Every application needs proof of identity, an address history, recent bank statements, and evidence of income: an employment contract and payslips, or audited accounts if you are self-employed. Non-resident files go through the same categories but with more depth: statements often need a longer history, and foreign-language documents typically need certified translation. Resident files usually move faster because the verification stays within the UAE.
The realistic order is pre-approval, then choosing the property, then a bank valuation, then a final offer, then transfer at the emirate's land department. Pre-approval and the offer letter are usually the fast steps; valuation scheduling and, for non-residents, cross-border verification of documents are where a file typically sits waiting rather than moving.
A mortgage carries costs the headline rate does not show: an arrangement fee to the bank, a valuation fee for the property assessment, life or property insurance the bank usually requires, and land department transfer fees on the purchase itself. Each lender and each deal sets its own amounts. What matters here is knowing the categories exist before you budget.
For a resident with straightforward documentation, weeks rather than months is typical. Non-resident files generally take longer because verification crosses borders. Treat any specific timeline as a range, not a guarantee, until a broker has seen your actual file.
Yes. Each lender sets its own validity period, and letting it lapse before you complete a purchase is routine and simply means re-papering the file, not starting over from nothing.
Power of attorney arrangements exist for exactly this and are used regularly in cross-border purchases, but the formalities (notarisation, attestation, scope of authority) need proper legal advice specific to your situation, not general guidance from us.