UK Mortgage for 3 Million Property Dubai Resident
Securing a UK mortgage for 3 million property Dubai resident situations is rarely straightforward. Ownership structures, international income, and changing lender appetites create barriers that mainstream lenders cannot cross. In this case, a Dubai-based businessman holding a £3 million UK property through a BVI company required refinancing when his existing lender withdrew—leaving Articus Finance to structure a bespoke solution with private banking channels.
Introduction
The UK remains a preferred market for globally mobile clients, offering security, capital appreciation, and lifestyle advantages. Yet arranging a UK mortgage for 3 million property Dubai resident cases is far from routine. Offshore entities, retained earnings, and inconsistent affordability tests push borrowers outside mainstream criteria. Articus Finance specialises in bridging this gap by leveraging private banks comfortable working with UHNWIs and non-standard profiles.
Client Background
The client was a Dubai-resident entrepreneur with significant wealth generated from a family-owned manufacturing business in Bangladesh. His £3 million property in the UK was held through a British Virgin Islands (BVI) company for tax and structuring purposes. He lived partly in Dubai but frequently travelled globally for business, and the property was a personal residence requiring refinancing as his previous fixed-rate mortgage reached expiry.
Key contextual details:
- Nationality & Residency: Dubai-based self-employed businessman
- Property: Prime UK residence valued at £3 million held under BVI ownership
- Income: Derived from retained company profits rather than high personal salary
- Challenge: Existing lender withdrew appetite for offshore company structures
The Challenge
Several issues converged for this refinance:
- Policy Change: The client’s UK lender announced they would no longer support BVI structures, leaving him stranded days away from fixed-rate expiry.
- Income Representation: His “on-paper” income appeared modest, as profits were retained in the business instead of drawn as salary, a structure many banks misinterpret.
- Structural Complexity: Offshore ownership introduces compliance hurdles that discourage risk-averse institutions.
- Urgency: Without a swift replacement, the client faced higher interest expenses and potential financing difficulties impacting his wider portfolio.
Finding a lender able to underwrite a UK mortgage for 3 million property Dubai resident within weeks, and willing to accept retained earnings plus offshore ownership, required specialist intervention.
Our Solution
Articus Finance leveraged long-standing relationships with an international private bank that specialises in complex expat and foreign national mortgages. The pathway to approval included three critical steps:
- Ownership Validation: Full documentation of the BVI structure was packaged into a clear compliance case, proving transparency of ownership and beneficial interest.
- Income Presentation: We built a tailored financial profile highlighting retained earning capacity instead of headline salary, demonstrating repayment strength despite non-traditional cash flow.
- Direct Lender Engagement: Using our access to private bank credit teams, we bypassed slow layers of bureaucracy. This fast-tracked underwriting and produced a clean approval in time for the refinance deadline.
The outcome was a five-year fixed, interest-only facility at 65% loan-to-value. This not only safeguarded continuity for the client but preserved liquidity by avoiding unnecessary asset transfers.
Key Highlights
- Client: Dubai-resident entrepreneur with cross-border income
- Property Value: £3 million UK residence held through BVI company
- Facility: 65% LTV, five-year fixed, interest-only structure
- Complications: Withdrawal of lending support, modest declared salary, offshore entity requirements
- Result: Successfully refinanced through private bank with fast approval
Why Choose a UK Mortgage for 3 Million Property Dubai Resident
Delivering a UK mortgage for 3 million property Dubai resident required specialist knowledge that standard lenders could not match. Articus Finance’s reputation with international banks created the platform for approval. Rather than accept decline or excessive conditions, our client secured favourable leverage with minimal disruption.
Strengths we brought to the case included:
- Deep expertise in Expat Mortgages and Foreign National Mortgages, including offshore structures.
- Private bank access allowing high-value clients to avoid AUM-linked restrictions.
- Ability to translate unconventional income types into an acceptable format for underwriters.
- Proven speed of execution by engaging directly with credit teams.
Explore Related Insights
- High Net Worth Mortgages
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- Articus Case Studies Library
- Comprehensive Guides Library
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Final Thoughts
This outcome illustrates the value of working with a specialist broker for high-value foreign national cases. By arranging a UK mortgage for 3 million property Dubai resident through a flexible private bank, Articus Finance delivered both security and efficiency. Liquidity was preserved, timelines were met, and the client retained ownership without compromise, despite complex structures and lender withdrawals.