Matched to your actual profile
Rather than five scattergun applications
Typical end-to-end
| Category | Documents |
|---|---|
| Company | Trade licence, memorandum and articles, share certificates, certificate of incorporation, establishment card, board resolution to open the account |
| Signatories | Passport, UAE residence visa page, Emirates ID, proof of address, professional CV |
| Beneficial owners | Passport and proof of address for every owner above the disclosure threshold, including those held through corporate layers |
| Business | Business plan, expected transaction volumes, named suppliers and customers, contracts or invoices where available |
| Financial history | Six months of personal or previous corporate bank statements, audited accounts of any existing business, evidence of source of wealth |
| Premises | Tenancy contract, Ejari or free zone lease agreement |
Almost always, yes. Most UAE banks require the authorised signatory to attend in person for identity verification and signature capture. A small number of digital providers onboard remotely. Plan one trip that covers your medical and Emirates ID biometrics as well, so a single visit completes the licence, visa and banking together.
Sometimes. Some banks will open a corporate account for a non-resident signatory with a valid licence, though usually with a higher minimum balance and more limited functionality. Most prefer the signatory to hold an Emirates ID. We sequence the application to match the bank we are targeting.
We reposition and resubmit elsewhere. A decline is rarely about the business being unbankable — more often it is a mismatch with that bank’s current risk appetite for your nationality, activity or counterparty countries. What matters is understanding why, and fixing the file rather than firing off identical applications.
Most companies benefit from two: a traditional bank for credibility, cheques and any future credit, and a digital account for fast multi-currency payments. Running only one leaves you exposed if the relationship is reviewed or frozen during a routine compliance check.
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