Ninja Insights
Guides, rate watches and plain-language breakdowns from the NinjaCompares team, so every financial move lands clean.
10 articles.
Your AECB score: the three-digit number banks read first
It costs AED 10.50 to see the number a bank will use to judge you. Most people apply first and find out later. That number is your credit score from the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB). It is useful because it compresses your credit profile into one number. But it is only the headline. The real story is in the credit report behind it.
The 50% rule: how your debt-burden ratio decides everything
A good salary and a clean credit record can still get a “no” from a bank. The reason is often one fraction. It’s called the debt-burden ratio: what you repay each month, divided by what you earn. In the UAE, the standard limit is 50%, and banks check your existing obligations when you apply for new credit.
Air miles vs cashback: which card actually pays you more?
A miles card sells you a window seat. A cashback card sells you a slightly smaller bill. One of those is a much better story, and that’s the trap. We took one UAE spending scenario and ran it through both types of card, and the result had very little to do with the card. It came down to what the cardholder does after the points land.
Murabaha auto finance: how Sharia-compliant car finance works
Most people call it an Islamic car loan. It isn’t a loan at all: a Murabaha is a sale. The bank buys the car and then sells it to you at an agreed cost plus profit. You repay the agreed sale price in installments. There is no interest, because nothing was lent. You don’t have to be Muslim to apply.
Financing your first car in the UAE: the complete playbook
Three numbers frame every first car loan in the UAE: at least 20% down, up to five years to repay, and total debt repayments capped at half your salary and regular income. The rest comes down to the car you pick and how the bank quotes its rate. Here is how to get both right.
Salary-Transfer vs Non-Transfer Personal Loans, Explained
Two personal loans from the same bank can carry very different rates. Often the main difference isn’t the loan itself. It’s whether your salary is paid into that bank. The lower rate looks like the obvious pick, and it can be. But you pay for it in flexibility.
The deposit is not your only cash: what buying a home in the UAE really costs
Twenty percent is what many buyers focus on. It is not the full amount you need to buy a home. On top of your deposit come government registration fees, broker commission, mortgage registration, valuation and the bank’s own charges. And since February 2025, banks no longer finance transfer fees and agent commission, so these are paid in cash. The useful question is not “What is my deposit?” It is: “How much cash do I actually need to complete the purchase?”
EIBOR just moved. Here’s what it means for your repayments
EIBOR moves every business day. Your mortgage payment doesn’t. That gap is why most EIBOR headlines matter less than they sound, and why a few lines in your loan agreement matter more.
Pre-approval in the UAE: your unfair advantage at the negotiation table
Two buyers offer the same price for the same apartment. One says the bank will “probably” lend. The other has a letter from the bank. The seller’s choice is easy. A pre-approval doesn’t make your offer higher. It makes it safer to accept. It matters at three moments: before you view, when you make an offer, and after the seller says yes.
UAE Mortgage Rates in 2026: What Buyers Should Actually Watch
2026 reminded buyers that rates don’t only go down. But the rate on a bank’s banner is still the least important number in your mortgage. Here are the seven things that deserve your attention instead.