britain.
If that applies to you, you may be considering remortgaging while continuing to live overseas.
Perhaps your current mortgage deal is coming to an end, or you want to review your borrowing or consider raising additional capital.
Your circumstances may have changed since the original mortgage was arranged. You may now have UAE income, a different employment position or different financial commitments.
A new application will therefore need to be considered based on your current circumstances.
The exact documentation will depend on your circumstances and the lender.
You may be asked for:
Self-employed applicants and business owners may need to provide additional financial information.
Having your documents organised before starting an application can help provide a clear picture of your financial position.
The UAE is home to many entrepreneurs, consultants and business owners, so not every British expat will have a traditional salaried income.
If you operate through a company, partnership or as a self-employed professional, the way your income is structured can become particularly relevant.
Your personal income may include salary, dividends, business profits or other earnings. A lender may need additional information to understand how that income is generated and whether it can be considered sustainable.
The assessment of self-employed and business income varies between lenders.
Even where income is strong, certain circumstances may require closer consideration.
These could include:
None of these factors automatically means a mortgage will be unavailable. They simply mean that the lender may need a fuller understanding of your circumstances.
For British expats in the UAE, the strength of the application is not necessarily just about the salary you earn. Where you are employed, how your income is structured and how that income is evidenced can all be important when looking at potential UK mortgage options.
Before approaching a lender, it can be useful to have a clear picture of your financial circumstances.
Consider gathering your employment and income information, evidence of your UAE residency, bank statements and details of any existing UK mortgages or other significant borrowing.
You should also establish the type of UK property you want to finance, whether it will be your home or an investment, and how much you have available for a deposit or existing equity.
If you are a British expat living in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or elsewhere in the UAE and are considering a UK mortgage, Giraffe Private Finance can help you understand the factors lenders may consider and what may be relevant to your circumstances.
Lending criteria vary between lenders, particularly for applicants living overseas and earning in a foreign currency. Personalised advice can help you understand what may be available before proceeding with an application.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute personalised mortgage, financial, tax or legal advice. Mortgage availability and lending criteria vary between lenders and individual circumstances. Any mortgage application is subject to lender assessment.

Australia and New Zealand have long been popular destinations for British expats, with many people building careers, raising families and putting down roots there while continuing to have financial connections to the UK.
If you are a British expat living in Australia or New Zealand, you may still want to buy a UK property, keep a home you already own or refinance an existing mortgage. Living overseas does not automatically prevent you from obtaining UK property finance, but your residency, income, currency and individual circumstances can all form part of the assessment.
There is no blanket rule that prevents British citizens living in Australia or New Zealand from obtaining a mortgage on UK property.
However, lenders assess applications individually and their criteria for overseas applicants can vary.
Your circumstances may include several factors that would not normally arise for someone living in the UK, such as earning Australian or New Zealand dollars, having overseas financial commitments and being resident outside Britain.
Understanding these factors before making an application can help you prepare properly.
British expats in Australia and New Zealand work across a huge range of industries, from professional services and engineering to healthcare, technology and finance.
If you have a permanent role with an established employer and a regular salary, your income may be relatively straightforward to evidence.
A lender may consider:
The precise way these factors are assessed depends on the lender.
For many British expats, their main income will be paid in Australian dollars or New Zealand dollars rather than sterling.
Foreign-currency income can be relevant to the mortgage assessment because the lender may need to consider its sterling equivalent and the potential impact of exchange-rate movements.
Different lenders can take different approaches to overseas income and currency, so you should not assume that your salary will be treated in exactly the same way by every lender.
There are plenty of reasons why someone living in Australia or New Zealand might want to buy UK property.
You may be:
The reason for buying matters because residential and buy-to-let mortgages have different considerations.
If the property is intended to become your home, residential mortgage requirements will apply. If you plan to rent it out, you may instead need to consider buy-to-let borrowing.
Many British expats moved to Australia or New Zealand after already owning a home in Britain.
If you are in this position, you may now be considering remortgaging while continuing to live overseas.
Your current mortgage deal might be coming to an end, or you may want to review your borrowing or consider raising additional capital.
Your circumstances may be different from when the original mortgage was arranged. Your income, country of residence, employment or financial commitments may all have changed.
A new mortgage application will therefore need to be assessed based on your current position.
