Deciding to close your bank account is a big financial move, and First Abu Dhabi Bank is an integral part of life in the UAE, so it’s important to prepare accordingly to avoid the pitfalls that can follow you as you leave the branch—such as penalties, salary discontinuities, blocked services, and outstanding obligations. Whether you’re moving overseas, changing banks, or just consolidating your finances, the first thing you should do before you start closing anything is to run a FAB balance to confirm the amount on each account, card, and product you have linked, so there’s nothing left to settle before you file for closure.
From preparation and documentation to final steps, this comprehensive guide for 2026 will help you understand the complete process of closing a FAB account, in addition to specific advice for expats leaving the UAE, and its implications for both personal accounts and credit cards.
Why Closing a FAB Account Requires Careful Planning
If you do not pay all dues, FAB will not permit you to close the account. This requires the complete clearance of the credit card balance, loan, overdraft, and fees, etc.; if any amount is remaining, the bank will not approve closure. Closing an account with outstanding debts doesn’t simply lead to rejection; it can also cause penalty charges as well as harm your account record in a manner that can impact future banking connections in the UAE.
Make sure to cancel any automatic credit card, bill, or transfer payments before closing your account. Any utilities, Gym memberships, streaming services, insurance premiums, etc. that are set up for recurring payments will stop after the account is closed,d and you may end up with a penalty from the service providers.
Knowing what needs to be done and the order in which it needs to be done is the difference between a one-visit closure and a multi-week affair.
Common Reasons for Closing a FAB Account
Close FAB accounts for many valid reasons:
Relocating abroad: FAB has a significant number of expats as customers. When moving home to another country, the FAB account must be closed to make things easier for one’s finances and avoid maintenance charges.
Closing the bank: When customers find another bank with more favourable digital banking, reduced fees, or other good offers, they close down their FAB bank account.
Fees for inactive accounts: You may be charged for not using your FAB current or savings account. Don’t forget to close it to prevent unneeded fees.
Change of payroll bank by employer: If the employee’s employer changes their payroll account, they might need to change their account. It is not uncommon to close a FAB account in this situation.
Regardless of the reason, it’s always the same steps and begins with proper preparation.
Step 1: Check Your FAB Balance Across All Accounts and Products
First, log into the FAB Mobile App or FAB Online Banking to have a clear understanding of all of the FAB products you have.
- Current or savings account balance – this is the balance in the current or savings account that will be needed to withdraw or transfer out before closing.
- Any outstanding balance of a credit card must be paid in full, even if transactions have not yet posted.
- The outstanding loan balance for personal loans, car loans, or home finance products should be completely settled.
- Check if there is a fixed deposit – if there is one, check the maturity date before requesting a closure to avoid penalties for early withdrawal.
- Any negative balance should be overdrawn.
- Pending transactions:s ensure that there are no pending debit transactions that are still running, which need to be cleared first before closing the account.
The rest of the amount should be taken or moved out before closing the account. Determine in advance how you wish the final balance to be made up, whether cash withdrawal, transfer to another bank account in UAE, or international transfer.
Step 2: Settle All Outstanding Dues and Obligations
Credit Card Dues
If you have a FAB credit card, pay off the full balance and not the minimum. If you wish to know the final payoff amount, please call FAB and request it, all pending transactions, interest to date, and fees. At this point, the minimum payment option can leave a small outstanding balance, which will prevent closure of the property.
Once the balance has been paid, ask to have the credit card completely closed. The UAE provides a credit card closing feature that is usually going to help protect users from unexpected fees appearing on their credit card after they thought that the account was closed.
Loan Repayments
The outstanding amount of a personal loan, vehicle loan, or household finance product must be paid before closing the account if it is a FAB product. Please call the FAB’s loans department and request the entire amount of the early settlement, which may vary because of early settlement fees.
There may be a fee for early settlement of loans. The present fee schedule for FAB is available at the branches and the Customer Care hotline. Ask for this information before agreeing to settle early so you can determine the closing date and budget accordingly.
