Which is the best bank for expats in the UAE?

For personal banking, ADCB, Emirates NBD, and Mashreq offer competitive salary transfer accounts. For business, Wio Bank is the leading digital option with fast account opening. Traditional banks like ENBD and ADCB remain strong for established businesses.

Can I open a UAE bank account as a non-resident?

It's possible but difficult. Most UAE banks require residency and an Emirates ID. Some free zones (DIFC, ADGM) offer solutions for non-resident company owners, and digital banks like Wio are more flexible with documentation.

How much does it cost to transfer money internationally from the UAE?

UAE banks typically charge AED 25-60 per transfer plus a 1.5-3% exchange rate margin. Services like Wise charge 0.5-1.5% with mid-market rates, saving hundreds on regular transfers. Exchange houses offer competitive rates for cash transfers.

Do I need a minimum balance for UAE bank accounts?

Yes. Personal accounts typically require AED 3,000-10,000 minimum balance to avoid monthly fees (AED 25-50). Business accounts often require AED 50,000-150,000 for free banking, with fees of AED 100-300/month if the balance isn't maintained.

UAE Business Credit Card: How to Get One as an SME in 2026

Quick Answer: Which banks offer business credit cards in the UAE, what documents you need, minimum requirements, and the best cards by use case for SMEs and freelancers.

Getting a business credit card in the UAE is straightforward if your company has the right profile. It gets harder if you’re in the first year of trading, run a small operation, or work through a freezone. Banks here are more cautious than they were five years ago, and some have quietly raised their minimum criteria without advertising it.

This guide covers which banks actually approve SME credit card applications, what documents you’ll need, real fee numbers, and how to pick the right card for how your business actually spends money.

Who Can Get a UAE Business Credit Card?

Any UAE-registered company with an active trade licence can apply. In practice, banks want to see:

Trade licence that has been active for at least 12 months (some banks say 6, but approval rates are much lower)
A business current account with the same bank (some banks require this, others just prefer it)
Annual turnover above AED 500,000 for mainstream cards — though some entry-level options start lower
A personal Emirates ID and residence visa for the authorised signatory

Freezone companies can apply, but some banks will not lend to them for credit products. DMCC and DIFC companies generally have no issues. Smaller or less well-known freezones can hit refusals even with good financials.

Sole proprietorships and individual freelancers with a freelance permit typically cannot get a formal business credit card. Your options in that case are a high-limit personal card or a multi-currency fintech card like Wio.

Top Banks for UAE Business Credit Cards

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)

FAB’s business card range is the most widely used for SMEs in the UAE. The FAB Business Platinum is the standard workhorse:

Annual fee: AED 500 (waived first year for new accounts)
Credit limit: AED 50,000 to AED 500,000 depending on financials
Cashback: 1% on business spend, 2% on travel
Airport lounge access: included (Priority Pass)
Minimum turnover: AED 500,000/year
FX fee: 2.75%

FAB also has a Business Gold card at a lower fee tier (AED 250/year) with a minimum limit of AED 20,000, aimed at newer or smaller businesses.

Emirates NBD Business Card

ENBD requires you to hold a business account with them, but the ENBD Smartbusiness card is solid for companies doing regular local spend:

Annual fee: AED 500
Rewards: ENBD Skywards Miles for Emirates spends, cashback for general business
Credit limit: starts at AED 30,000
Statement period: 30 days
Minimum turnover: AED 750,000/year
FX fee: 2.5%

The Skywards Miles angle makes it the obvious pick if your team travels frequently on Emirates.

Mashreq Business Card

Mashreq is more flexible than the big nationals on newer businesses. Their Mashreq Business Platinum approves companies from 6 months of trading in some cases, and their digital application process is faster:

Annual fee: AED 300 (entry tier) to AED 750 (Platinum)
Credit limit: AED 20,000 to AED 300,000
Cashback: up to 3% on specific categories (utilities, telecom)
Minimum turnover: AED 360,000/year (entry tier)
Digital application: yes, via Mashreq Business app

Good option if you’re between 6-18 months in business and mainstream banks are pushing back.

