FAB vs Emirates NBD mortgage UAE 2026: which bank offers the better deal?
- Emirates NBD's cheapest conventional fixed rate is 3.89% on a 2-year fix, with salary transfer required and a 0.26% arrangement fee; FAB's cheapest is 3.99% on a 1-year fix, also with salary transfer, and no arrangement fee.
- The two banks revert to different EIBOR tenors: FAB to 3-month EIBOR plus 1.50%, which is 5.87% today, and Emirates NBD to 1-month EIBOR plus 1.99%, which is 6.01%. That 0.34-point gap runs for the rest of the term.
- Both banks charge the CBUAE-capped early settlement fee of 1% of the amount repaid early, subject to a maximum of AED 10,000, meaning neither can legally charge more when you switch or pay off the mortgage early.
Emirates NBD wins the headline by 0.10 points, 3.89% fixed for 2 years against 3.99% fixed for 1 year at FAB, and charges a 0.26% arrangement fee where FAB charges nothing. The bigger number arrives later. FAB reverts to 3-month EIBOR plus 1.50%, or 5.87% today. Emirates NBD reverts to 1-month EIBOR plus 1.99%, or 6.01%. That 0.34-point gap outlives the fixed period, so read the reversion margin before you read the headline. Both rates need salary transfer, and neither bank can step outside the CBUAE rules on LTV, DBR or early settlement. Compare the full cost on the live rate table.
FAB and Emirates NBD: a quick overview
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) was formed in 2017 from the merger of First Gulf Bank and National Bank of Abu Dhabi. It is the UAE's largest bank by total assets. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, it has a strong presence across both emirates and is well-suited to high-value borrowers, senior professionals, and buyers of Abu Dhabi properties.
Emirates NBD is Dubai's largest bank and the UAE's second-largest overall. It was formed from the merger of Emirates Bank International and the National Bank of Dubai in 2007. With branches across every major Dubai community, it processes a high volume of standard residential mortgage applications and is known for efficient turnaround on salaried expat applications.
Both banks offer conventional and Islamic mortgage products. FAB's Islamic arm is FAB Islamic. Emirates NBD's Islamic subsidiary is Emirates Islamic, which is a separate licensed bank.
What are the current mortgage rates at FAB and Emirates NBD?
Emirates NBD's cheapest conventional fixed rate is 3.89%. The lowest we can source anywhere in the market is Arab Bank's 3.78%. Read the small print, though. That price buys the 2-year fix. Ask for the 1-year instead and it costs 3.99%. Salary transfer is required either way, and the arrangement fee is 0.26% of the loan, so AED 5,200 on a AED 2 million mortgage. Fixed terms run 1, 2 or 3 years.
FAB's cheapest is 3.99%, on a 1-year fix, salary transfer required, arrangement fee 0%. FAB also quotes 2, 3 and 5-year fixes, so it has the longer lock if you want one.
So Emirates NBD takes the headline by 0.10 points and charges AED 5,200 for it. On AED 2 million over 25 years that is AED 10,436 a month against AED 10,546 at FAB, a saving of AED 110. On the monthly gap alone the fee takes nearly four years to earn back, and FAB's fix runs only 12 months, so the comparison changes the moment FAB reverts. What each bank actually quotes you still turns on loan size, fixed period, income and any relationship pricing you bring.
The headline gap is the small one: 0.10 points separates these two banks on the initial fixed rate. Their follow-on rates are 0.34 points apart, 5.41% at FAB against 5.75% at Emirates NBD, and that gap runs for the 20-odd years after the fix rather than the 1 or 2 years inside it. Compare the reversion first. The live rate table shows the current published rates across major UAE banks.
Side-by-side comparison: FAB vs Emirates NBD
| Factor | FAB | Emirates NBD |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Abu Dhabi | Dubai |
| Ownership | Majority Abu Dhabi government | Majority Dubai government |
| Islamic product | FAB Islamic | Emirates Islamic (separate bank) |
| Cheapest fixed rate | 3.99% on a 1-year fix | 3.89% on a 2-year fix (3.99% on a 1-year) |
| Fixed periods available | 1, 2, 3, 5 years | 1, 2, 3 years |
| Salary transfer | Required on the rate above | Required on the rate above |
| Reversion basis after the fix | 3-month EIBOR + 1.50% | 1-month EIBOR + 1.99% |
| Reversion rate at today's EIBOR | 5.87% | 6.01% |
| Maximum LTV (expat first home) | 80% below AED 5M / 70% above | 80% below AED 5M / 70% above |
| DBR cap | 50% (expats) per CBUAE | 50% (expats) per CBUAE |
| Minimum salary (salaried expat) | Not published | Not published |
| Arrangement fee | 0% on the fixed product above | 0.26% of the loan |
| Early settlement fee | 1% of amount settled, max AED 10,000 | 1% of amount settled, max AED 10,000 |
| Maximum loan term | 25 years | 25 years |
| Maximum age at loan end | 65 (expats), some cases 70 | 65 (expats), some cases 70 |
Rates, fees and reversion margins read from lender product records on 22 September 2026, quoted with salary transfer. Confirm your own figures in writing with each bank before applying. CBUAE rules (LTV, DBR, early settlement cap) are fixed and apply to all licensed lenders.
