Banking & Accounts

Opening a bank account in the UAE sounds straightforward but regularly is not — particularly for foreign nationals. UAE banks have become significantly more conservative since 2022 under pressure from the US Treasury (OFAC) and FATF compliance requirements. Several major banks quietly restrict Russian, Belarusian and other passport holders, regardless of the individual's risk profile. Most agents don't mention this — and the account simply isn't opened for months.

We have spent years building relationships with compliance departments and managers at UAE banks, and we know which institutions are currently accepting applications from which nationalities and business types. Our value is not filling out the application form — it's knowing which bank to approach and how to present the case correctly.

Our banking service is split into two clear phases with separate pricing. This keeps our interests aligned with yours: we only earn the full fee when you have a functioning account. Phase 2 is paid only once the account is opened — that is our guarantee of results.

We assist individuals — residents and non-residents — in opening current accounts at UAE banks. A valid UAE residence visa is required for most banks, though some institutions accept non-residents for specific account types. We assess your situation and present the most viable options.

• Current accounts in AED and multi-currency
• Savings and fixed deposit accounts
• Non-resident account options where available
• Comparison of minimum balance requirements and fee structures

Corporate account opening requires significantly more documentation than a personal account. Banks typically request full corporate documents, a business plan or source-of-funds explanation, beneficial owner KYC and transaction flow projections. We prepare the complete package and present it in a format that bank compliance teams respond well to.

• Full document package preparation (trade licence, MoA, share registry, UBO declarations)
• Business narrative and source-of-funds memo
• Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) KYC documentation
• Transaction flow and projected volumes documentation
• Corporate signatories coordination

Traditional banks are not always the right solution — particularly for businesses that process international payments, operate in e-commerce or require multi-currency capabilities. We also assist with accounts at regulated UAE and international payment service providers (PSPs) such as Wise and Paysend, and at digital banks — as an alternative or complement to a bank account.

• Licensed UAE payment service provider accounts
• Multi-currency IBAN accounts
• International payment corridor setup
• SWIFT and SEPA-capable account structuring
• Advice on financial flows and payment structure

Banks periodically request updated KYC information from account holders — this is a compliance requirement, not an indication of a problem. Failing to respond correctly and on time can result in account restrictions. We help clients respond to bank KYC reviews to keep their banking running smoothly.

• Periodic KYC refresh documentation preparation
• Source-of-funds explanations and supporting evidence
• Correspondence with bank compliance on unusual transaction queries
• Account re-KYC during entity changes (address, UBO, activity)
• Help if your account is blocked or the bank sends a request

Timeline: 4–6 weeks from document submission to account activation, depending on the bank and the applicant's profile.