Emirates NBD · business account package
Emirates NBD Business Connect
Entry package for startups and professional licences: online-only access with no minimum balance and the first 30 days free, backed by a full-service bank.
Is Emirates NBD Business Connect worth it?
- free-zone companies: Emirates NBD Business Connect onboards free-zone entities on its published criteria.
- founders outside the UAE: Emirates NBD Business Connect onboards fully remotely — no branch visit required.
Pricing
- Monthly fee
- AED 249
- Minimum balance
- AED 0
Eligibility
- Not suitable for
- founders wanting fully-remote onboarding — Emirates NBD onboarding is relationship-led and slower than digital-first banks. Micro-businesses for whom AED 249/month is the whole banking budget
Business operations
- Approval time
- 1–2 weeks
- Free-zone companies
- Yes
- Branch visit
- Not required
How onboarding goes
- Application: Submit the request through the provider’s channel and upload documents
- Compliance review: KYC checks and document verification
- Decision: Typical timing: 1–2 weeks
- Go live: Access activated and the product is live
Documents you'll typically need
- Valid UAE trade licence (mainland or free zone)
- Memorandum and Articles of Association
- Passports and Emirates IDs of shareholders and authorised signatories
- UBO (ultimate beneficial owner) declaration
- Office tenancy contract, Ejari or flexi-desk agreement
- Recent invoices or contracts for new companies; 6–12 months of bank statements for operating businesses
Typical pack for this category — the provider confirms the exact list on application.
AED 249/month + VAT (~AED 261.45) after the first 30 days free; no minimum balance requirement. Higher tiers waive the fee at AED 50,000 average balance.
Verified answers
What are Emirates NBD business banking minimum balances?
The schedule of charges lists three packages: Business Banking requires an AED 50,000 monthly average balance, Business Banking Plus AED 200,000, and Business Banking Select AED 500,000. Non-maintenance fees are AED 200, AED 300 and AED 500 per month respectively.
Source: cdn.emiratesnbd.com · verified
What do Emirates NBD business transfers cost?
Per the schedule of charges, telegraphic transfers cost AED 45 within the UAE in local currency, AED 60 in foreign currency to home/GCC countries and AED 85 to other countries (Business Banking tier), with a AED 10 discount on smartBUSINESS transfers.
Source: cdn.emiratesnbd.com · verified
Are Emirates NBD business account opening and maintenance free?
Yes — the schedule of charges shows zero account-opening fee and zero account-maintenance fee across all three business packages; the first cheque book is free (AED 25 thereafter) and inward remittances are free.
Source: cdn.emiratesnbd.com · verified
Head-to-head
Frequently asked questions
Is Emirates NBD Business Connect worth it for free-zone companies?
Yes — Emirates NBD Business Connect onboards free-zone entities on its published criteria.
Is Emirates NBD Business Connect worth it for founders outside the UAE?
Yes — Emirates NBD Business Connect onboards fully remotely — no branch visit required.