What currency will the account be in?

The savings account is in AED or USD: that’s what the bank’s KFS says. A card is issued only with the dirham account. If you need another currency, we check with the bank before applying.

How much do I need to keep in the account?

An AED 3,000 monthly average — the Classic and Select packages. If it’s less — AED 26.25 a month including VAT. Closing the account within the first 6 months — AED 105. Amounts follow the bank’s fees, indicative as of October 2026.

How is an Islamic account different from a regular one?

Instead of interest — expected profit under mudaraba: the bank invests the money under Sharia rules and shares the result. Profit is not guaranteed; balances from an AED 5,000 monthly average qualify. For everyday payments the difference is small.

Do I need a UAE mobile number?

Yes: per the bank’s list, accounts are opened for clients aged 18 and over with an active UAE mobile number. Check this first — whether you can apply depends on it.

What documents does a non-resident need?

A passport, proof of employment or self-employment — a salary certificate, employment contract, licence or statement — and proof of address: a utility bill or statement no older than 3 months, or a letter from your bank confirming a relationship of at least 12 months. The review may ask for the source of funds.

How much do transfers cost?

Online abroad — no bank fee with the SHA option, at a branch — AED 94.50–105. The correspondent bank takes its own fee, and for an AED transfer outside the UAE — AED 105. Incoming transfers are free.

Is there a personal manager, and what are the limits?

There is a personal manager. Limits depend on the transaction type and the package — we check them against your turnover before applying.

What happens if I don’t use the account for a long time?

The bank may classify the account as dormant if there are no transactions for a period it sets. It warns you in advance; until reactivation it may reject debits, and fees continue to accrue.

Can I open a company account here?

Yes, remotely, through us — in our practice as of 11 November 2026, after a consultation with our manager and with no branch visit by the client. The bank serves company accounts — free zone, mainland and foreign; its documents say companies open an account during a branch visit. We go through the company account terms at the consultation.

Online transfers abroad

The bank charges no fee of its own for an online international transfer with the SHA option; at a branch — AED 94.50–105 per transfer. Correspondent banks charge separately.

Elizaveta Germash

Bank accounts

An Emirates Islamic account — without travelling to the UAE?

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Bank account opening

Emirates Islamic account for non-residents: remote opening, terms and fees

Q: Is it true that I don’t need to travel to the UAE?

Yes. We open a non-resident’s personal account at Emirates Islamic remotely, through us. A company account — also remotely, after a consultation with our manager: that is our practice as of 11 November 2026, even though the bank’s documents name a branch visit for companies.

The Islamic bank of the Emirates NBD group. A non-resident gets a savings account in AED or USD, which we open remotely, through us: documents and bank requests — without a trip to the UAE. The return on the balance is not interest but expected profit under mudaraba.

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Remote
Personal account for non-residents — through us: AED 3,000
Average balance; below it — AED 26.25 a month: AED and USD
Savings account currencies per the bank’s KFS: UAE number
An active UAE mobile number — required of every client

Other banks in the UAE

All banks in the UAE

In short

A non-resident can open an Emirates Islamic savings account remotely, through us — in AED or USD. The average balance is AED 3,000, below it AED 26.25 a month; the bank requires an active UAE mobile number from every client.

Checked 4 November 2026 · Elizaveta Germash

No trip — but the same review as at a branch

Emirates Islamic is one of two UAE banks where we open a personal account for non-residents remotely. You don’t need to travel, but the KYC review is full: passport, employment or business, address and the money in the account.

Savings only
The bank offers current accounts to UAE residents only: if your status changes, it may ask you to close it and open a savings account. A non-resident gets a savings account in AED or USD from the start.
Profit instead of interest
The return is expected profit, not guaranteed. Balances from an AED 5,000 monthly average qualify; on Investment Savings the bank has declared 0.35% a year.
A UAE number is mandatory
The bank opens accounts for clients aged 18 and over with an active UAE mobile number. Check this first — without it the bank won’t open the account.
Companies — remotely, through us
Under the bank’s documents, companies open an account during a branch visit. In our practice as of 11 November 2026, we open a company account remotely, through us, after a consultation with our manager — with no branch visit by the client.

Bank profile

Emirates Islamic: a non-resident’s personal account without a trip

Emirates Islamic

Islamic bank of the Emirates NBD group · remote for non-residents

Remotely, through us
AED · USD
No interest
Personal manager

Open to: Non-resident individuals — a savings account; a current account — UAE residents only
Opening: Remotely, through us — without a branch visit
Currencies: AED and USD; a card — only with the AED account
Requirements: Aged 18 or over, an active UAE mobile number
Model: Islamic bank: mudaraba instead of interest
Personal manager: Yes
Limits: Depend on the transaction type and the package

Remote opening, manager and limits — based on our practice as of October 2026; fees and requirements — KFS “Current and Savings Account”, Schedule of Charges — Accounts, the documents page and the bank’s general terms (02/2024); 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

01You need a personal UAE account without travelling — you live in another country.
02You want the account to work under Sharia rules: no interest, with expected profit.
03Dirhams and dollars are enough: the bank keeps savings accounts in AED and USD.
04Your employment or business is backed by documents: a salary certificate, contract, licence or statements.
05You need online transfers abroad with no fee from the bank itself — with the SHA option.

Consider something else if

01You need a company account: at Emirates Islamic we open it remotely, through us, after a consultation with our manager.UAE
02You need a multi-currency account — euros, pounds, francs and other currencies in one account.Emirates NBD
03You need a current account with a chequebook — the bank offers it to UAE residents only.Visas
04You have no UAE mobile number and can’t get one: the bank requires a number from every client.

Bank requirements

Will remote opening work for you?

