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10+ Best Bank in UAE & Dubai in 2024

A complete guide to best bank in UAE for you to open your bank account

There are dozens of banks in UAE, but some are better than others. This is mainly because of their services, which make them the best bank in UAE.

In this Dbd guide, we will tell you which is the best bank in UAE and why.

Choosing the best bank in UAE boils down to what matters most to you as an individual or a business. Factors like range of services, transparency, fees, ease of use, accessibility, and innovation matter a lot.

Some top banks in UAE offer services to all kinds of clients. But some minor details and perks make one bank stand out from the others.

Top 12 list – Which is the best bank in UAE?

Which bank would you choose as the best bank in UAE? Is it the one with the highest interest rates, the greatest security, or a bank that you can trust? What about enough of everything?

For this list, we have analyzed the top banks in UAE and chosen ones that can provide good facilities to everyone – whether they are individuals or businesses.

Let’s go through each of them.

1. First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)

best bank in uae - fab

Number of branches: 65+

Number of ATMs: 260+

Services:

  • Personal savings and salary accounts
  • Multiple corporate and investment account options
  • Home loans
  • Prepaid cards

FAB has a long history of providing its customers with top-notch banking services and products. The bank offers personal, corporate, investment, and Islamic banking services.

FAB is one of the few banks in the UAE that offer free credit cards to its customers. The bank is also known for its excellent customer service. It also has a strong presence in other countries in the Middle East and Africa.

The First Abu Dhabi Bank also has one of the highest interest rates among the top banks in UAE. You can get 3.5% interest annually by opening a new FAB iSave account. [1]First Abu Dhabi Bank, “FAB iSave Account, https://www.bankfab.com/en-ae/personal/save/isave-account”

2. Emirates NBD

best bank in uae - emirates nbd

Number of branches: 63

Number of ATMs: 300+

Services:

  • Personal banking services
  • Business, corporate and institutional accounts
  • Priority banking and Islamic banking facilities
  • Instant online account opening and mobile apps

Emirates NBD is one of the largest banks in the UAE. It is a full-service banking institution offering personal, private, business, and corporate banking services.

It has over 200 branches across the country and more than 1,200 ATMs. The bank has a strong focus on digital innovation.

It offers a range of online and mobile banking features such as paperless account opening, instant payments, UAE PASS integration, etc. [2]Emirates NBD, “Innovations that put you first, https://www.emiratesnbd.com/en/innovation/”

Emirates NBD is also one of the most transparent banks in UAE regarding fees. The bank has a detailed list of all the fees on its website. [3]Emirates NBD, “Important Information For Products And Services, https://www.emiratesnbd.com/en/schedule-of-fees-and-charges/”

3. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB)

best bank in uae - adcb bank

Number of branches: 55

Number of ATMs: 425

Services:

  • Current and savings accounts
  • Earn Etihad miles for discounted or free air travel
  • VIP lounge access worldwide

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank is one of the UAE’s oldest and most well-established banks. The bank has a strong focus on providing excellent customer service.

ADCB offers a wide range of services for both individuals and businesses. It is also one of the most accessible banks in UAE, with an extensive network of ADCB branches and ATMs.

The bank offers accounts for people from all facets of life and is transparent with its charges. In addition, ADCB offers a full suite of digital banking services, including internet, phone, and mobile banking.

For customers looking to grow their savings, ADCB offers a high-interest rate of 1.5% on fixed deposit accounts.

Related info: If you don’t know how to open a bank account, check our Dbd guide, How to open a bank account in UAE.

4. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB)

best bank in uae - adib

Number of branches: 55

Number of ATMs: 350+

Services:

  • Personal, car, and home finance
  • Savings, current, deposit accounts
  • Business, private or corporate accounts
  • Bank accounts for children

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) is also one of the top banks in UAE. It offers a wide range of products and services for individuals and businesses.

The bank has a strong focus on customer service. So it offers several unique facilities like 24-hour online and mobile banking.

In addition, ADIB provides a variety of Islamic banking products and services. That makes it one of the most popular banks for Muslims in the UAE.

