About
Emirates NBD Bank Emirates NBD Bank (Emirates National Bank of Dubai) is one of the largest commercial banks in the UAE, operating on a public shareholding basis. Its history dates back to 1963, when Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Maktoum founded the National Bank of Dubai, which later merged with Emirates Bank International in 2007 to form the current Emirates NBD Group. Headquartered in Deira District, Dubai, the main shareholders are the Dubai Government and its affiliates. As of now, the Dubai government holds about 40.9% of the shares through the Investment Corporation of Dubai, the DH7 company of Dubai Holdings holds about 14.8% of the shares, and the rest are listed free float shares. As a comprehensive commercial bank, Emirates NBD provides a wide range of financial services including retail, corporate, investment and private banking.
Scope of Services
Emirates NBD has a global and Middle East business footprint, with a focus on the Middle East and the UAE. Within the UAE, it has an extensive network of outlets, with more than 200 branches and more than 900 ATMs/CDMs across the country, covering major cities and towns. The bank also has branches in other countries in the Middle East (such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Turkey, etc.), and carries out financial business (branches or representative offices) in Singapore, the United Kingdom, India, etc., and has liaison offices in China, Indonesia and other places to serve global customers. In terms of service channels, in addition to traditional counter banking, it also provides online banking, mobile banking, telephone banking, WhatsApp banking and other channels to support real-time inquiries and transfers, so as to facilitate customers to manage their finances flexibly. Emirates NBD also has a cross-border network in many countries around the world to facilitate cross-currency cash withdrawals and remittances, meeting the needs of frequent travelers and international businesses.
Regulation & Compliance
As an important financial institution in the UAE, Emirates NBD is strictly supervised by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) and is required to meet its prudential management requirements such as capital and liquidity. Emirates NBD is also listed on the Dubai Stock Exchange (DFM) and is subject to regulatory disclosure obligations from securities regulators. The UAE has established a banking deposit protection scheme in which all UAE-registered banks in the Middle East participate in the scheme, in which depositors are guaranteed by the state for deposits in each bank (e.g. approximately AED 250,000 per person per bank). Emirates NBD actively adheres to compliance regulations such as Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Terrorism Financing, and conducts regular internal audits and compliance checks. At present, the bank has no record of major regulatory penalties, and its compliance structure and risk control process have been recognized by the market and maintain a good reputation.
Financial
health
Emirates NBD remains robust in terms of capital, asset quality and liquidity. According to the latest financial report, the bank's capital adequacy ratio is operating in the range of 18%-21%, far exceeding the Basel III regulatory minimum requirements for core Tier 1 capital and overall capital, reflecting strong capital strength. Tier 1 capital ratios are also relatively adequate. In terms of asset quality, the non-performing loan ratio (NPL) continued to decline, falling to about 3.3% by the end of 2024 (about 6% in 2022), and the non-performing loan provision coverage ratio exceeded 150%, indicating that the provisions were relatively adequate and effective in preventing and controlling credit risks. Banks also maintain extremely high liquidity coverage ratios (LCRs), which were around 200% in the latest quarter, well above the regulatory minimum of 100%. This series of indicators shows that Emirates NBD has a sound financial structure and risk resilience, providing security for both deposits and loans.
