How to Open a FAB Bank Account Online for UAE Customers
Download FAB Mobile, tap sign up, scan your Emirates ID and record a video selfie. That is the full online flow for a new customer, and the account opens in minutes with no branch visit.
Any UAE resident with a valid Emirates ID can start. The account you get depends on income or balance: AED 3,000 a month opens a Personal Current Account, AED 10,000 opens FAB One or an Etihad Guest account, and AED 50,000 opens the Elite accounts. iSave has no salary or balance condition at all.
FAB online account opening information
| Route | Where | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| New to FAB | FAB Mobile | Emirates ID and a video selfie |
| Existing customer, first login | FAB Mobile | Customer number, debit card number or credit card number |
| Existing customer adding iSave | FAB Mobile or Online Banking | An existing FAB account |
Eligibility & what you need
UAE nationals and UAE residents can open a FAB account online, provided they meet the requirements of the specific account. Before you start, have these ready:
- A valid Emirates ID
- An iPhone or Android smartphone running the latest OS version or either of the two before it
- Wi-Fi or mobile data
- For existing customers only: the customer number sent to your registered email address, or a debit card or credit card number
The app asks for the Emirates ID and nothing else. The paper account-opening form used at branches asks for a passport, a resident visa and an Emirates ID, with originals shown alongside copies, plus proof of income.
Open an account in FAB Mobile
New customers open an account entirely inside FAB Mobile, which works in English and Arabic.
- Download FAB Mobile from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or Huawei AppGallery.
- Choose the account or credit card you want and tap sign up.
- Verify your Emirates ID by scanning it in the app.
- Record the video selfie that completes the security verification.
- Enter your personal, employment and income details and answer the tax declaration.
- Choose whether you want a debit card, the name to print on it and the address it should be delivered to.
- Review the application summary and submit it.
Once the account is live, a FAB balance check takes a few taps in the same app.
Existing FAB customers
Existing customers register in FAB Mobile with a customer number, a debit card number or a credit card number. Registration still needs the Emirates ID and a video selfie.
Online Banking users are not registered in the app automatically. Once registered, every Online Banking transaction is approved through FAB Mobile.
One FAB Mobile registration works on up to three devices. An existing customer can also open iSave instantly from FAB Mobile or Online Banking.
Which FAB account to open
Pick by income or balance. AED 3,000 covers the entry accounts, AED 10,000 covers FAB One and Etihad Guest, AED 50,000 covers Elite, and iSave asks for nothing beyond a valid Emirates ID.
| Account | You qualify with | Notable feature |
|---|---|---|
| iSave | No salary or minimum balance | 5.60% on new funds until 31 December 2026 |
| Personal Current Account | AED 3,000 monthly income | Everyday current account |
| Personal Savings Account | AED 3,000 average monthly balance | Savings account |
| Islamic Current Account | AED 3,000 average monthly balance | Current account under FAB Islamic banking |
| FAB One Account | AED 10,000 monthly income | No minimum balance charges |
| Etihad Guest Account | AED 10,000 monthly salary, or an AED 10,000 initial deposit if non-salaried | 1.5 Etihad Guest miles per AED 1,000 |
| Etihad Guest Elite Account | AED 50,000 monthly income, or AED 500,000 total relationship balance | 3 Etihad Guest miles per AED 1,000 |
| Elite Savings Account | AED 50,000 salary transfer, AED 500,000 total relationship balance or an AED 2.5 million mortgage | Tiered interest up to 0.07% |
| Elite Current Account | AED 50,000 monthly income | Multi-currency, free unlimited cheque books |
Total relationship balance (TRB) is the sum of your current, savings and call account balances, fixed deposits and investments with FAB.
iSave
iSave is an AED savings account with no minimum balance, no salary requirement and unlimited withdrawals. Only UAE residents with a valid Emirates ID can open one.