The exact requirements depend on the lender and your circumstances, but you may need information such as:
If you are self-employed, a business owner or contractor, additional financial information may be required.
Having your documents organised early can help provide a clear picture of your circumstances.
Australia and New Zealand are home to many British entrepreneurs, consultants and self-employed professionals.
If your income comes from a business rather than traditional employment, the assessment can be more involved.
You may receive income through salary, dividends, business profits or other arrangements. A lender may need additional information to understand how your income is generated and how sustainable it is.
The treatment of self-employed income varies between lenders, so there is no single approach that applies to every applicant.
Some British expats move between the two countries during their careers.
If you have recently changed country, employment or currency, it may be particularly important to explain your current circumstances clearly.
A lender may need to understand where you are currently resident, where your income comes from and whether your employment is established in your new location.
A recent move does not automatically prevent a mortgage application, but it may mean additional information is required.
Some circumstances may require closer consideration, including:
These factors do not automatically mean a mortgage will be unavailable. They simply mean that the lender may need a fuller understanding of your financial position.
For British expats in Australia and New Zealand, one of the important things to establish early is how the overseas income will be presented. The currency is one consideration, but the wider picture — employment, residency, income structure and the UK property itself — all need to fit together.
Before starting a mortgage application, it can be useful to organise your financial information.
Consider gathering your employment and income details, evidence of your overseas address, bank statements and information about existing UK mortgages or other significant borrowing.
You should also establish what you want to use the UK property for, how much you are looking to borrow and how much you have available for a deposit or existing equity.
If you are a British expat living in Australia or New Zealand and considering a UK mortgage, Giraffe Private Finance can help you understand the factors lenders may consider and what may be relevant to your individual circumstances.
Lending criteria vary between lenders, particularly for applicants living overseas and earning in a foreign currency. Personalised advice can help you understand what may be available before proceeding with an application.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute personalised mortgage, financial, tax or legal advice. Mortgage availability and lending criteria vary between lenders and individual circumstances. Any mortgage application is subject to lender assessment.

For many British expats in the USA, moving across the Atlantic does not mean cutting financial ties with the UK. You may want to buy a property for a future return, retain a home you already own or invest in UK property while continuing to live and work in America.
A UK mortgage can still be an option for British citizens living in the USA, but an overseas application brings additional considerations. Your US residency, employment, dollar income, existing commitments and the purpose of the UK property can all form part of the lender's assessment.
There is no blanket rule that prevents a British citizen living in the United States from applying for a mortgage on UK property.
However, lenders assess expat applications individually and their criteria can vary.
For someone living in the USA, the lender may need to understand both your UK property and your financial circumstances in America. This can include where you live, how you earn your income, what currency you are paid in and your existing financial commitments.
One of the obvious differences for British expats in the USA is currency.
Your salary may be paid in US dollars, while the property and mortgage are in pounds sterling. A lender may therefore need to consider how your dollar income translates into sterling and the potential effect of exchange-rate movements.
Different lenders can take different approaches to foreign-currency income, so your US salary should not simply be assumed to be treated in the same way by every lender.
Many British expats in America work for established US companies or multinational organisations.
If you have a permanent position and a consistent income, your employment may be relatively straightforward to evidence.
A lender may consider factors such as:
The precise assessment will depend on the lender and your individual circumstances.
The USA is also home to many British entrepreneurs, consultants, contractors and business owners.
If your income comes through a business rather than a traditional employment arrangement, the mortgage assessment may require more detailed information.
Your personal income could include salary, dividends, business profits or other earnings. A lender may need to understand how that income is generated and how sustainable it is.
The treatment of self-employed and business income varies between lenders, so there is no universal approach.
British expats in the USA buy UK property for many different reasons.
You may be:
The intended use of the property matters.
If you plan to live in the property, you may need residential mortgage finance. If you intend to rent it out, a buy-to-let mortgage may be more appropriate.
You may have moved to the USA after purchasing a property in Britain.
If so, you could be considering remortgaging while continuing to live overseas. Your current mortgage deal may be ending, or you may want to review your borrowing or consider raising additional capital.
Your circumstances may have changed since the original mortgage was arranged. Your income could now be in dollars, your employment may be different and you may have new financial commitments in the USA.
A new application will therefore need to be considered based on your current circumstances.
The exact documentation will depend on your circumstances and the lender, but you may need:
If you are self-employed, a contractor or a business owner, additional financial information may be required.
