Dubai: Borrowers in the UAE will see near-term relief on loan repayments after the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, prompting the Central Bank of the UAE to maintain its base rate at 3.65% in line with the dirham’s dollar peg. The decision, widely expected by markets, is easing pressure on households and businesses after an extended period of monetary tightening, with lenders now seen holding borrowing costs largely unchanged in the absence of fresh policy signals. Mortgage borrowers shielded Vijay Valecha, Chief Investment Officer at Century Financial, said the rate hold offers immediate relief to homeowners on variable-rate mortgages, who had been exposed to a steady rise in monthly instalments over the past two years. “Given this move, it’s a sign of relief for floating rate mortgage holders, as their monthly repayments are unlikely to see any upward revision in the near term,” he said.…