Get pre-approved before you view, not after
A pre-approval fixes your ceiling, shortens the offer and tells a seller you are real. What the banks here ask for, and how long each step takes.
What a pre-approval actually fixes
A pre-approval tells you the ceiling a bank will lend you against your income and existing commitments, and it lasts long enough to shop with. Without one you are guessing, and the guess is usually generous — the debt burden ratio the banks apply here catches most people out by a margin rather than a rounding.
What the banks ask for
Passport and visa, Emirates ID, six months of bank statements, a salary certificate or, for the self-employed, audited accounts and trade licence. Existing loans and credit cards are read off your credit report whether you declare them or not, so declare them.
How long each step takes
Pre-approval is days rather than weeks once the file is complete. The valuation after you have agreed a price is a week or so, and the final offer follows it. Sellers here know these timings, which is why an offer with a pre-approval attached is treated differently from one without.