ADIB is committed to providing its customers with the highest service and product quality. As a result, it offers a wide range of Shari’a-compliant services.

If you want to finance your car or home, the bank will also help you with it.

5. Emirates Islamic Bank (EIB)

best bank in uae - emirates islamic bank

Number of branches: 41

Number of ATMs: 180+

Services:

  • Priority banking
  • Personal and business banking
  • Online account management
  • Skywards miles reward facilities

Emirates Islamic Bank (EIB) is another leading Islamic bank in UAE. It offers Sharia-compliant products and services for individuals as well as businesses.

You can earn up to 150,000 EI SmartMiles if you apply for its Flex Elite Credit Card. The Flex Elite Credit Card offers various benefits, including cash back, retail discounts, and travel perks.

So if you’re looking for an Islamic bank that can provide you with a range of banking products and services, then EIB is the perfect choice for you.

While it has fewer branches and ATMs than FAB, its services are just as good. So Emirates NBD can also be considered the best bank in UAE.

6. Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB)

best bank in uae - dubai islamic bank

Number of branches: 63

Number of ATMs: 450+

Services:

  • Savings, current, and deposit accounts
  • Auto, home, and personal finance
  • Corporate, business, and investment banking facilities
  • Foreign Exchange
  • Bonus skywards miles

Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) offers Sharia-compliant services for both individuals and businesses. The bank provides personal, business, corporate, and investment banking services.

In addition, DIB offers discounts on restaurants like Nando’s, Masti restaurant, Kcal, etc.

See also: Check out our Dbd guide to know the – Best bank account in UAE.

7. Mashreq Bank

best bank in uae mashreq

Number of branches: 19

Number of ATMs: 370+

Services:

  • Current, fixed & savings accounts
  • Insurance and loans
  • Money transfers
  • Emirati banking
  • Partial payment of cheques

Mashreq Bank is another leading bank in UAE with a wide range of services for individuals and businesses. The country has a vast network of ATMs for cash withdrawal and deposits.

With digital banking, customers can quickly and easily remit funds and view account balances & transaction history. The bank is also transparent in its pricing, with a schedule of charges readily available to customers.

As a result, Mashreq Bank is a convenient and reliable option for those looking for banking services in the UAE.

8. Ras Al Khaimah Bank (RAKBANK)

best bank in uae - rakbank

Number of branches: 27

Number of ATMs: 100+

Services:

  • Earn Emirates Airlines Skywards miles
  • Elite banking services to get priority support
  • Personal, business, and Islamic accounts

Ras Al Khaimah Bank (RAKBANK) has a long history of serving the people and businesses of the UAE. Today, it is one of the top banks in UAE.

RAKBANK offers personal, business, salary transfer, and Islamic accounts. The bank also provides insurance and loans, so you can get the home or car you’ve always wanted and insure them with RAKBANK.

With RAKBANK, you have everything you need to manage your finances in one convenient place.

9. Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD)

best bank in uae - commercial bank of dubai

Number of branches: 10

Number of ATMs: 115

Services:

  • International and instant local remittance
  • Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay support
  • Insurance schemes

Founded in 1969, the Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) is one of the oldest and most respected banks in UAE. CBD provides a full range of banking services to individuals and businesses.

In addition to traditional services like savings and loans, the bank also offers insurance services. For those who wish to send money overseas, the bank also offers an international remittance service.

Whether you are looking for a basic checking account or a more sophisticated financial solution, CBD has something to offer.

Related info: Want to open zero balance account in UAE? Check out this Dbd guide on – best zero balance account in UAE, which covers everything from the best banks to the requirements.

10. National Bank of Fujairah (NBF)

best bank in uae - nbf

Number of branches: 15

Number of ATMs: 35

Services:

  • Personal, Business, and Islamic accounts
  • Online banking
  • Debt assistance

The National Bank of Fujairah (NBF) is a small bank that is still pretty good. Even though it is smaller than some of the other banks in the UAE, it still offers a lot of excellent services.

It has a branch in every major UAE city, making it very convenient for traveling Fujairah residents. Online banking is also available.

