How to open a bank account in the UAE
Foreigners with residence permits can open any bank account in the UAE. The process is relatively simple and can be done entirely online.
Non-residents have to come to the bank in person, prove their compliance with the strict requirements of anti-money laundering legislation and provide more documents, including:
a passport copy;
bank statements from the country of residence;
utility bills indicating the payer and the address;
written explanation of the purpose of account opening.
Author •Zlata Erlach
Explained how to open a bank account in the UAE
How to open a bank account in the UAE
Benefits of a UAE bank account
International transactions with no foreign exchange control. UAE banks support the IBAN system — this means that their clients can freely get payments from Europe. Aside from that, in the UAE, there are no legal restrictions on withdrawing money abroad.
The high security of banks is confirmed by international credit rating agencies. Fitch sovereign rating for the UAE stands at AA- with a stable outlook, which is the third best result.
The Central Bank of the UAE stabilises the financial system: it does not issue new banking licences so that the volume of proposals meets the market’s needs.
Free account maintenance for accounts that meet the requirements on minimum balance or regular top-ups. In European banks, maintenance is generally paid.
Interest on deposits is higher than inflation — interest can be up to 2% with inflation less than 1%. The average annual inflation in the UAE over the past five years has been negative — in the range of ‑2 to 2%.
No income tax or withholding tax. Residents of the country are exempt from many taxes. For instance, they don’t pay taxes on capital gains, interest, dividends, royalties, luxury, inheritance, and gifts. To become a tax resident of the UAE, one must first obtain a residence visa.
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Types of accounts and cards available in UAE banks
Depending on the bank and the type of account, the service is available to clients over 18 or 21 years old. It’s possible to open an account in UAE dirhams or foreign currencies: dollars, euros, and pounds. The dirham is pegged to the US dollar: $1 = AED 3.67.
There are two types of accounts in the UAE: current and savings. A current account will allow you to issue a chequebook. Savings accounts earn interest on the balance.
Non-residents can only open savings accounts.
A chequebook is useful when renting real estate. Generally, the rental contracts in the UAE are signed for a year: the tenant writes checks for the entire period and indicates the payment date for each month or quarter, depending on the agreement.
Conditions of opening an account depend on specific banks and products. In some cases, potential clients need to prove a monthly income of at least AED 5,000 ($1,362) or have a different account in the same bank.
Account maintenance is usually free for accounts with a monthly balance or salary receipts higher than a minimum of AED 3,000—5,000 ($812—1,362). Otherwise, the maintenance fee is around AED 20—30 monthly.
It’s possible to issue an international debit or credit card for free. Cash withdrawals and purchases are usually limited from AED 10,000 to 100,000 per day ($2,724—272,400).
Requirements for opening a corporate account in the UAE
Businesses registered in the UAE, both local and international, can open corporate accounts.
The Arab Emirates has several free economic zones with special tax and customs regimes. Foreigners can do business here without the participation of a local partner. Non-resident companies can work only within the free zones or abroad. To resident companies, these restrictions do not apply.
Free zones offer several benefits to businesses, including VAT-free and customs duty-free regimes and exemption from corporate tax for 50 years after the company registration. Most of the free zones are located in Dubai.
Here is a list of documents one needs to provide to open a corporate account:
Residence visas or Emirates IDs of all founders and the company’s CEO.
Constituent documents of the company: charter, memorandum of association, certificate of registration, and a licence.
Confirmation of authority to open an account: a power of attorney or founders’ decision on appointing a director.
Proof of legal address of the company.
Company account statements or bank statements from the founders’ accounts for newly registered businesses.
Bank accounts for minors
For children under 18 years old, their fathers or male legal guardians can open bank accounts in the UAE. Mothers can open accounts for their children only with a power of attorney.
Parents can’t withdraw money from their child’s accounts. The account owner will have access to it once they turn 18. Some banks can issue debit cards for 15-year-olds.
Documents required to open a bank account in the UAE
Some banks request proof of income. It can be a statement from another bank, a salary certificate, or a tax credit certificate.
In practice, it’s challenging to open an account in the UAE for non-residents. Banks are cautious because of the anti-money laundering laws. In many cases, they can either refuse foreigners or set additional conditions. For instance, they can increase the minimum amount on the account or require to open an investment or deposit account for a few years in addition to the main one.
Bank account charges in the UAE
Fees and charges depend on the specific bank, account type and priority level of the account. High-priority clients who maintain an average monthly balance of AED 50,000 and more usually pay fewer fees for transactions, issuance of chequebooks, etc.
Here’s what the schedule of charges can look like for a medium-priority account with a monthly average balance of AED 5,000.
Charges and fees for a medium priority account on the example of Emirates NBD Bank
Managing a bank account in the UAE
One can manage their finances while visiting their UAE bank’s offices in person or online.