Living in America can mean that much of your financial life is now based in the US.
You may have a US mortgage, car finance, student loans, credit commitments or other regular outgoings. These can form part of the overall picture when considering affordability.
It is therefore useful to have a clear record of your existing financial commitments when preparing a UK mortgage application.
Some circumstances may need closer consideration, including:
These factors do not automatically mean a mortgage will be unavailable. They simply mean that the lender may need a clearer understanding of your overall financial position.
For British expats in the USA, the dollar-to-sterling exchange rate is an obvious consideration, but it is only one part of the application. It is just as important to establish how you are employed, where you are resident and what your wider financial commitments look like.
Before starting an application, it can be useful to organise your employment and financial information.
Consider gathering evidence of your US income, employment and residency, together with bank statements and details of any US or UK mortgages and other significant borrowing.
You should also establish what you want the UK property for, how much you are looking to borrow and how much you have available for a deposit or existing equity.
If you are a British expat living in the USA and considering a UK mortgage, Giraffe Private Finance can help you understand the factors lenders may consider and what may be relevant to your circumstances.
Lending criteria vary between lenders, particularly for applicants living overseas and earning in US dollars. Personalised advice can help you understand what may be available before proceeding with an application.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute personalised mortgage, financial, tax or legal advice. Mortgage availability and lending criteria vary between lenders and individual circumstances. Any mortgage application is subject to lender assessment.

For British expats living across Europe, keeping a financial connection with the UK can remain important long after moving abroad. You may want to buy a property for a future return, retain a home you already own or refinance an existing UK mortgage.
Living in Europe does not automatically prevent you from obtaining a UK mortgage, but your country of residence, income, currency and personal circumstances can all influence how an application is assessed. As lenders have different criteria for expatriate borrowers, the approach that works for one applicant may not be appropriate for another.
There is no single rule covering every British expat living in Europe.
A lender will typically need to understand your individual circumstances, including where you live, how you earn your income and what type of UK property you want to finance.
Your situation could also be quite different depending on whether you are a salaried employee, self-employed, a business owner or working as a contractor.
Europe covers a wide range of countries, currencies and employment arrangements.
A British expat living and working in France, for example, may have a very different financial position from someone living in Switzerland or Germany.
Your country of residence can therefore form part of the lender's assessment, alongside your income, employment, existing borrowing and the UK property involved.
It is important not to assume that because one lender is comfortable with an application from one European country, every lender will take the same approach.
One of the main differences for British expats is that your income may no longer be paid in sterling.
You could be earning in euros, Swiss francs or another European currency. A lender may need to consider how that income translates into pounds and how movements in exchange rates could affect affordability.
The treatment of foreign-currency income varies between lenders, so your salary should be considered alongside the rest of your circumstances rather than in isolation.
Many British expats in Europe work for multinational companies, professional firms or established local employers.
A permanent role with a consistent income can make employment and salary relatively straightforward to evidence.
A lender may consider:
The exact assessment will depend on the lender and your circumstances.
Europe is also home to many British consultants, contractors, entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals.
If your income comes through a business rather than traditional employment, the mortgage assessment can be more involved.
You may receive income through salary, dividends, business profits or other arrangements. A lender may need additional information to understand how your income is generated and whether it can be considered sustainable.
Self-employed applicants can therefore benefit from having their financial information well organised before beginning an application.
There are many reasons why British expats may want to own property in the UK.
You could be:
The purpose of the property is important.
If you intend to live there, you may be looking for residential mortgage finance. If you intend to rent it out, a buy-to-let mortgage may be more appropriate.
Perhaps you moved to Europe after buying a property in Britain.
If your existing mortgage deal is coming to an end, you may be considering remortgaging while continuing to live overseas.
Your circumstances may have changed since the original mortgage was arranged. You may now have overseas income, a different employer, a new country of residence or additional financial commitments.
A new mortgage application will therefore need to be considered based on your current circumstances.
The exact requirements will vary between lenders, but you may be asked for:
If you are self-employed, a company director or a business owner, additional financial information may be required.
Some circumstances may require closer consideration, including:
These factors do not automatically mean that a mortgage will be unavailable. They simply mean the lender may need a fuller understanding of your financial position.
For British expats in Europe, it is easy to focus on the country you live in or the currency you earn. In practice, the wider picture is important too — your employment, income structure, residency, existing commitments and plans for the UK property all need to be considered together.
