Banking
UAE — Banking: Best Banks
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is the UAE's largest bank by assets (exceeding AED 1.4 trillion) and is well suited to Abu Dhabi-centric businesses, large international transaction volumes, or government/investment-entity connections. Emirates NBD is the UAE's largest banking group by market share, serving 9.8+ million customers across 13 countries — best for established trading companies, property businesses, large-volume importers/exporters, and UAE government-linked clients; it also offers wide branch access and strong digital services for expats wanting salary banking and daily use. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) is known for more flexible KYC requirements than FAB or Emirates NBD, making it a popular first-account choice for newly established UAE companies and for residents wanting simple, practical digital banking.
Key facts
- FAB: UAE's largest bank by assets (AED 1.4 trillion+); best for Abu Dhabi-centric or government-linked businesses.
- Emirates NBD: UAE's largest bank by market share (9.8M+ customers, 13 countries); best for trading/property/import-export businesses and expat daily banking.
- ADCB: more flexible KYC requirements, popular first-account choice for new UAE companies and residents wanting simple digital banking.
Costs
- Business account minimum balance (Emirates NBD/FAB): AED 50,000
- Business account minimum balance (ADCB): AED 25,000-50,000