Islamic home finance
Home finance aligned with your values.
Islamic home finance uses structures such as leasing and sale rather than interest-based lending. We explain how each works and compare what lenders offer.
Sharia-compliant
Is it right for you?
Who it suits
Buyers seeking Sharia-compliant finance
You want your home finance to follow Islamic principles.
Owners refinancing
You want to move an existing mortgage to an Islamic structure.
Nationals and residents alike
Islamic products are available to eligible residents and nationals, subject to lender criteria.
Step by step
How the financing works
- 01
Understand the structures
We explain the main structures in plain language and how payments work under each.
- 02
Compare profit rates and terms
Profit rates, fixed periods, follow-on terms and fees — side by side.
- 03
Check early-settlement terms
How settling early works and what it costs under each product.
- 04
Complete with the lender
Valuation, approval and the signing steps each structure requires.
The main structures, in plain language
Ijara (lease to own)
The bank buys the property and leases it to you. Your payments cover rent and a share of the purchase, and ownership transfers to you at the end.
Murabaha (cost-plus sale)
The bank buys the property and sells it to you at an agreed higher price, paid in instalments.
Diminishing Musharakah (shared ownership)
You and the bank co-own the property. You gradually buy the bank’s share while paying rent on the part you don’t yet own.
Products are approved by each bank’s Sharia supervisory board, and structures and terms vary. An advisor can explain the product documents for any offer you receive.
Before you apply
What to prepare
What lenders look at, what it costs, and the documents you’ll usually need.
What lenders consider
- Your income, commitments and credit history
- The property and its valuation
- Central Bank financing limits, which apply as for conventional mortgages
- The lender’s product criteria
Costs to plan for
- Down payment
- Registration and mortgage registration fees
- Arrangement and valuation fees
- Takaful (Islamic insurance) required by the lender
Documents
- Passport, visa and Emirates ID
- Income documents (salaried or self-employed)
- Bank statements
- Property documents
Exact requirements vary by lender.
Our role
How Retention helps
Explain the structure
So you understand ownership, payments and early settlement before you sign.
Compare like with like
Profit rates, fixed periods and fees across Islamic products.
Coordinate the steps
Islamic products can involve extra signing steps — we keep them on schedule.
Your advisors
Talk it through with the people who’ll handle it.
A Retention advisor guides you from the first comparison through to completion — and is there when you need a review.
They are calculated differently under Islamic structures, but you can compare monthly payments and total cost in the same way.
Usually, yes. The terms and any charges depend on the product; we’ll explain them before you commit.
Lenders usually require takaful cover as part of Islamic home finance.
Home finance aligned with your values.
Tell us what you’re planning. An advisor will help you understand the next step.