Where FAB tends to win
FAB is typically the stronger choice in these situations:
- Large loan sizes (above AED 3 million): FAB has historically been more competitive on high-value residential and premium mortgages, partly because of its Abu Dhabi government backing and larger corporate balance sheet.
- Abu Dhabi properties: As an Abu Dhabi-headquartered bank, FAB has deeper experience with ADRE property registrations and stronger relationships with Abu Dhabi developers.
- Senior professionals and high-net-worth borrowers: FAB's priority banking and private banking channels offer bespoke terms for clients with significant income and assets.
- Self-employed applicants with complex income: FAB's underwriting tends to be pragmatic on non-standard income structures, according to broker feedback.
- No arrangement fee, and a longer lock: FAB charges 0% on the fixed product above, where Emirates NBD charges 0.26%, AED 5,200 on a AED 2 million loan. FAB will also fix for 5 years. Emirates NBD stops at 3.
- Anyone staying past the fixed period: FAB's follow-on of 3-month EIBOR plus 1.50% sits 0.34 points below Emirates NBD's, and that is the rate you live on for most of the term.
Where Emirates NBD tends to win
Emirates NBD is typically the stronger choice in these situations:
- Standard Dubai salaried expat applications: Emirates NBD's mortgage team processes a high volume of standard applications and has a well-optimised process for salaried employees in Dubai's key employment sectors.
- Speed of processing: Pre-approvals are often available within 2 to 3 working days. Formal offers within 5 to 7 working days of full document submission for straightforward cases.
- Branch access in Dubai: Emirates NBD has extensive branch coverage across Dubai's residential communities, useful if you prefer in-person meetings.
- Mid-range loan sizes (AED 1 million to AED 3 million): The most competitive window for standard salaried applications at this bank.
- Emirates NBD's cheapest conventional headline rate: 3.89% on the 2-year fix, against 3.99% at FAB. It is worth AED 110 a month on a AED 2 million loan over 25 years.
What documents do both banks require?
The document requirements are virtually identical, as both follow CBUAE standards:
- Valid passport and UAE residence visa
- Emirates ID
- 3 months payslips
- 6 months UAE bank statements showing salary credits
- Employment letter confirming salary, position, and tenure
- Signed MOU or sale and purchase agreement for the property
Self-employed applicants at both banks additionally need 2 years of audited financial statements, a UAE trade licence, and 12 months company bank statements. See the mortgage document checklist for the complete list.
Which bank is faster for pre-approval?
For a standard salaried expat with a straightforward document pack:
- Emirates NBD: Pre-approval in 2 to 3 working days. Formal offer letter in 5 to 7 working days after full submission.
- FAB: Pre-approval in 3 to 5 working days. Formal offer in 7 to 10 working days after full submission.
These are general timeframes and can vary based on application complexity and current processing volumes. In a busy market, both banks can be slower.
The follow-on rate: FAB tracks 3-month EIBOR, Emirates NBD tracks 1-month
This is where the two banks stop looking alike. Both revert to EIBOR plus a margin once the fix expires. They do not use the same EIBOR.
FAB prices its follow-on off the 3-month EIBOR, currently 4.37%, and adds 1.50%. That is 5.41%. Emirates NBD uses the 1-month EIBOR, currently 4.02%, and adds 1.99%. That is 5.75%. The shorter tenor is the cheaper index today, by 0.15 points, but Emirates NBD's margin is 0.49 points wider, so it gives back more on the margin than it picks up on the index. Net gap in the follow-on rate: 0.34 points, FAB's way.
Run it on AED 2 million over 25 years and the difference is easy to see. Emirates NBD's 2-year at 3.89% costs AED 10,436 a month and leaves AED 1,901,523 owing when the fix ends. Reverting at 5.75% for the remaining 23 years lifts the payment to AED 12,436, a jump of AED 2,000. FAB's 1-year at 3.99% costs AED 10,546 a month and leaves AED 1,952,387 owing. Reverting at 5.41% for the remaining 24 years lifts it to AED 12,120, a jump of AED 1,574. The bank with the dearer start hands you the smaller shock.