ADCB Business Credit Card

ADCB’s BusinessEdge card is designed for companies that do a lot of supplier spend and need good spend tracking tools:

Annual fee: AED 400
Spend tracking: monthly category breakdowns, export to accounting software
Credit limit: AED 25,000 to AED 200,000
Minimum account age: 12 months
FX fee: 2.99%

The accounting integration is the standout feature. If your bookkeeper uses Xero or Zoho Books, ADCB’s transaction data exports cleanly.

Wio Business (Debit + Charge)

Wio isn’t a credit card but it’s worth including here because it fills the gap for companies that can’t qualify for credit yet. Wio’s Business account comes with a charge card where the full balance is debited monthly:

Monthly fee: AED 149
No credit limit barriers — spend is backed by your account balance
Virtual cards: unlimited, instant
FX: no fee on international transactions (mid-market rate)
Accounting sync: built-in, direct Xero connection

For businesses that do a lot of international payments, Wio’s zero FX fee saves meaningful money versus the 2.5-3% charged by traditional banks. You can read more in the Wio Bank review.

Documents You’ll Need

Regardless of bank, prepare these before you apply:

For the company:

Trade licence (valid, not expired)
Certificate of incorporation (for freezone companies)
Memorandum of Association (MOA) or Articles of Association
Last 6 months of bank statements
Audited accounts or management accounts (if available — some banks don’t require this for limits under AED 100,000)

For the signatory:

Emirates ID (front and back)
Residence visa copy
Passport copy
Salary or income evidence (if applying in personal capacity)

If you have multiple shareholders, most banks will want Emirates IDs for anyone holding more than 25% of the company.

How to Choose the Right Card

You travel a lot on business

Go with ENBD Skywards if your team flies Emirates. If you’re multi-airline, FAB Platinum’s Priority Pass lounge access and 2% travel cashback is more flexible.

You do lots of supplier payments

ADCB BusinessEdge for the accounting integration. Or Wio if your suppliers are international and you want to avoid FX fees.

You’re in the first year of business

Mashreq is your best option for mainstream cards. Wio is your fallback if Mashreq declines.

You need the highest possible limit

FAB has the widest credit limit ceiling (up to AED 500,000). You’ll need to provide full audited accounts to get near the top of that range.

You want cashback on day-to-day spend

Mashreq’s 3% on utilities and telecom is the best cashback rate in the market for those categories. FAB’s flat 1% is more predictable.

What About FX Fees?

This is an often-overlooked cost. If your business regularly pays international suppliers or receives foreign currency invoices, a 2.75% FX fee on a traditional business card adds up fast.

On AED 100,000 per month of international spend, that’s AED 2,750 in fees every month. Wio’s zero FX fee model or using Wise for international payments is worth running the maths on before committing to a card. The guide to sending money internationally from the UAE covers the cost comparison in detail.

Application Process and Timeline

Most UAE banks have moved applications online for existing business account holders. If you already have a current account with the bank, expect:

Online application: 10-15 minutes
Initial decision: 3-5 business days
Card delivery: 5-7 business days after approval

If you’re applying as a new-to-bank customer, add another 2-3 weeks for KYC checks and account opening.

Banks can and do request additional documents mid-process, especially for limits above AED 100,000. Have your audited accounts or a recent management accounts pack ready to speed this up.

Common Rejection Reasons

Trade licence under 12 months: This is the most common rejection for new businesses. Options are Mashreq (more flexible at 6 months) or Wio (no credit check needed).

Freezone company: Some banks have blanket policies against unsecured credit for certain freezone types. If rejected, try a different bank before assuming you’re ineligible.

No existing account at the bank: FAB and ENBD both strongly prefer applicants with existing accounts. Opening a business account first — even 3 months before applying for the card — meaningfully improves your approval odds.

Missing documents: Banks will reject or delay applications for incomplete document packs. Check the exact list with your relationship manager before submitting.

Next Steps

If your business is at the 12-month mark and you have clean statements, FAB Business Platinum is worth applying for first. It’s the most commonly approved mid-tier card for UAE SMEs.

If you’re earlier in your trading history, Mashreq or Wio are the practical starting points. Build a 6-month history with one of them, then reapply for a mainstream card.

For a broader look at your business banking options, start with the UAE business bank account guide to make sure you have the right account structure before adding a credit card.