The Housing Finance System

Text bolded/green below shows notes and variable definitions when you roll over. If you cannot see the notes, please download an Excel version from the Research Center, which includes notes. Also, a PDF featuring variable definitions is available in the document list under "Definition of Hofinet Variables".

 

A. Primary Housing Finance Market

A.1 Industry Structure and Performance
VariableEnd of 2015End of 2014End of 2013SourcesVar ID
Types of originating lenders/market share:A.1.2
Level of Non-Performing Mortgage Loans (90 days or more past due):A.1.6
Average 1997-2007 A.1.7
A.2 Size of Mortgage Finance Sector
VariableEnd of 2015End of 2014End of 2013SourcesVar ID
Total amount of home mortgage loans outstanding at the end of year in millions of USD:  43,206.64 USD (millions)A.2.1
Total amount of home mortgage loans outstanding at the end of year as % of GDP (current)  11.16%
Central Bank of UAE, WEO
A.2.1.1
and as % of all credits outstanding  13.37%
Central Bank of UAE, World Bank
A.2.1.2
A.3 Housing Finance Products
VariableEnd of 2015End of 2014End of 2013SourcesVar ID
Mortgage products as % of all mortgages (approx.) in local currency:A.3.1
Most prevalent type of foreign currency mortgage used:A.3.3
Most frequent interest rates on fully amortizing:A.3.4
Typical lender fees associated with mortgage origination: A.3.6
Typical third party fees associated with mortgage origination:A.3.7
Loan-to-Value (LTV) on first mortgage: A.3.8
Maximum LTV808080%
Central Bank of the UAE
A.3.8.1
Typical LTV at origination  75.00A.3.8.2
Maximum term over which pmt is calculated? 25 years25 years25 yearsA.3.9
Mortgage pmt-to-income ratio A.3.10
A.4 Lending and Servicing Process
VariableEnd of 2015End of 2014End of 2013SourcesVar ID
Does the mortgage industry use standard principles/guidelines for underwriting?YesYesYes
Central Bank of the UAE
A.4.1
Which institutions define underwriting rules? A.4.2
Central Bank/Ministry of FinanceYesYesYes
Central Bank of the UAE
A.4.2.1
Secondary market facilityNoNoNo
Central Bank of the UAE
A.4.2.2
Major LenderNoNoNo
Central Bank of the UAE
A.4.2.3
A.5 Credit Risk Assessment
VariableEnd of 2015End of 2014End of 2013SourcesVar ID
Do credit bureaus exist? YesYesNo
Al Etihad Credit Bureau
A.5.2
What percentage of mortgage originations use credit scoring?Not availableNot available 
Al Etihad Credit Bureau
A.5.1
B. Funding Sources for Mortgages and the Secondary Mortgage Market
VariableEnd of 2015End of 2014End of 2013SourcesVar ID
What are the main funding sources for mortgages?B.1
Retail funding (deposits/other)primaryprimaryprimaryB.1.1
Wholesale funding: loans from other banks or corporationssecondarysecondarysecondaryB.1.2
C. Housing Microfinance
VariableEnd of 2015End of 2014End of 2013SourcesVar ID
Types of lenders operating in the housing micro-finance (HMF) sector:C.2
Level of NPLs (>90 days past due) in HMFC.4
back to top | Country Data:
Notes: 2013 Figures available only till September
Notes: 2013 figures available only till September
Notes: Al Etihad Credit Bureau started operations in May 2014
Notes: Central Bank
Notes: Central Bank
Notes: Dubai and Ras Al Kamiah do not fall under the same legal system.
Notes: Dubai and Ras Al Kamiah do not fall under the same legal system.
Notes: For Nationals: Property under US$1.36 mn - LTV 80%, above 1.36 mn- LTV 70%. For Expatriates - 75% ,65% respectively
Notes: For Nationals: Property under US$1.36 mn - LTV 80%, above 1.36 mn- LTV 70%. For Expatriates - 75% ,65% respectively
Notes: Funding from foreign banks and corporations
Notes: Funding from foreign banks and corporations
Notes: Funding from foreign banks and corporations
Notes: Funding from foreign banks and corporations
Notes: Grants to buy houses are issued for low-income households
Notes: Grants to buy houses are issued for low-income households
Notes: Grants to buy houses are issued for low-income households
Notes: Grants to buy houses are issued for low-income households
Notes: Interest free loans are offered under SZHP Program
Notes: Interest free loans are offered under SZHP program
Notes: Interest free loans are offered under SZHP Program
Notes: Interest free loans are offered under SZHP Program
Notes: LTV values are capped at 80%
Notes: LTV Values are capped at 80%
Notes: LTV values are capped at 80%
Notes: LTV values are capped at 80%
Notes: Net Domestic Credit
Notes: Net Domestic Credit
Notes: Net Domestic Credit
Notes: Net Domestic Credit
Notes: Net Domestic Credit
Notes: Net Domestic Credit
Notes: Net Domestic Credit
Notes: Net Domestic Credit
Notes: Net Domestic Credit
Notes: Net Domestic Credit
Notes: Net Domestic Credit
Notes: Net Domestic Credit
Notes: Net Domestic Credit