These are Emirates Islamic’s requirements for a non-resident individual, per the bank’s website. If everything is ticked, the file can be prepared; the decision to open the account rests with the bank.

Tick what is true for you

0/5Tick the items to see whether you qualify

Need a company account?Bank’s website

Under the bank’s documents, companies open an account during a branch visit; in our practice as of 11 November 2026, we open it remotely, through us, after a consultation with our manager.

Are you a UAE resident?Bank’s website

Instead of proof of address — a passport copy with the visa and the original Emirates ID; for a current account — a salary document.

The “Documents you need to open an account” page and the “Opening an account” section on the Emirates Islamic website. Checked 18 October 2026.

Benefits

What you get

No trip to the UAE

Documents, the application form and bank requests go through us and the client portal — you don’t need to visit a branch.

Requirements checked before applying

We check your age, UAE number, proof of employment and address against the bank’s list so the application doesn’t come back for something missing.

A consistent file

The application form, statements, employment and source-of-funds documents tell one story. Inconsistencies raise compliance questions — we remove them before applying.

Timely answers to compliance

If the bank asks for explanations of transactions or fresh documents, we prepare the answer with you, without extra rounds of correspondence.

An account in the right currency

We’ll tell you what suits you better: an AED account with a card or a USD account for foreign-currency income — so the money isn’t converted more than necessary.

Let’s discuss the details

Will remote opening work for you?

Tick the bank’s requirements above or describe your situation — we’ll tell you what’s missing and how to close the gap before applying.

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Bank accounts

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: 2 of 6

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

Why you need the account, amounts and countries of transactions, source of funds. We check the bank’s requirements: aged 18 or over, a UAE mobile number, proof of employment and address.

Step 1 of 6

Profile review

Why you need the account, amounts and countries of transactions, source of funds. We check the bank’s requirements: aged 18 or over, a UAE mobile number, proof of employment and address.

We handle it1–2 days

Documents

What you’ll need

Non-resident — personal account

Passport
Proof of employment or self-employment — one of: a salary certificate, employment contract, trade licence or bank statement
Proof of address — one of: a utility bill or bank statement no older than 3 months, online statements are accepted; a letter from your bank confirming a relationship of at least 12 months with your residential address
An active UAE mobile number
Proof of source of funds — if the review asks for it
FATCA/CRS tax self-certification — we fill it in together with the application form

UAE resident — personal account

A passport copy with the residence visa page and the original Emirates ID
For a current or salary account — one of: a salary certificate no older than 3 months, an appointment letter or contract, a payslip no older than 3 months, a statement of the account your salary is paid into, no older than 3 months

Company — per the bank’s list

The bank’s application form signed by the authorised signatories
Copies of passports with residence visas and Emirates IDs of directors and signatories
Free zone: certificate of incorporation from the free zone authority and share certificate; for an FZC — attested MOA/AOA
Mainland LLC: trade licence, Chamber of Commerce certificate — if any, attested MOA/AOA
Foreign company: copy of the certificate of incorporation and attested MOA/AOA
Board resolution to open the account — if applicable

Timing and budget

What makes up the budget

The bank charges nothing for opening — costs come from the balance, transaction fees and file preparation. Fees follow the bank’s KFS and schedule of charges, including VAT: indicative as of October 2026; the bank has the final say.

ItemDepends onWhen

Average balanceDepends onAn AED 3,000 monthly average — the Classic and Select packages; Advantage — AED 100,000 or a salary from AED 15,000.WhenMonthly
Fall-below feeDepends onAED 26.25 a month if the average balance is below AED 3,000. Not charged if your salary is transferred to the bank or you have active financing with it.WhenMonthly
Closing the accountDepends onClosing within the first 6 months — AED 105.WhenOn closing
Transfers abroadDepends onOnline — no bank fee with the SHA option, at a branch — AED 94.50–105; correspondent banks charge separately. An AED transfer outside the UAE — plus AED 105 to the correspondent.WhenPer transaction
CardDepends onIssued free, replacement — AED 26.25. A purchase in another currency — 2.54% plus the Visa or Mastercard fee, a withdrawal abroad — AED 21.WhenPer transaction
File preparation and supportDepends onOur work: profile review, documents, the application form, remote submission and answers to bank requests.WhenAt the start
Translation of documentsDepends onDocuments not in English or Arabic need a translation.WhenBefore applying

Getting it right

Common mistakes — and how to avoid them

Click a card to see how to do it right · 0 of 6 open

01 What people often do
Preparing documents without checking for a UAE mobile number.
02 What people often do
Expecting a chequebook with a savings account.
03 What people often do
Counting on a guaranteed return.
04 What people often do
Opening a USD account and expecting a card with it.
05 What people often do
Bringing a statement that is four months old.
06 What people often do
Sending dirhams abroad without looking at the fees.

FAQ

Expert answers

Elizaveta Germash — Bank accounts

Yes. We open a non-resident’s personal account at Emirates Islamic remotely, through us. A company account — also remotely, after a consultation with our manager: that is our practice as of 11 November 2026, even though the bank’s documents name a branch visit for companies.

Elizaveta Germash · Bank accounts

Sources

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

Emirates NBD

A bank from the same group, conventional: a Currency Passport in 22 currencies, but opening requires a branch visit.

Bank Accounts

UBL

A conventional bank: personal and company accounts for non-residents — remotely, through us, without a branch visit.

Company Registration

Mainland

Mainland company: an operating business with an office and local contracts — a profile banks understand for a company account.

Next step

An Emirates Islamic account — without travelling to the UAE?

Tell us why you need the account, where the money comes from and in which currency. We’ll check whether your profile suits the bank, gather the documents and take the application through us. The decision to open the account rests with the bank.

Elizaveta GermashLawyer · Bank accounts