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Opening a personal bank account in UAE

You have to have a personal bank account in the Emirates to receive wages, manage your personal finances and access financial services. Our professionals will help you navigate the account opening process with ease and get the bank’s approval.

Personal banking account

Individuals should rather choose local banks for opening an account. Opening a personal account is simpler than a corporate one – the list of documents required by banks is considerably shorter. If you’re unfamiliar with UAE legislation and are considering opening an account for the first time, it is better to seek help from professionals

Price of opening

  • The price of opening a personal bank account starts at $2,000, and the entire process takes at least 5 business days.

Account opening steps

  • Consultation with AWATERA relocation agents

    AWATERA offers a turn-key service designed to assist you with opening your business overseas. We will assist you with the choice of a suitable bank, help you make a list of required submissions, and explain the legal aspects of banking and use of funds in the UAE.

  • Preparation of documents

    You will be asked to prepare a set of documents according to the bank’s list, and send them to the bank for review. It is advisable to seek professional assistance to make sure the bank issues a favorable determination on your submissions.

  • Interview with the bank's manager

    UAE banks espouse a system they call Know Your Customer, which implies that the potential customer has a duty to answer all questions asked by the bank to the bank’s satisfaction. The idea behind this system is to have better control of transactions and minimize risk exposure.

Our Clients' FAQ

As of June 2024, there are no issues with opening accounts for Russian citizens. Several factors can complicate the account opening process, and each case needs to be examined individually. The only reason for a bank’s denial that cannot be influenced is political exposure (PEP) and sanctions.

 If the bank rejects the application, we apply to another bank at no extra cost to you, or we fully refund your money. This condition applies only if the requested information and documents are supplied promptly.

You need a personal bank account in the UAE if you are a foreigner who plans to live, work or do business in the Emirates. The following categories of persons need personal accounts in the UAE:

  •     Foreigners working in the UAE (a local bank account to receive wages);
  •     Entrepreneurs and investors (to manage personal assets, property or other investments in the UAE);
  •     Those planning to live in, or frequently visit the UAE.

Cases

    • What we did
    • Formed a company
    • Helped acquire a visa within five working days
    • Opened an account within a month
    • Hired 20+ employees and assisted with their family visas
    • Continue to provide support to this day
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    Our work, from establishing the company to fully employing the staff, took approximately a month and a half. The first Dodo Pizza location opened in Dubai in January 2023. We are very happy for them and continue to provide support by answering their questions in detail. This experience was also beneficial to us. Through our collaboration with Dodo, we realized that we can offer comprehensive legal support on all matters related not only to relocation but also to conducting business in a Muslim country.
    Learn more
    • What we did
    • The mainland company was established in three days
    • The visa for one of the founders was secured within a week
    • The company bank account was opened in three days
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    In this article, we explain how you can swiftly start selling green coffee from Indonesia worldwide with the right approach to business registration in Dubai.
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    • What we did
    • The company was established within 2 weeks, despite a glitch in the government system.
    • The visa was obtained in 2.5 weeks
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    While we working with SmartAge, a beauty product supplier, we faced a significant error from a government body. Ironically, this was also our first customer in the Emirates. Here's what transpired and how we tackled it
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