Deposit and Loan Products
Emirates NBD offers a wide range of deposit and loan products. In terms of deposits, demand deposits usually have no interest or very low interest rates (close to 0%), but they can enjoy the convenience of transfer without handling fees. The interest rate on fixed deposits is relatively high and increases according to the maturity rate. In UAE dirhams, the annual interest rate for fixed deposits with a tenor of less than one year is about 2.15% (e.g. 2.15% for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months), about 1.75% for two years, and gradually decreases to about 1.5% for three years and above. In addition, the bank has launched high-yield savings accounts (such as online savings bags), which can earn an annualized return of about 0.2% or more, and support deposit and withdrawal. In terms of loans, banks provide a variety of loans such as housing, automobiles, and personal credit. Housing loans mainly use a floating interest rate, referring to the 1-month EIBOR (UAE Interbank Rate) plus a fixed interest rate spread (the current interest rate spread is between 1.8% and 2.0%), that is, the annual interest rate level is around EIBOR + 1.9% (floating). For example, if the 1-month EIBOR is 5%, the current mortgage annual interest rate is about 6.9%; A first home loan can cover up to 80% of the home price and can be tenured for up to 25 years. Car loans can choose a fixed or variable interest rate, with fixed interest rates generally starting from more than 4% (depending on the loan term and vehicle type); The bank can borrow up to 75%-80% of the car price for a maximum of 5 years. Personal lines of credit (unsecured loans) are quick to approve and can often be up to several times your annual salary, and are currently promoted at a rate as low as 2.81% (fixed), which equates to a decreasing annual interest rate of about 5.3%. All loans offer flexible repayment options, such as equal principal and interest, equal principal amount, and a certain percentage of early repayment without penalty (e.g. up to 20% of principal can be repaid early).
List of common fees
EmiratesNBD's fee structure is transparent, and the main fees include:
account management fees: If the minimum balance of the basic current account is maintained, the monthly fee will be waived; If the balance is lower than the required amount or there is no transaction for a long time, an annual fee may be charged (rates vary depending on the product package, usually tens to hundreds of dirhams). Premium accounts, such as private banking or premium credit cards, may have a higher annual fee, but they offer additional services and benefits.
Transfer fee: Transfers within the same bank account are usually free of charge; Small fees may be charged for local interbank transfers (around a few dirhams), international wire transfers can range from AED 30 – AED 105 (depending on the amount and currency), and intermediary bank Swift fees may apply. For example, when sending money overseas, an additional fee of about AED 105 and the corresponding remitting bank fee may be added. Online cross-border money transfers (DirectRemit) usually have lower rates for customers to choose from.
ATM and card fees: Free of charge for withdrawals at Emirates NBD's own ATM; Approximately AED 2–5 per cash withdrawal at other bank ATMs in the UAE (plus a small balance inquiry fee); ATMs in other countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) charge about 6.3 dirhams, and in other countries around the world, ATMs charge about AED 21, and balance checks are usually free. The annual fee for a card depends on the type of card, with premium credit cards costing hundreds of dollars and regular debit cards usually waiving the annual fee. Credit card instalments, overdrafts or late payments will also incur fees.
Hidden Fee Alert: Customers should be aware of potential costs such as minimum balance penalties, overdue interest on bills, foreign exchange spreads, etc. These charges will be disclosed by the bank in the customer agreement and statement, but users should pay attention to their spending habits to avoid unnecessary deductions.
Digital Service Experience
Emirates NBD is a regional leader in digital innovation. Its flagship mobile banking app, ENBD X, has a rating of around 4.7 in the app store (more than 14,000 reviews) and is fully functional. Users can manage their banking business in one place from their mobile phone or computer: account and transaction inquiries, transfer payments, international remittances (such as its innovative DirectRemit cross-border remittance service), online payment of utility bills, purchase of wealth management products, and more. The app supports card management (unlocking, PIN reset, limit setting), e-statement download, credit card application, online stock trading, etc., and more than 150 services can be completed instantly. In addition, Emirates NBD has implemented seamless login technology (SMS verification code, fingerprint/face recognition, etc.) to improve user experience and security.
In terms of technological innovation, the bank has taken the lead in launching AI-powered customer service platforms: EVA virtual assistant for ordinary customers and Olivia, a Liv-branded AI customer service for younger customers , through natural language processing to answer queries, guide operations, and support voice and text dialogue. The bank has also established an open banking API platform (API Souq), which provides more than 200 API interfaces and more than 900 endpoints to support third-party fintech access and promote the co-construction of the digital ecosystem. At the same time, Emirates NBD continues to upgrade its digital channels, adding functions such as WeChat/WhatsApp customer service, online loan application, intelligent customer service robot, and online investment advisor to provide customers with fast and diverse service methods.
