First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)
traditional bank
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is the UAE's largest bank by assets, formed in 2017 through the merger of First Gulf Bank and National Bank of Abu Dhabi. It serves retail, private, corporate, and investment banking clients across more than 20 countries. For expatriates relocating to the UAE, FAB is a primary banking choice, offering multi-currency current and savings accounts, priority and private banking tiers, and a robust digital platform. Account opening is in-branch and requires a UAE residence visa; non-residents cannot open consumer accounts. FAB is FATCA-compliant but does not onboard US persons for personal banking due to regulatory complexity. The bank supports AED, USD, EUR, GBP, and 14 additional currencies, making it well-suited for international salary credits and remittances. Monthly fees are waived on accounts maintaining minimum balances (AED 3,000–AED 25,000 depending on tier). Business accounts for UAE-licensed companies are available with dedicated relationship managers. Debit (and credit) cards are issued on Visa and Mastercard networks with broad GCC and international acceptance.
Details
- Headquarters
- United Arab Emirates
- Currencies
- 18
- Monthly Fee
- Free
- Non-Residents
- Not accepted
- US Persons
- Not accepted
- Debit Card
- Available
- Business Account
- Available
Opening Requirements
- •Valid passport
- •UAE residence visa (expatriates) or Emirates ID
- •Proof of UAE residential address (utility bill or tenancy contract)
- •Salary certificate or employment letter (for salaried applicants)
- •Minimum initial deposit (varies by account type; AED 3,000–AED 25,000 typical)
- •Trade licence and incorporation documents (business accounts)
- •Source-of-funds declaration (may be required for non-salaried or high-value accounts)
Restricted Nationalities
Not available to nationals of: iran, north-korea, syria, cuba, russia, belarus, myanmar
Nationality Acceptance Matrix
Who this provider will and will not onboard. Refusals are listed first. Sourced from the provider's own published terms and recent public onboarding reports — confirm with the provider before applying.
| Nationality | Accepted | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| us | NO | US persons not onboarded for personal accounts due to FATCA reporting complexity; corporate accounts reviewed case-by-case. |
| iran | NO | Blocked — UAE compliance with OFAC and UN sanctions on Iran. |
| north korea | NO | Blocked — UN and OFAC DPRK sanctions. |
| syria | NO | Blocked — OFAC and UN Syria sanctions. |
| uk | YES | UK nationals with a valid UAE residence visa are fully onboarded; common expat profile. |
| eu | YES | EU nationals accepted with UAE residence visa; CRS reporting applies. |
| india | YES | Indian nationals are a large expatriate segment in the UAE; accepted with standard documentation. |
| pakistan | YES | Pakistani nationals accepted; enhanced due diligence may apply given FATF status. |
| russia | YES | Russian nationals with UAE residency generally accepted; FAB does not apply EU/UK sanctions unilaterally, though transaction screening applies. |
| china | YES | Chinese nationals accepted with UAE residence visa; common corporate banking client. |
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Sources & last verified
- Last verified 2026-06-15