Service Guide
Banking & Account Opening
Personal and corporate account-opening preparation, compliance readiness, document assembly, and application coordination with UAE banks.
Account types & requirements
Personal Banking
Residence visa requiredCurrent and savings accounts for residents. Essential for salary deposits, utility payments, and daily transactions.
- •Passport, Emirates ID, visa copy, and proof of address
- •Salary certificate or proof of income (for salary accounts)
- •Minimum balance requirements (varies by bank and account tier)
Corporate Account
Active trade license requiredBusiness accounts for company operations, invoicing, payroll, and vendor payments. Required for most UAE business activity.
- •Trade license, establishment card, Memorandum of Association
- •Shareholder and signatory passport copies and Emirates IDs
- •Proof of business address (tenancy contract or Ejari)
Non-Resident Account
No UAE visa requiredLimited personal accounts available for non-residents at select banks. Typically requires higher minimum balances.
- •Valid passport and proof of residential address (home country)
- •Bank reference letter from current bank
- •Proof of income or employment (varies by bank policy)
How the account-opening process works
Bank selection & account type
We assess your requirements (personal vs. corporate, international transfers, multi-currency needs) and recommend suitable banks.
Document preparation
We prepare a complete application file with all required documents, proofs, and supporting letters formatted to bank specifications.
Compliance readiness
We review your source of funds, business activity (if corporate), and risk profile to ensure alignment with bank KYC and AML policies.
Application submission
We coordinate the application submission, schedule in-person visits or video calls if required, and manage follow-up with the bank.
Account activation
Once approved, we coordinate initial deposit, debit card issuance, online banking activation, and integration with your workflows.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to open a bank account in the UAE?
Personal accounts for residents typically take 1-2 weeks from application to activation. Corporate accounts take 2-4 weeks due to additional compliance checks and signatory verification. Non-resident accounts may take longer depending on bank policy and documentation review.
Can I open a bank account before moving to the UAE?
Most UAE banks require a residence visa before opening a personal account. A few banks offer non-resident accounts, but these come with higher minimum balance requirements and limited features. Corporate accounts can sometimes be initiated during the company formation process.
What is the minimum deposit requirement?
Personal accounts typically require AED 3,000-10,000 minimum balance depending on the account tier and bank. Corporate accounts require AED 10,000-50,000 minimum balance. Premium or private banking services have higher thresholds (AED 100,000+).
Do I need to visit the bank in person?
Most banks require at least one in-person visit for identity verification and signature collection, though some now offer video KYC for personal accounts. Corporate accounts usually require all signatories to visit for identity verification and mandate signing.
Can I open accounts at multiple banks?
Yes, there are no restrictions on holding accounts at multiple UAE banks. Many residents maintain personal accounts at 2-3 banks for different purposes (daily banking, savings, international transfers). We can coordinate multi-bank account opening if needed.
Ready to open your UAE bank account?
Talk to our team and we'll get your bank application moving.