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Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB)

Bank account opening

Dubai Islamic Bank account for non-residents: terms, fees and documents

Dubai Islamic Bank opens Al Islami Savings for non-residents — a Sharia-compliant savings account in seven currencies, with no initial deposit. Opening requires a branch visit; we handle the file and preparation for the review.

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7 currencies
AED, USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, QAR, SAR
AED 0
Initial deposit; after that — an AED 3,000 average
AED 36.75
Transfer abroad via online banking
Branch visit
Opening — with a visit, closing — at a branch

Other banks in the UAE

Emirates NBDEmirates IslamicAbu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB)United Bank Limited (UBL)MashreqRAKBANKBanque Misr
All banks in the UAE

In short

Dubai Islamic Bank opens Al Islami Savings for non-residents — a Sharia-compliant savings account in seven currencies with no initial deposit; after that, an AED 3,000 average balance applies. Opening requires a branch visit; a transfer abroad via online banking costs AED 36.75.

Checked 18 October 2026 · Elizaveta Germash

Cost of a mistake

5 years

After this long from the last transaction, a dormant account’s balance, less charges, goes to the UAE Central Bank’s unclaimed balances account.

How to avoid it

An account from zero — but with rules that are easy to miss

Al Islami Savings can be opened with no initial deposit and held in seven currencies. But free maintenance and the return depend on the average balance and the number of withdrawals, and the account status — on transactions and updated details.

  • The threshold is an average

    The AED 26.25 monthly fee applies only if the monthly average balance is below AED 3,000. Not charged with active financing or a deposit at DIB.

  • One withdrawal a month

    More than one withdrawal in a month — and no profit is paid for that month. A balance below AED 1,000 during the month — no profit either.

  • The card is in dirhams

    The DIB debit card is in AED, the first one is free. It is issued if you request it when opening the account.

  • A year without activity

    A year without transactions, KYC and passport not updated, no other products with the bank — the account is dormant. After 5 years the balance goes to the UAE Central Bank.

Expert tip

If you need the account “just in case”, set yourself a routine: at least one transaction a year, and a new passport to the bank as soon as you replace it. This keeps the account from becoming dormant.
Elizaveta GermashElizaveta GermashLawyer · Bank accounts

Bank profile

DIB: all about a non-resident’s personal account

Dubai Islamic Bank

Dubai Islamic Bank

Islamic bank in Dubai · personal accounts for non-residents

  • Al Islami Savings
  • 7 currencies
  • Branch visit
  • Personal manager
Open to
UAE nationals, residents and non-residents — Al Islami Savings; a current account — UAE nationals and residents aged 18 and over
Opening
With a branch visit, with your original passport
Currencies
AED, USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, QAR, SAR
Initial deposit
Not required; after that — an AED 3,000 monthly average
Model
Islamic bank: , profit based on the average balance
Personal manager
Yes
Limits
Depend on the transaction type and the package; the card has daily limits

Opening, manager and transaction limits — based on our practice as of October 2026; terms and fees — the Al Islami Savings and Al Islami Current KFS (Oct 2025) and the Schedule of Charges effective 12 October 2026 on the bank’s website; checked 18 October 2026. The decision to open the account rests with the bank.

Who it suits

Who it suits — and when to choose something else

A good fit if

  1. 01You need a personal account without a residence visa — and you’re ready to visit a branch.
  2. 02You want to hold money in euros, pounds, dollars or riyals — the account is kept in seven currencies.
  3. 03You want the account to work under Sharia rules.
  4. 04The account is for savings: withdrawals are rare, the balance is stable.
  5. 05You want to open with no initial deposit and top up later.

Consider something else if

  1. 01You can’t travel to the UAE — you need an account without a visit.Emirates Islamic
  2. 02You need more than seven currencies in one account.Emirates NBD
  3. 03You need a company account: at DIB we open it remotely, through us, after a consultation with our manager.UAE
  4. 04You need a current account with a chequebook — DIB opens it for UAE nationals and legal residents.Visas

Benefits

What you get

The currency for your payments

We’ll tell you which of the seven currencies to hold the account in, so incoming and outgoing payments aren’t converted twice.

A file built for DIB’s review

Source of funds, proof of income and address — per the bank’s list in the KFS, gathered before the trip.

A visit without extra questions

The application and the FATCA and CRS declarations are ready in advance — at the branch it’s just signing and checking originals.

Terms that are easy to miss

We’ll explain how not to lose profit because of a second withdrawal and how not to end up with a dormant account after a year without transactions.

Answers to bank requests

If compliance asks for explanations or documents, we prepare the answer with you — consistent with what the application says.

Let’s discuss the details

Which currency to choose for a DIB account?

Tell us where the money will come from and where it will go — we’ll suggest the account currency and gather the documents for the bank visit.

Process

6 steps from the first conversation to the result

Every step is visible in the client portal: what’s happening now and whether we need anything from you.

Steps on your side: 3 of 6

We handle it · 2Needed from you · 3Bank · 1

  1. Account currency, amounts, how often you withdraw, where the money comes from. This decides whether Al Islami Savings suits you.