Fixed Deposits
Typically, the fees for account closures are minimal fees if any, and there may be fees if the account is closed early. Usually, when a fixed deposit is cashed out prematurely, there is an early withdrawal charge and a lower interest rate. These expenses are avoided if the fixed deposit term is near its end.
Step 3: Cancel All Automatic Payments and Standing Instructions
Check your last 3 months of account transactions and look up all the recurring payments that are associated with your FAB account:
- Payments for your utilities (DEWA, SEWA, ADDC, Etisalat, du) are automatic.
- Payment by auto-pay for credit cards
- Insurance premium debits
- All payments for gym membership or subscription service.All payments related to gym membership or gym subscription service.
- EMI Deductions from other Banks
- Auto-reload instructions for Salik attached to your FAB account
- Regular investment/savings plan, regular contributions
If automatic payments need to be cancelled, do so directly from the FAB Mobile App under standing instructions, or contact the service provider to update their payment details with your new bank account number, if you don’t want to cancel the service.
One of the most frequent post-closure issues is failing to cancel standing instructions before account closure. If you have set up automatic payments for credit cards, bills, or transfers, cancel them before closing your account. If a payment is made to an account that is closed, the service provider will return the transaction fees, which may result in disruptions to the service.
Step 4: Update Your Employer’s Payroll Details
To prevent delayed salaries, the account holder of FAB should inform their employer of the new account number before closing the old account. Your payroll team does salary transfers on a fixed schedule. If a FAB account is closed before the registration of your new bank account with HR, your salary transfer will not be successful, and you may not get paid for an entire salary cycle. Let your Human Resources or payroll team know about your new bank account as early as you can before your next payday. Please give 2-4 weeks for payroll systems to be updated (some companies may have several steps to get banking changes approved).
For those who belong to UAE’s Wages Protection System (WPS), your employer is required to register your new account with MOHRE before salary transfers can be resumed. Always make sure to coordinate with HR for this update to be done before your final salary deposit to FAB.
Step 5: Transfer or Withdraw Your Remaining Balance
After all dues are paid off, unpaid automatic payments are cancelled, and payroll is rerouted, transfer or withdraw the remaining amount from your FAB account.
How to deal with the final balance:
Domestic bank transfer: Transfer the balance that remains to your new bank account inthe UAE through the FAB Mobile App or Online Banking. Note: Processing of transfers between UAE banks takes 1 business day via UAEFTS.
International wire transfer: When you move abroad, wire the money to the bank account in the country where you are going to live. FAB imposes an international transfer fee for the confirmation of the last mentioned fee with customer care before proceeding with the transfer.
Cash withdrawal: If the amount of money required is smaller, cash withdrawal from a FAB ATM/branch is a simple process. If you have more than your ATM limit, go to a branch directly and withdraw the money over the counter.
Demand draft/manager’s cheque: When there is a formal transfer, especially for property deposits or legal settlements,s FAB can issue a demand draft against your account balance. This option is available only after visiting a branch.
Once the balance has been transferred or withdrawn, please ensure that there are AED 10 – 20 in the account to cover any final fees that may be applied before the official closing date. If the service is not scheduled to end with your final statement, communicate with FAB customer service to determine if there are any remaining monthly maintenance fees or statement fees before closing.
Step 6: Gather Required Documents for Account Closure
To closea FAB account, you need to collect all the necessary documents. Emirates ID, passports, and important Government IDs are valid forms of ID. Additionally, it’s crucial to give your account and branch details to prevent any problems. The Bank account closure form is also important for this process, which you can download from the FAB website.
Complete documentation checklist for FAB account closure:
- A valid Emirates ID that is not expired.An Emirates ID with a valid current status.
- Original UAE passport must be presented for verification of identity.
- For UAE residency visa: if resident, then show current residency visa. If resident in UAE, then show current residency visa.
- FAB debit card(s) were attached to the account that were to be surrendered and cut at the branch.
- FAB credit card(s) to be surrendered and cut at the branch when closing the credit card account
- FAB account number: your full account number for the accounts being closed
- Use the cheque book to pay all cheques that are not utilized and return the pay cheque book to the bank.
