K|Wise · Case Study

A refinance saved the Hadid family AED 184K

How a Dubai Marina couple refinanced from a 4.49% fixed UAE mortgage to 3.74% — saving AED 184K over the term. Full break-even and lender comparison.

Rate moved: 4.49% → 3.74%
Switching cost: AED 29,740
Break-even: 7.6 months
Lifetime saving: AED 184K

The starting position.

Young Dubai Marina couple, two years into a 5-year fixed deal at 4.49% with their original lender. AED 2.1M outstanding balance, 23 years remaining. Convinced by their bank’s relationship manager that exit fees would erase any saving.

What we actually found.

Exit fee capped at 1% of outstanding balance per UAE Central Bank rules (AED 21,000). Mortgage release and re-registration at Dubai Land Department: AED 5,540. New valuation: AED 3,200. Total switching cost: AED 29,740.

Exit fee · capped at 1% of outstanding balance: AED 21,000
Mortgage release & re-registration · Dubai Land Department: AED 5,540
New valuation: AED 3,200
Total switching cost: AED 29,740

What the new deal looked like.

Re-fixed at 3.74% for 5 years with a different lender on our panel. Year-one interest saving alone: AED 15,750. Break-even on switching cost: 7.6 months. Lifetime saving over the remaining term: AED 184K.

Year-one interest saving: AED 15,750
Break-even on switching cost: 7.6 months
Lifetime saving over the remaining term: AED 184K

What they did with the savings.

Funded the deposit on a two-bedroom upgrade two years later. The refinance paid for the upgrade.

Anonymised. Audited. Approved by the client. Names, exact addresses and unique details are altered to protect privacy. Rates, fees, and savings are taken from the original offer letter, and the borrowers signed off the published version before it went live.

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