How to Open a Bank Account in Dubai (UAE)?

If you are willing or recently moved to Dubai and wish to organize your finances, opening a bank account in the UAE is quite simple. There are requirements where you will have to submit a few documents while doing so, but these are the formalities every bank in the world requires.

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Open Personal Bank Account in Dubai UAE | Foreigners & Non-Resident

In this article, we will explain how to open a bank account in Dubai, list the required documents, specify the minimum deposit amount, and outline the procedure for doing so. We will also discuss how to open a savings, current, or business account in the UAE.

For a bank account opening in Dubai, the process is quite straightforward. Whether you are doing a job or business, the procedure is almost the same, however, in a business or personal account, you will have to maintain a minimum balance as decided while opening the account. On the contrary, there is no requirement for a minimum balance in a salaried account.

Requirements for Opening a New Account 

If you are residing in the UAE and are willing to open a bank account, you can follow the below-mentioned procedure to do so:

Select a Bank

There are various banks in Dubai to choose from and they offer excellent financial services. Some of these banks include Mashreq Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Emirates NBD, Citibank, etc.

However, we recommend that for a salaried account, you should choose a bank affiliated with your company to avoid waiting until after your salary is credited to your bank account. Therefore, you should ask your organization which bank they recommend for opening an account.

In the case of a personal or a business account, you have to keep in mind that there is a requirement to maintain a minimum balance in the account and failure to do so may result in a penalty. For instance, the minimum requirement for maintaining the account balance for First Abu Dhabi Bank’s business account is 3000 AED, but this may vary depending upon the contract. Furthermore, failure to maintain this amount may result in a 25 AED penalty.

So, the amount of money to maintain in a business account varies from bank to bank and so do the penalty charges.

Choose an Account Type

You have to select the account type to open a bank account in the UAE. There are two types of accounts to choose from i.e. savings and current.

• Savings Account: This type of bank account is used for long-term savings, and you cannot carry out transactions regularly. The savings accounts are meant for limited transactions, and some banks do not even offer debit cards to keep the amount protected.
• Current Account: The account is mainly opened and used by salaried individuals and offers unlimited monthly transactions. This type of account can be used to pay for utilities, groceries, and other expenses.

Submit the Required Documents

Following are the required documents you should submit to open a bank account in Dubai.

• Original valid passport.
• A copy of passport with residence visa stamp on it.
• A letter of no objection from the sponsor.

You can also submit these documents when opening a joint or personal banking account for the inhabitants of Dubai.

In order to open a salaried account, you will have to submit a salary certificate. However, if you do not possess it, you can also submit any of the below-mentioned documents for this purpose.

• A recent pay slip (less than 3 months old).
• An appointment letter or a copy of the contract.
• An account statement showing the transfer of your salary.

How to Open a UAE Bank Account for Non-Residents?  

Non-residents of the UAE can also open their bank account in Dubai or any other Emirate of the country. They will have to meet specific criteria for doing so and won’t be provided with a chequebook but instead a debit card after the validation of all documents.

List of Documents Required to Open a Non-Resident Account in Dubai

Following is a list of required documents for opening a Dubai bank account for Non-Residents:

• Residency proof along with a paid utility bill.
• Details of income, employment, or tax information.
• Valid identity proof (driver’s license, Emirates ID, passport, etc.)

In addition to the above-mentioned documents, your selected bank can demand some more documentation as per their policies and regulations. As far as a joint account is concerned, you need the documents of both applicants to open an account.

Business Bank Account Opening in Dubai – How?

The procedure for opening a business account varies from bank to bank. However, the appearance of the stakeholder and the director is mandatory in order to proceed with this matter.

Following is the procedure for opening a business bank account in Dubai:

1. 1. Fill out the application form for opening the account, and provide all the essential details such as clients or suppliers, proof of business, etc. After that, you will need to submit the following documents.
      • Contracts that already exist
      • Corporate documents of the company
      • Business activities and funding sources must be disclosed
      • Association Articles & Company’s Memorandum.
      • Shareholder’s Emirates ID copy
      • A comprehensive business plan
      • Letters of reference from business partners
      • Director’s passport copy
      • Shareholder’s residency visa and passport
   2. Upon approval of your application, the bank will validate your financial projections and management team documents before proceeding further.
   3. If the bank is satisfied with the documentation you submitted, they will personally interview you.
   4. After that, you will successfully complete the creation of your corporate bank account.

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