Category · Banking
Banking
The basic flow for foreigners opening a local bank account — centered on the Emirates ID.
3,000AED
Typical min. balance
1-3bus. days
Account opening
5-7bus. days
Card delivery
0%
Interest (salary account)
Day 0
EID received
Prerequisite for full account
Day 1
Visit or apply in-app
Docs + salary proof
Day 1-3
Review · Account opened
IBAN issued
Day 5-7
Debit card delivered
Set PIN, start using
InfoPre-EID interim accounts exist
Some banks (RAKBANK, Emirates NBD, etc.) open a temporary Salary Account against an employer letter + passport. Convert to a full account after Emirates ID issuance.
WarningMinimum-balance violation fees
If your monthly average balance drops below the required minimum, banks charge 25–100 AED/month. Check the minimum threshold before opening.
Account type
Planning to receive a salary of 4,000 AED/month or more?
Yes
Major-bank salary accountENBD · ADCB · FAB · RAKBANK
No
Digital bank, no minimum balanceWIO · Mashreq NEO · Liv
Self-employed
Business account (separate)WIO Business · FAB SME
Emirates NBD
Largest in the UAE
3,000 AED / mo
- Liv digital banking
- Foreigner-friendly onboarding
- EID required
Expat friendly
ADCB
Easy expat opening
3,000 AED / mo
- Strong app UX
- Competitive remittance fees
- Online pre-application
First Abu Dhabi Bank
Largest by assets (FAB)
5,000 AED+ / mo
- Premium + wealth strength
- Full corporate + retail
- Abu Dhabi HQ, global reach
SME friendly
WIO
Digital-only (launched 2022)
0 AED
- No minimum balance
- Strong SME/business account
- Modern app, Wio Invest built-in
Mashreq NEO
Digital-only
0 AED
- No minimum balance
- No branch visit required
- No chequebook
Detailed guides