Before starting a mortgage application, it can be useful to organise your financial information and establish exactly what you are looking to achieve.
Consider gathering evidence of your employment and income, your European residency, bank statements and details of any existing UK or overseas borrowing.
It is also useful to establish whether the UK property will be your future home, a family property or an investment, as this can affect the type of mortgage you require.
If you are a British expat living in Europe and considering a UK mortgage, Giraffe Private Finance can help you understand the factors lenders may consider and what may be relevant to your individual circumstances.
Lending criteria vary between lenders, particularly for applicants living overseas and earning in a foreign currency. Personalised advice can help you understand what may be available before proceeding with an application.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute personalised mortgage, financial, tax or legal advice. Mortgage availability and lending criteria vary between lenders and individual circumstances. Any mortgage application is subject to lender assessment.

Moving to Canada can mean building a new career, buying a home and putting down roots overseas. But for many British expats, the UK remains part of their longer-term plans — whether that means buying a property, keeping a former home or preparing for a return to Britain.
If you are living in Canada and looking to finance UK property, your Canadian income, residency, currency and wider financial circumstances can all be relevant to a mortgage application.
Living in Canada does not automatically prevent a British citizen from applying for a UK mortgage.
However, there is no single set of criteria for every Canadian-based applicant. Lenders assess individual circumstances and can take different approaches to overseas borrowers.
Your application may need to take account of where you live, how you are employed, what currency you earn in and the type of UK property you want to finance.
For many British expats in Canada, one of the main differences from living in the UK is that their income is paid in Canadian dollars rather than sterling.
A lender may need to consider how your Canadian income translates into pounds and the potential effect of exchange-rate movements on affordability.
Foreign-currency income can be treated differently by different lenders, so it is important not to assume that every lender will assess your salary in the same way.
British expats in Canada work across a wide range of professions, from finance and technology to engineering, healthcare and professional services.
If you have a permanent position with an established employer, your employment and income may be relatively straightforward to evidence.
Factors a lender may consider include:
The precise approach will depend on the lender and your individual circumstances.
Canada is also home to many British entrepreneurs, contractors and self-employed professionals.
If your income comes through a business, the assessment can be more involved than for a straightforward salaried employee.
You may receive salary, dividends, business profits or other forms of income. A lender may need additional information to understand how your earnings are generated and whether they can be considered sustainable.
Self-employed income is assessed differently by different lenders, so your individual circumstances are important.
There are plenty of reasons why British expats in Canada continue to buy UK property.
You may be:
The purpose of the property matters.
A property intended to become your home will have different mortgage considerations from one purchased specifically to rent out.
You may have moved to Canada after purchasing a home in Britain.
If your existing mortgage is coming to the end of its current deal, you may be considering remortgaging while living overseas.
Your circumstances may have changed since the original mortgage was arranged. Your income may now be in Canadian dollars, your employment may be different and you may have new financial commitments in Canada.
A new application will therefore need to be considered based on your current circumstances.
The exact requirements will vary between lenders, but you may need to provide:
If you are self-employed, a contractor or a business owner, additional financial information may be required.
Some circumstances may need closer consideration, including:
These factors do not automatically mean that a mortgage will be unavailable. They simply mean that the lender may need a clearer understanding of your overall financial position.
For British expats in Canada, it is worth looking at the whole financial picture rather than focusing solely on the Canadian dollar income. Your employment, residency, existing commitments and plans for the UK property can all influence how your application needs to be considered.
Before starting a mortgage application, it can be helpful to organise your employment and financial information.
Consider gathering evidence of your Canadian income and employment, proof of your overseas residency, bank statements and details of any existing UK or Canadian borrowing.
It is also worth establishing what you want the UK property for, how much you want to borrow and how much you have available for a deposit or existing equity.
If you are a British expat living in Canada and considering a UK mortgage, Giraffe Private Finance can help you understand the factors lenders may consider and what may be relevant to your circumstances.
Lending criteria vary between lenders, particularly for applicants living overseas and earning in a foreign currency. Personalised advice can help you understand what may be available before proceeding with an application.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute personalised mortgage, financial, tax or legal advice. Mortgage availability and lending criteria vary between lenders and individual circumstances. Any mortgage application is subject to lender assessment.

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