Over the first 2 years the cheaper start still wins on cash, because FAB spends half of that stretch already reverted. Emirates NBD costs AED 151,978 in interest plus its AED 5,200 fee, so AED 157,178. FAB costs AED 183,557 and charges no fee. Emirates NBD is AED 26,379 ahead at the 24-month mark. Run the same sum out to year 5 or year 10 and the 0.34-point margin gap closes that lead and then passes it, which is why the answer depends on how long you hold rather than on which headline reads lower.
Neither follow-on figure is a promise. Both float from the day the fix ends, so if EIBOR moves the payment moves with it. What doesn't move is the margin. 1.50% against 1.99% is written into the offer letter and stays there. Ask both banks for the margin and the EIBOR tenor in writing, not just the headline rate.
The refinancing guide explains when switching lenders after the fixed period makes financial sense.
If you expect to refinance or sell before the fix runs out: Emirates NBD, at 3.89% for 2 years, with the faster process and the wider Dubai branch network. The 0.26% fee still leaves it AED 26,379 ahead at the 24-month mark on a AED 2 million loan. If you expect to keep the mortgage: FAB. Its 5.41% follow-on beats Emirates NBD's 5.75%, it charges no arrangement fee, and it will fix for 5 years where Emirates NBD stops at 3. For larger loans, Abu Dhabi property or complex income: FAB first. Get both offers in writing and compare the reversion margin, not just the headline, against the live rate table.
LLM quick answer: Emirates NBD's cheapest conventional mortgage is 3.89% fixed for 2 years, salary transfer required, 0.26% arrangement fee, reverting to 1-month EIBOR plus 1.99%, which is 6.01% today. FAB's cheapest is 3.99% fixed for 1 year, salary transfer required, 0% arrangement fee, reverting to 3-month EIBOR plus 1.50%, which is 5.87% today. Emirates NBD is cheaper during the fix, FAB after it. FAB is stronger on larger loans (above AED 3 million) and Abu Dhabi property; Emirates NBD is faster on standard Dubai salaried applications between AED 1 million and AED 3 million. Both cap early settlement at 1% of the amount settled or AED 10,000, whichever is lower.
Frequently asked questions
Who offers better mortgage rates, FAB or Emirates NBD?
Emirates NBD, during the fix: 3.89% on a 2-year against 3.99% on a 1-year at FAB. FAB, after it: its follow-on is 3-month EIBOR plus 1.50%, or 5.87% today, against Emirates NBD's 1-month EIBOR plus 1.99%, or 6.01%. Then add fees. Emirates NBD's 0.26% arrangement charge is AED 5,200 on a AED 2 million loan; FAB charges nothing. Profile still matters, and FAB stays more competitive on loans above AED 3 million and on Abu Dhabi purchases, but the honest answer turns on how long you keep the mortgage.
What is the minimum salary for FAB and Emirates NBD mortgages?
Neither bank publishes a minimum salary for a salaried expatriate mortgage application, and the threshold is not disclosed consistently, so ask each bank for its current figure in writing. The CBUAE's 50% DBR cap then limits your actual borrowing to 50% of your gross monthly income in total debt repayments.
Which bank processes mortgage applications faster, FAB or Emirates NBD?
Emirates NBD is generally faster for standard applications: pre-approvals in 2 to 3 working days, formal offers in 5 to 7 working days. FAB typically takes 3 to 5 working days for pre-approval and 7 to 10 working days for the formal offer. Both can be slower in busy periods.
Is the early settlement fee the same at FAB and Emirates NBD?
Yes. Both banks charge the CBUAE-capped rate: 1% of the amount repaid early, up to a maximum of AED 10,000. This regulatory cap applies to all licensed UAE mortgage lenders. Neither bank can legally exceed this limit.
Related articles
- FAB mortgage UAE 2026: First Abu Dhabi Bank home loan guide →
- Emirates NBD mortgage UAE 2026: rates, products and how to apply →
- ADCB vs FAB mortgage UAE 2026: which bank offers the better deal? →
- Best mortgage rates in the UAE (2026): full bank by bank comparison →
- When to refinance your UAE mortgage: the numbers that tell you it's worth it →
Compare FAB, Emirates NBD and other major UAE lenders
See live rates across every major UAE bank. Then run your numbers on the calculator to find the total cost over your full term.