Customer Service Quality
Emirates NBD has a well-established multi-channel customer service system. Customers can consult or complain through 200+ branches, 24/7 telephone customer service (phone 600 540000), live chat, email, social media, WhatsApp customer service and other channels. There is a "Help & Support" section on both the bank's official website and mobile app, which provides access to FAQs and service requests. Emirates NBD is committed to responding to customer complaints within the prescribed time frame (typically within 10 working days) and has established a dedicated client relations and dispute resolution team. According to industry research and awards, Emirates NBD has won the "Best Customer Experience" award several times, indicating its high level of service responsiveness and customer satisfaction. The bank's customer service provides bilingual support (Arabic, English) as well as some other languages (e.g. Hindi, Urdu, etc.) to meet the needs of a diverse customer base. The bank continuously improves service efficiency and affinity through training and feedback mechanisms, and strives to respond quickly to customer needs and enhance service quality.
Safety and Security
Emirates NBD has invested a lot of resources in security and risk control. It uses multiple security measures to protect customer funds and data, including SSL encryption, two-factor authentication, one-time passwords, and biometrics (fingerprint/face) technologies. The bank has passed the ISO 27001 information security management system certification, which complies with international security standards. In addition, Emirates NBD deploys a real-time fraud monitoring system that automatically intercepts and manually reviews suspicious transactions. As a member of the UAE Deposit Insurance Scheme, personal deposits are also protected within the scope of the law. So far, the bank has not had any publicly reported data breaches or major security incidents, and its multi-layered security protection and emergency response system has been recognized by the industry. Client funds are further monitored and protected through multiple channels, such as some high-net-worth products can purchase additional insurance to reduce risks. Overall, Emirates NBD maintains a leading level in fund security and information security management, providing customers with reliable protection.
Featured Services & Differentiation
Emirates NBD offers exclusive services for different customer groups:
students and young peopleThe Liv.Digital Banking brand offers fully digital account and card services that allow you to open an account without a physical branch, with no monthly fees and benefits, and smart mobile banking tools and personalized offers for younger customers.
Elderly customers: The bank pays attention to the needs of the elderly, simplifies the account opening process, waives monthly fees or lowers the minimum balance requirement for customers over 65 years old, and sets up priority service windows in some branches.
Green financial products: Emirates NBD actively participates in environmental protection finance and has launched special projects such as "Green Car Loan" to provide preferential interest rates for customers who purchase new energy vehicles; It also underwrites a number of green bonds and loans for sustainable development projects to support the development of renewable energy and energy conservation projects.
Private Banking: For high-net-worth clients, Emirates NBD has a private banking department that provides one-to-one wealth advisory, international asset allocation, family trust, estate planning and other customized services. Private banking customers can also enjoy high-end wealth management products and financial support for global travel, as well as exclusive privileges.
In addition, the bank offers products exclusive to domestic customers, such as the "Emirati Account Package", as well as customized loans and services for small and micro enterprises and technological innovation enterprises. Through these differentiated products and services, Emirates NBD meets the individual needs of different customers and differentiates itself from the competition.
Market Position & Accolades
Emirates NBD is a leading bank in the UAE and the Middle East. With total assets of around AED 1 trillion ($272 billion) at the end of 2024, it is the largest bank in the UAE by assets. The scale of deposits and loans ranks among the top in the country and is an important pillar of the country's financial system. In the regional market, Emirates NBD ranks among the leading banks in the Middle East, working with other major state-owned banks to promote the development of the regional financial industry.
The bank has won several industry awards. In 2024, The Banker magazine named it "Best Bank in the UAE" and "Best Private Bank in the UAE". In the same year, Emirates NBD won the "Best SME Bank in the Middle East", "Best SME Bank in the UAE", "Best Corporate Bank in the UAE" and "Best Wealth Management Bank in the Middle East" at the Euromoney Awards. Its subsidiary, Emirates NBD Capital, also won awards in the green financing and mullica bond categories. In addition, the bank's innovation and customer service have been recognised, such as being named one of the best digital banks in the UAE for several consecutive years. Emirates NBD has strengthened its leadership position and reputation in the industry through sound operations and continuous innovation, and has become a trusted and high-quality financial institution in the market.
