Aldar and ADCB Complete Abu Dhabi’s First Off-Plan Mortgage Under New ADREC Framework
A landmark financing framework now allows eligible Abu Dhabi buyers who have paid 50% of an off-plan property’s value to secure mortgage financing before handover.
Aldar Properties and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) have completed Abu Dhabi’s first off-plan mortgage under a newly launched framework from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC), marking an important development in how off-plan homes can be financed in the emirate.
Under the new framework, buyers who have already paid 50% of the property’s purchase price can arrange mortgage financing against their off-plan unit before the property is handed over. The participating bank can then fund the remaining construction-linked instalments as well as the final payment due at handover.
A key change is that the financing bank can now be formally recorded on the mortgage registration certificate before completion, giving buyers greater certainty over their financing terms during the construction period rather than leaving the mortgage process until handover.
The framework is designed to give buyers greater flexibility and help them preserve liquidity while their property is still under construction. It also provides an alternative to the traditional model in which buyers typically arrange their mortgage closer to completion.
For eligible buyers, ADCB currently promotes off-plan mortgage solutions with financing of up to 50% of the property value, annual pre-approval renewal through to handover, rates starting from 3.49% per annum fixed for three years, and no processing or valuation fees, subject to eligibility and credit assessment.
The first completed transaction between Aldar and ADCB demonstrates the practical application of ADREC’s new framework and represents a significant step toward expanding financing options for Abu Dhabi’s growing off-plan property market. Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector has continued to record strong activity, with ADREC reporting AED 66 billion in transactions in Q1 2026, including more than AED 15 billion in mortgage transactions.
For buyers considering new developments in Abu Dhabi, the framework could make off-plan ownership more accessible by allowing mortgage financing to be secured earlier in the purchase journey, while providing greater clarity around future payment obligations.
