Guides
Banking in Dubai
Opening an account as a Brit, and which bank actually suits you.
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Banking is usually the slowest part of a UAE setup. These guides cover opening personal and business accounts as a Brit, the documents banks actually ask for, why applications get declined (and how to avoid it), and what to do with your UK accounts when you become non-resident.
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HSBC Expat vs a local UAE bank: which is better?
HSBC Expat gives UK-side continuity. A local UAE bank gives the account UAE employers, landlords and free zones need. Most Brits end up with both.
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Why UAE bank accounts get rejected (and how to avoid it)
UAE banks reject more applicants than most expect. The fix is preparation: the right documents, a clean source-of-funds trail, sometimes another bank.
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Personal vs business bank account in the UAE
UAE personal and business accounts have different legal purposes. Using the wrong one can breach your licence conditions or muddy UK tax separation.
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Best bank in Dubai for UK expats: ENBD, Mashreq, ADCB, FAB
Emirates NBD, Mashreq, ADCB and FAB compared on branches, app, transfers and onboarding, with what each asks a Brit for and which suits a new arrival.
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Open a Dubai bank account from the UK: documents and banks
Can a Brit open a UAE account before moving? Yes, with limits. The documents banks want, which accounts suit non-residents and why banks decline.
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UK bank accounts for overseas residents: keep or open one
Most UK banks let you keep your account after you move abroad if you tell them. Which banks take overseas residents, and how to open one as a non-resident.
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Documents you need to open a UAE bank account
The documents UAE banks ask for when a new resident opens an account, and the supporting papers that decide between approval and delay.