Which bank cards work in the UAE?

If you are going to the United Arab Emirates and do not know what cards currently work in the country, we recommend that you read this article. In it we will tell you about possible payment methods you can use when paying for goods and services.

Mastercard and VISA cards from Russian banks

Since the spring of 2022, the cards of many Russian payment systems stopped working in the Emirates. These include VISA and Mastercard. At the same time, plastic of the same systems issued by banks of other states (Kazakhstan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, etc.) will work as before.

Does the MIR card work in the United Arab Emirates?

The situation with the MIR card is similar. Officially, it does not work in the UAE. Despite the fact that it is an international card, there are not many countries where you can pay with it.

How do I open a personal account in the UAE?

To open an account and obtain a card from a bank in the UAE, you will need to provide the following documents

• A scan of your passport (pages showing your full name, address and nationality);
• A bank account statement;
• Your Resident Visa and Emirates ID;
• A written explanation as to why you need a bank account
• In addition, a personal verification with a bank representative is required.

How to get a Resident Visa and Residence Permit in the UAE?

In order to obtain a resident visa - a kind of analog of a residence permit in the UAE - a foreigner must meet one of the conditions:

1. Buy real estate in the Emirates for a certain amount. Visa for 2 years is issued when buying real estate in the amount of 750 thousand AED, for 10 years - from 2 million AED.
2. Open a company in the UAE If you invest more than 500 thousand AED in a business, you can become a candidate for a visa valid for five or ten years.
3. Get a job in the country. Freelancers and people who have signed an employment contract with a local company can obtain a visa valid for 1 to 3 years. Professionals with a monthly income of AED 15,000 or more, who have a bachelor's degree and have signed an employment contract with a local company, receive a green visa for 5 years. A Gold Visa for 10 years is granted to individuals with special achievements in any field and outstanding talents (Doctors of Science, programmers, technology developers, etc.).
4. Enroll in a university in the UAE.
5. To have the status of a pensioner and meet certain financial conditions: to own of 1 000 000 AED, to have an income of more than 22 thousand AED monthly or to invest in real estate in the country is not less than 2 million AED. If one of these conditions is met, the visa is issued for 5 years.

The UAE Resident The UAE Resident Visaallows its holder to reside in the country, enter and exit its territory an unlimited number of times.

Before obtaining a visa, the foreigner must go through several steps:

• Prepare a package of documents, translate them into English and have them notarized;
• Submit an application and meet all the conditions for obtaining the desired type of visa: buy real estate, enroll in a UAE university, get a job, etc;
• Arrive in the UAE, obtain a temporary visa, pass biometrics and medical examination;
• Obtaining a Resident Visa.

Assistance with opening a bank account in Dubai and obtaining a resident visa from StableGrowz

If you need advice on opening a bank account in the UAE or obtaining a resident visa, the experts at StableGrowz can help! We take on the most complex cases, so we can confidently say that we will make all upcoming processes fast and hassle-free!

Tinkoff bank card in the UAE?

Due to the next package of sanctions until July 2023, Tinkoff UnionPay cards have become useless in the UAE.

Paying with a UnionPay card in the UAE

You can hear quite contradictory reports about Russian UnionPay. Some people manage to withdraw money and pay in cash, others do not. In most cases, paying for goods or services with cards from Gazprombank, Primsotsbank or Rosselkhozbank is much less problematic.

Which cards will work in the UAE in 2024?

As before, you can pay for meals, hotel rooms, excursions and goods in the UAE with any cards of foreign banks (foreign Visa and Mastercard, American Express). They work in the country without any problems. Many Russian tourists deliberately make cards abroad to be able to make purchases in the Emirates.

Cash payment

If you are not comfortable with plastic, bring cash. In the UAE, you can carry an amount at the rate of 10 thousand dollars. The amount you can carry in the UAE is $10,000 per person. Emirates stores accept both dirhams and dollars. Note that if you pay in dollars, you will receive change in dirhams.

How do I open a card in the UAE?

In theory, any foreigner who is not a resident of the UAE can open a local card. To do so, they must open an account in a UAE bank. However, due to local anti-money laundering legislation, such a service may be denied even after passing a background check. However, if you have a local residency permit or the assistance of professional advisors, opening an account in the UAE will be as effective as possible.

Contacts

United Arab Emirates, Dubai, Barsha Heights, I-Rise Tower, 29th Floor, Office 5