Originally Posted by Gavtek

This sums up my experience with ENBD, they have the best online banking by a considerable distance and are generally hassle free unless you need to visit a branch. The other downside to them is that they employ FBI counterfeit investigator level staff to verify signatures on cheques and such like. I had one customer service guy watch me sign a cheque in front of him then 5 seconds later claim that it wasn't my signature because the shape of the loop on one of the letters was a different shape.

I'm with ADCB now that ENBD refused to let me unfreeze my account after 12 months of inactivity with a letter from my new employer and Emirates ID application form. ADCB seem ok, although their refusal to let me have access to cheques until I had my Emirates ID in my hand (they were happy to give me a credit card though) did cause me a lot of personal hassle and expenditure but not sure if that's their own policies or if it's forced upon them by the Central Bank.

Originally Posted by Meow

None of them are anything close to perfect but your best options in the UAE are probably ENBD, RAK, NBAD or ADIB, depending on what exactly you want.

Originally Posted by ExpatAl

I'll be opening my first account this weekend (finally after receiving all my paperwork!).

Who should I go for? I've been recommended by colleagues to open an account with Emirates NBD...

Now my missus works for a large international bank and recommends that I avoid a local bank. Reasons being that an international bank has higher protections/security and easier to transfer money should I return to the UK.

I disagree with her but eager to hear all your experience on this!