Can a foreign company open a bank account in the UAE?

Sometimes, but it's the hardest route. The Central Bank of the UAE's guidance tells banks how to verify a foreign company with no UAE presence, so it's possible in principle. As of November 2026, the published business accounts we checked at Emirates NBD and Mashreq need UAE licensing or a UAE-resident signatory, and FAB lists a call account for non-residents. Ask the bank directly.

From Non-resident bank account in the UAE: options for companies, by . Updated . Editorial policy

If your company needs account details in USD, EUR, GBP or AED, see Align's business accounts.

The wider picture

The key points from the guide this answer comes from:

  1. A company outside the UAE has three routes to dirhams: a UAE free-zone company, a non-resident account at a UAE bank, or a named AED IBAN from a provider.
  2. A free-zone company is a UAE company. It needs a licence, a UAE bank's own review and, at the banks we checked, a UAE-resident signatory. It can also apply to Align for a named AED IBAN.
  3. At the three UAE banks we checked, we found no published AED current account for a foreign company with no UAE presence. Published non-resident options are call and savings accounts, so ask before you apply.
  4. Searches for a non-resident bank account are often from individuals. Align serves registered companies only, and has no personal accounts.

More questions on this

The full guide

A company outside the UAE can set up a free-zone company, apply to a UAE bank as a non-resident, or hold a named AED IBAN. If you only need to get paid and pay in dirhams, the IBAN is usually the shortest route. UAE companies can apply to Align too.

Read Non-resident bank account in the UAE: options for companies, with its sources.

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and providers' terms change; check the sources in the guide and take advice on your own situation.

Related guides

Get started

Open a business account built on stablecoins.

Named USD, EUR, GBP and AED accounts in your company's name, with USDC and USDT in and out. Apply online; our compliance team reviews applications in 1 to 3 business days.

Open an accountTalk to sales