Emirates Islamic Bank is to offer 100 per cent mortgages to UAE nationals, as banks attempt to jump-start a languid property market.
The new loans can be used for purchasing existing properties or for buying off-plan, the bank said.
"For most people, owning a home is one of the biggest lifetime investments and provides an opportunity to build equity in real estate," said Faisal Aqil, the general manager of retail banking at Emirates Islamic Bank.
The mortgages charge variable rates beginning at 4.99 per cent, and can be approved within 24 hours.
Housing prices fell after the bubble of cheap credit that financed Dubai's construction frenzy during the early and middle part of the last decade was pricked by the global financial crisis. Since then, only scant signs of recovery have emerged in the local property sector.
Dubai house prices rose by about 0.5 per cent last year, according to data from the estate agent Knight Frank.
However, the same index recorded a 6 per cent dip in house prices during 2010 and a plunge of 42.1 per cent during 2009.
Last year, a price war in mortgage interest rates was sparked by United Arab Bank, which was quickly entered into by lending giants including Standard Chartered and HSBC.
Still, mortgage transactions remain at a fraction of their pre-crisis peak, according to bankers.
ghunter@thenational.ae
Key facilities
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Without Remorse
Directed by: Stefano Sollima
Starring: Michael B Jordan
4/5
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
The%20specs
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5