What we like about them is their website’s “Download Center.” You can download any banking-related forms necessary from their website, making many bank procedures more convenient. [5]National Bank of Fujairah, “Download Centre, https://nbf.ae/en/tools-and-support/customer-support/downloads”

NBF is a good choice for people who want to bank in Fujairah.

11. Al Hilal Bank

best bank in uae - al hilal bank

Number of branches: 13

Number of ATMs: 60

Services:

  • Personal, auto, and home finance
  • Current, savings and fixed deposit accounts
  • Investment management services

It offers savings & current accounts, cards, financing, and wealth management solutions. The bank has a decent network of ATMs and branches all over UAE. This makes it convenient for customers to access their services.

Al Hilal Bank also offers competitive interest rates on savings accounts. For example, the bank currently offers an approximately 0.2% profit rate for opening a savings account. [6]Al Hilal Bank, “Mudarabah Profit Distribution Rates Calculated for the Month of June-2022, https://www.alhilalbank.ae/en/Images/mudaraba-profit-distribution-rates-jun22.pdf”

The bank also offers multiple financing options for those who need to apply for loans. Overall, Al Hilal Bank is a well-rounded bank that gives all its customers many convenient services.

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12. Standard Chartered Bank

best bank in uae - standard chatered bank

Number of branches: 5

Number of ATMs: 42

Services:

  • Multi-currency debit card
  • Loans and insurance
  • Personal, Islamic banking, and business

Standard Chartered Bank is a leading international bank with services in UAE. The bank offers a wide range of personal, corporate, and investment banking services.

They offer loans, credit cards, savings accounts, insurance, etc., to personal and business customers in the United Arab Emirates.

Customers can also take advantage of the bank’s online banking services. Not to mention, they even have a multi-currency debit card that supports 14 currencies. Having different currencies is helpful for those who travel frequently.

The bank does not have a strong presence in the United Arab Emirates. But they have some features that many customers may find useful.

FAQs on banks in UAE

Which bank is best in UAE?

FAB (First Abu Dhabi Bank) and Emirates NBD can each be considered the best bank in UAE. It offers a wide range of services and has a strong presence in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and every other emirate across the UAE.

Which bank is best in UAE for expats?

For expats, Emirates NBD, ADCB (Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank), and FAB (First Abu Dhabi Bank) are all great banks in Dubai. If you are an expat, you will be able to open a bank account in these banks with much ease.

Which bank is best for personal loan in UAE?

Emirates NBD offers the best personal loan deals in UAE. Interest rates start at 2.25%, and you can get up to AED 4 million (2 million for expats). [7]Emirates NBD, “Emirates NBD personal loan, … Continue reading

Which bank is safest in UAE?

Each top bank in the UAE is safe. ADCB (Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank), FAB (First Abu Dhabi Bank), and ADIB (Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank) are all the best banks in UAE that will secure your balance.

Which bank has most ATM in UAE?

DIB (Dubai Islamic Bank) has over 450 ATMs in UAE. Similarly, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank has over 425 ATMs. Each of these can be considered the best bank in Dubai due to one of the best ATM coverages.

Final thoughts

Several banks in the United Arab Emirates have high amounts of total assets and unique sets of services. However, some banks stand out more than others.

The banks on our list cater to different needs and preferences. To decide which is the best bank for you, consider your priorities and read our comprehensive guide.

FAB, Emirates NBD, and ADCB are each the best bank in UAE in their own right. These banks have a strong presence in the country and are known for their safety and security.

Remember that everyone’s banking experience can be different. But knowing the general information about the top banks in UAE will certainly be helpful.

If you were looking for a new bank or were curious about which is the best bank of UAE, we hope you got the answer. Feel free to share our Dbd guide with people you know.

About the author

Mohamed Yousuf
Mohamed Yousuf
Personal Financial Advisor | + posts

Mohamed Yousuf is a personal financial advisor based in the UAE. He helps people save money, shop smarter, and manage their finances. He has over a decade of experience as a financial adviser and is committed to helping his clients reach their financial goals. He is also actively involved in the community, volunteering his time to help those in need.

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