The 5.60% campaign rate applies to new funds deposited from 1 September 2026 to 31 December 2026. The overall balance you hold with FAB on 31 August 2026 is the base, so the rate applies to deposits above it. Funds from the previous campaign (1 May 2023 to 31 August 2026) keep earning 4%.
Campaign interest is paid within 45 days of 31 December 2026, and the iSave campaign terms set out the base-balance rules. At 5.60%, AED 10,000 of new funds earns AED 560 over a full year.
Outside the campaign, the product rate depends on your balance tier:
| Balance | Interest per year |
|---|---|
| Under AED 500,000 | Up to 2.465% |
| AED 500,000 to AED 5,000,000 | 2.465% to 3.251% |
| AED 5,000,000 and above | 3.251% or lower |
Rates apply every month to the monthly average balance. That average is the sum of each day’s closing balance divided by the number of calendar days in the month. The campaign payout tops the month up to 5.60%, calculated as the gap between 5.60% and the product rate already credited.
Etihad Guest accounts
Both Etihad Guest accounts pay miles on your average monthly balance, but only when that average is at least AED 10,000, and the payout stops at 5,000 miles a month.
| Feature | Etihad Guest Account | Etihad Guest Elite Account |
|---|---|---|
| Miles per AED 1,000 average balance | 1.5 | 3 |
| Bonus miles on first salary transfer | 500 | 1,000 |
| Joining miles on first debit card purchase | 500 | 750 |
| Free local transfers per month | 4 | 4 |
| Cheque books | First one free | Unlimited and free |
An average balance of AED 100,000 earns 150 miles a month on the Etihad Guest Account and 300 on the Elite version. The Etihad Guest Account also waives FAB’s charge on the first international SWIFT remittance each month from an AED account. Instant Transfers get no waiver.
Elite savings
Elite Savings is a multi-currency account with no minimum balance requirement, but AED interest is paid only when the balance stays at or above AED 3,000 during the month.
| Minimum balance in the month | Effective interest per year |
|---|---|
| AED 3,000 to under AED 100,000 | 0.02% |
| AED 100,000 to under AED 500,000 | 0.045% |
| AED 500,000 and above | 0.07% |
Interest tops out at 0.07%, against up to 2.465% on iSave’s product rate, so Elite suits people who want the card limits and perks rather than returns. The personal banking fee schedule sets FAB’s charges for personal accounts.
Fixing sign-up & login problems
Most blocks in FAB Mobile clear without a branch visit:
- Locked out of the app: tap Forgot PIN on the login screen and follow the steps to restore access instantly.
- Login fails or a system maintenance error appears: update the app and try again later.
- Lost or stolen phone: call 600 52 5500 within the UAE or +971 2 681 1511 from abroad straight away.
- Expired passport, visa or Emirates ID: open Edit Profile, choose the Documents tab and upload the new document. Processing takes 3 to 4 working days.
FAQ
Can I open a FAB account online without visiting a branch?
Yes. A new customer downloads FAB Mobile, chooses an account, verifies their Emirates ID and completes the security verification. The account opens in minutes, and no branch visit is involved.
Is there a FAB account with no salary or minimum balance?
iSave. It is an AED savings account with no minimum balance and no salary requirement, open to UAE residents with a valid Emirates ID.
How many devices can I use FAB Mobile on?
You can download and register FAB Mobile on up to three devices.
Is FAB Mobile free to use?
Downloading FAB Mobile and most of its services are free. Some transfers carry a charge.
Which number do I call for help with FAB Mobile?
Call 600 52 5500 from within the UAE or +971 2 681 1511 from outside it.
Next steps
- Check which threshold you meet: AED 3,000, AED 10,000 or AED 50,000 in monthly income, or no threshold for iSave.
- Install FAB Mobile and keep your Emirates ID within reach for the scan and video selfie.
- Open iSave first if you want a savings account with no conditions, since existing customers can add it instantly later through FAB Mobile or Online Banking.
- Add a salary transfer to an Etihad Guest account to collect the 500 or 1,000 bonus miles.