Visiting a bank’s office in person may be more convenient for certain transactions than online. Some banks in the UAE provide their customers with easy access to service counters and offices by placing them in popular areas and complexes. Usually, an appointment is not needed.
Online and mobile banking is also available. Customers get round-the-clock access to their finances and can get a loan or another service without visiting the bank branch. Also, some banks provide mobile-only services and do not open physical offices.
Mobile banking in the UAE
Most UAE banks provide their customers convenient mobile banking through mobile apps and SMS. A customer can use these services to check the account’s balance, transfer money, pay bills, and apply for a new card or another service.
Some banks have gone further: they allow UAE residents to open accounts online. A customer downloads an app and scans their Emirates ID to do it. Then they can transfer some money to their new account and get a debit card with delivery.
Banking services in the UAE
Emirati banks provide their customers with a vast range of services, from opening a personal bank account for savings and transactions to loans.
International transactions are available for residents with bank accounts in the UAE. International money transfers can be made in a bank’s mobile app or online banking service. Also, transfers to some countries may be free of charge.
An alternative to bank transactions is using one of the international money transfer services, such as CurrencyFair or Moneycorp.
Credit cards are usually available to UAE residents with a monthly salary of AED 5,000 or more, depending on the bank and the card. Annual fees are usually from 0 to AED 2,000. Some banks provide cardholders additional benefits, such as cashback of up to 20%, reward points or air miles.
Loans are available for UAE residents and foreigners. Personal loans have relatively low interest rates: one can find an offer with a 2—6% rate. There are also requirements for the applicant’s income, and most banks require a processing fee of 1% of the loan amount.
Car loans and mortgages require down payments. When it comes to real estate for obtaining residency, it must be at least 50% of the property’s price and not less than the required investment amount. Interest rates are usually relatively low, around 2—4%.
Closing an account in a UAE bank
An owner must visit a branch and submit a request to close an account. In many banks, it’s possible no earlier than six months or one year after opening. The service will cost an average of AED 100 ($27).
Some banks, like First Abu Dhabi Bank, close inactive accounts with zero balance and are inactive for more than six months. Banks do so after notifying owners of the accounts.
Accounts with active loans cannot be closed until an alternate way of payment is arranged, or the loan is settled.
What banks work in the UAE
There are two types of national banks in the UAE — conventional and Islamic. Aside from that, international banks also work in the country.
Conventional national and international banks provide the usual banking services: deposits, loans, investment accounts, etc.
National Islamic banks work strictly adhering to the Sharia law. Principles of Islamic banking include:
it’s forbidden to lend money at interest. Therefore, Islamic banks do not provide loans and or deposits at interest;
it’s forbidden to speculate with securities — playing on the stock exchange is equal to gambling;
it’s forbidden to invest in sinful things, such as tobacco, alcohol, producing non-Halal meat, or gambling.
Instead of consumer loans, Islamic banks issue interest-free loans and instead of providing business loans, they invest in businesses and become parties.
The Central Bank of the UAE issues licences and regulates the financial system — banks, investment funds, and insurance companies. To balance supply and demand, the Central Bank stopped issuing new licences and limited the number of branches for foreign banks to eight.
In the UAE, there are 13 conventional national banks and 28 international ones. The biggest by size and amount of branches are First Abu Dhabi Bank FAB, Emirates NBD, and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank ADCB.
Working hours depend on a specific branch. Banks are open from Monday to Saturday, with a short Friday. On Sundays, banks are closed. Branches open at 7 or 8 AM and work until noon, less often — until 7 or 9 PM. On Fridays, the opening hours are shortened or shifted to the afternoon.
UAE banks list
Best banks of the UAE
In 2021, Global Finance and Forbes published ratings of the best banks in the UAE regarding financial performance, marketing, user care, and response to the pandemic. Global Finance appreciated the focus on the global market and convenience for international clients, while Forbes highlighted the quality of service.
Best banks, according to the ratings
How to get a UAE residence visa to open a bank account
Investors can get a residence visa by real estate purchase. Its validity period depends on the amount of investment:
2-year visa with an investment of at least AED 750,000 ($204,000);
10-year visa with an investment of at least AED 2,000,000 ($545,000).
It takes around 2—3 months to get a residence visa. Close family members can be added to the application too. This applies to spouses and children — sons under 25 and daughters of any age.
Residence visa obtainment timeframe
1 day
Preliminary Due Diligence
Up to 7 weeks
Real estate purchase and preparation of the documents
Up to 5 days
Visit the UAE and have a medical examination in a certified clinic
Up to 30 days
State Due Diligence
1 day
Obtainment of the visa and Emirates ID
The associated costs for obtaining a residence visa in the UAE for spouses with two children will be at least $229,000.
The UAE residence visa allows the opening of bank accounts and taking advantage of local medical insurance. Investors’ children can study at international schools.
If the investor decides to rent out the investment property, the income will be from 5 to 8%.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for government programs in the European Union and the Caribbean.
Practical Guide
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