Minimum age
18 years
ADCB Universal Account
ADCB Universal Account is a basic current account for UAE residents earning AED 5,000 or less. It costs AED 2 a month and has no minimum balance.
At a glance
Key facts
Monthly FeeAED 2.00/month
Minimum BalanceNo minimum balance
Account TypeCurrent
Account access
Debit card included.
Salary or income credits are mandatory; the account is closed if these are not received. You must not hold another active current or savings account in the UAE. Opening and servicing use ADCB Internet Banking; the Mobile Banking App is not supported. Monthly outgoing transfers are capped at AED 5,000. Each month includes 4 free deposits and 4 withdrawals at ADCB ATMs, with AED 2.10 charged for each additional transaction.
In-app opening is not available.
The ADCB Universal Account is a basic bank account for people on lower incomes who do not yet bank in the UAE. It is a dirham current account with no minimum balance. Your salary is paid in through the Wage Protection System, and you can withdraw cash, pay bills, send money and use a debit card inside the UAE. It is deliberately limited. You run it through ADCB Personal Internet Banking only, there is no cheque book, and the amounts you can move each month are capped. Residents who earn more than AED 5,000 a month use the standard ADCB Current Account.
Who can open it
Residency
UAE resident
Maximum salary
Up to AED 5,000/month
Salary transfer
Required
Salary through WPS
Your salary must be credited through the UAE Wage Protection System.
No other UAE account
You declare that you hold no other current or savings account at any UAE bank.
Sole adult holder
Not available to minors or as a joint account.
Fees and balance
The account costs a flat AED 2 a month, whatever your balance. The other charge to know about is at the cash machine. Each month you get four free deposits and four free withdrawals at ADCB's own ATMs, and every transaction beyond that costs AED 2.10. Closing the account within 30 days of opening is free of closure charges.
Minimum balance
None
Minimum opening amount
None
Monthly fee
AED 2
In plain words
- Opening amount and minimum balance
- The opening amount (AED 0) is what you pay in to start the account. The minimum balance is what you keep in it afterwards. More on this
Benefits
Debit Card for UAE Use
A debit card is issued on opening for use inside the UAE.
Free ADCB ATM Transactions
Four deposits and four withdrawals a month at ADCB ATMs are free.
Local and International Transfers
Transfers to up to two registered beneficiaries, within the monthly limit.
Dirham Account with IBAN
A dirham current account with its own IBAN issued on opening.
How to open
Before you apply
1.Salary or income credits are mandatory; the account is closed if these are not received. You must not hold another active current or savings account in the UAE. Opening and servicing use ADCB Internet Banking; the Mobile Banking App is not supported. Monthly outgoing transfers are capped at AED 5,000. Each month includes 4 free deposits and 4 withdrawals at ADCB ATMs, with AED 2.10 charged for each additional transaction.
2.In-app opening is not available.
3.Monthly salary must be at or below AED 5,000.
4.Salary transfer required.
5.No minimum balance.
6.Debit card included.
Application steps
1.Check that you are a UAE resident aged 18 or over with a valid Emirates ID and a salary of AED 5,000 or less.
2.Start the application online on ADCB's Universal Account page.
3.Declare that you hold no other current or savings account with any UAE bank.
4.Complete the checks. Your eligibility is verified during the online application.
5.Arrange for your salary to be credited to the account through the Wage Protection System.
In plain words
- Salary transfer
- Your employer pays your salary straight into this account. The bank asks for this as a condition of holding it. More on this
- Salary ceiling
- This account is reserved for lower incomes. You can open it only if your monthly salary is AED 5,000 or less. More on this
Good to know
Good option for
UAE residents aged 18 or over, earning AED 5,000 a month or less through WPS, who have no other bank account in the country.
Consider another account if
You need a cheque book, a loan or credit card, the mobile app, or to send more than AED 5,000 a month. Compare accounts with no minimum balance.
Monthly limits on the account
You can deposit up to AED 5,000 a month in total, counting salary, transfers in and cash. Transfers out and cash withdrawals together are also capped at AED 5,000 a month. You can register two beneficiaries at most, local and international combined, and the account cannot receive transfers sent in a foreign currency.
When ADCB closes the account
The account is closed if no salary or income is received for three months in a row, if your income rises above AED 5,000, or if you are found to hold another current or savings account anywhere in the UAE. To move to standard banking products, you close the Universal Account and apply for a regular ADCB account.
Frequently asked questions
Get answers to common questions about the ADCB Universal Account