Documents

What you’ll need

For an Al Islami Savings account

  • Account opening application
  • FATCA and CRS declarations — signed when you apply
  • Valid passport
  • and residence visa — for expatriate residents
  • and proof of income: a salary certificate, trade licence or another source
  • Proof of actual residential address — a utility bill or another document

Important about documents

  • All documents — valid for at least 30 days on the application date
  • Documents not in English or Arabic need a translation
  • The bank may request additional documents during the review

Timing and budget

What makes up the budget

Amounts follow the Al Islami Savings KFS (Oct 2025) and the bank’s schedule of charges effective 12 October 2026; VAT is already included. Indicative as of October 2026; the bank has the final say.

  • Initial depositDepends onNot required — the account is opened with no balance.WhenOn opening
  • Average balanceDepends onAn AED 3,000 monthly average; below it — AED 26.25 a month. Not charged with active financing or a deposit at DIB.WhenMonthly
  • Closing the accountDepends onWithin the first 6 months — AED 26.25. Closed at a branch, with the original document.WhenOn closing
  • Transfers abroadDepends onOnline — AED 36.75, at a branch — AED 63; plus correspondent bank fees.WhenPer transaction
  • CardDepends onThe first one is free, replacement if lost — AED 26.25. A purchase in another currency — 3.25%; a withdrawal at another bank’s ATM: in the UAE — AED 2, in the GCC — AED 6, elsewhere — AED 21.WhenPer transaction
  • Teller and statementsDepends on6 branch transactions a month — free, then AED 10.50; an ad hoc statement at a branch — AED 26.25.WhenPer transaction
  • File preparation and supportDepends onOur work: reviewing your goals, choosing the currency, documents, the application and declarations, preparing for the visit, answers to bank requests.WhenAt the start
  • Trip to the UAEDepends onOpening — with a visit to the bank, closing — at a branch with the original document: budget for the trip.WhenFor the visit

An account for years

When a DIB account can become dormant

For a non-resident who opened the account “just in case”, this is the main risk. The scale is in years since opening, if the account isn’t used; the rules follow the bank’s KFS.

012345years since the account was opened, if it isn’t used

Opening day

An account with no initial deposit

You can top it up later. The cooling-off period does not apply — you waive it on opening.

6 months

End of the paid-closure period

Closing the account earlier — AED 26.25.

1 year

The account can become dormant

If there are no transactions for a year, KYC, passport and Emirates ID haven’t been updated and you have no other active products with the bank.

3 years and 3 months

Dormant account ledger

The balance is moved to the bank’s dormant account ledger. No reply to the notification within 3 months — the address is considered unknown.

5 years

The balance goes to the UAE Central Bank

Less any charges, the money is transferred to the unclaimed balances account at the Central Bank.

Every month

  • First Sunday of the month

    Maintenance fee

    AED 26.25 if last month’s average balance was below AED 3,000.

  • During the month

    Profit conditions

    No more than one withdrawal and a balance not below AED 1,000 — otherwise no profit is paid for the month.

On an event

  • You changed your passport, visa or address

    Update your details with the bank

    At a branch or via online and mobile banking — so services aren’t interrupted.

  • A transaction not made by the bank

    Counted from the client’s last transaction

    Profit and fees posted by the bank itself do not count as a client transaction.

Getting it right

Common mistakes — and how to avoid them

Click a card to see how to do it right · 0 of 5 open

  1. 01 What people often do

    Withdrawing money several times a month and expecting profit.

  2. 02 What people often do

    Not asking for a card when opening.

  3. 03 What people often do

    Submitting documents that are about to expire.

  4. 04 What people often do

    Opening the account and forgetting about it.

  5. 05 What people often do

    Sending transfers abroad through a branch.

FAQ

Expert answers

Elizaveta Germash — Bank accounts

Yes, in our practice: a non-resident opens a DIB account during a branch visit. The account is also closed at a branch, with the original document. Without a trip, you can open a personal account with Emirates Islamic or UBL — remotely, through us.

Elizaveta Germash · Bank accounts

Sources

  1. Dubai Islamic Bank — Al Islami Savings Account Key Facts Statement
  2. Dubai Islamic Bank — Al Islami Current Account Key Facts Statement
  3. Dubai Islamic Bank — Schedule of Charges (from 12 October 2026)
  4. Dubai Islamic Bank — schedule of charges page

Deadlines, amounts and rules are based on these sources as of the check date. Rules change: check with us before deciding.

Often goes with this

What else you may need

Bank Accounts

ADIB

Islamic bank in Abu Dhabi: a transfer abroad in the app costs AED 25 plus VAT, but the balance is counted for every day.

Bank Accounts

Emirates Islamic

An Islamic bank without a trip: a personal account for non-residents — remotely, through us, in AED or USD.

Company Registration

Freezone

Free zone company: UAE banks ask for the licence and establishment card in the company account file. We choose the zone and activity with the bank in mind.

Next step

Need a DIB account — in which currency?

Tell us why you need the account, where the money comes from and which currencies you’ll use. We’ll put together a file for the bank’s review and prepare you for the branch visit. The decision to open the account rests with the bank.

Elizaveta GermashElizaveta GermashLawyer · Bank accounts
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