- Account closure form available on FAB Forms page or at the branch
If the customer intends to leave the UAE for good, further paperwork might be needed, including a flight ticket showing departure and/or an employment cancellation letter. Check with FAB customer care for requirements before branch visit.
Step 7: Visit a FAB Branch to Submit the Closure Request
All of these complex activities, such as closing accounts, handling disputes, or updating documents, necessitate more communication through phone or face-to-face visits. To close an account at FAB, customers must visit a branch location, which may not be done online or via the mobile application.
How to find and visit a FAB branch:
Please visit the FAB website or in person at the FAB branch. Nearest Branch: To use this purpose, you need to use the FAB website or mobile app to find the closest branch. Make an Appointment: UAE has different branches of FAB that may require an Appointment. Therefore, it is important to make reservations beforehand and ensure a reliable process.
At the branch:
- Go to the customer service desk and notify the attendant that you want to cancel your account.
- Ask for a Closure Form: The next step is to ask the customer service representative for a Closure Form to close off your FAB account. If not already filled in, complete it at the branch.
- Bring all necessary paperwork for identification.
- Surrender your FAB debit card(s) and credit card(s) per FAB’s General Terms and Conditions; the customer shall promptly return the card to the Bank when accounts are closed. Cut the debit card in half across the chip and magnetic strip before leaving the branch.
- Give back any unused cheques in your cheque book.
- Check the final account balance, and only withdraw or transfer the rest of the funds if the representative confirms; otherwise, check again.
- Request a stamped acknowledgement that you have made a closure request, and it has been accepted. If there is any problem with the processing, this confirmation will be your proof of initiation.
Step 8: Confirm Closure Processing Time and Follow Up
Personal accounts typically take 3-7 business days. Business accounts can take longer.
Once your closure request is made, the bank will do the following to process the request: it will internally verify the closure request and ensure that all obligations have been settled; it will cancel all services linked to the account; it will formally close the account in its systems. Generally, you will get SMS or email confirmation as the closure is completed.
- Don’t forget to follow up on your request to close to make sure it’s completed properly.
- After the closure request has been submitted:
- Verify that there are no funds remaining in your account and that the account is not in your FAB Mobile App/online banking.
- If you have debit and credit cards, make a small payment or check your card status in the app to ensure they are deactivated.
Check if there are any other fees or charges that may have been added to the account since the closing date.
Closing a FAB Account as an Expat Leaving the UAE
If you have not heard from us within 7 business days of your personal account closure submission, please contact FAB customer care using your closure reference number to check.
Expat closing of a FAB account in the UAE, UAE expats and how to exit their FAB Account.
If you are an expatriate with an expatriate contract soon to expire or if you are permanently moving out of the UAE, then there are a few things to consider when it comes to closing your account.
How long until your UAE residency visa is cancelled or your account is closed: Usually, when your UAE residency visa is cancelled by your employer, you will have a period of 30 days to wrap up your affairs and depart from the UAE. In this time frame, closing your FAB account before you leave to try to close a UAE bank account from overseas will be much more difficult and may involve notarized documents or a Power of Attorney.
Final salary and end-of-service gratuity: If your employer is sending you a final salary payment and/or an end-of-service gratuity, you should wait until those amounts have been received and credited into your FAB account before closing your FAB account. By closing the account too early, the money could be refunded or held.
International wire final balance: If you have received all final payments, then wire the balance to your foreign bank account. Ask FAB to provide you with a receipt of the SWIFT transfer to prove that the money was sent.
Credit card clearance: Clear all your credit card debts in the UAE before getting your residency visa cancelled. Unpaid debt on credit cards will be much more difficult to pay off from overseas and can have adverse effects on your credit score with Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB) that could impact future visa and banking applications in the UAE.
You cannot, unless you have a power of attorney that is valid and recognized by FAB, close the account on someone else’s behalf. In case you need someone to close your affairs after you leavethe UAE, a Power of Attorney signed and formalised before your departure and signed by a legally appointed notary must be brought along.
FAB Account Closure Fees
Generally, closing an account doesn’t cost you anything, although there may be fees for doing so early.
Most of the time, there is no fee to close a personal current account or savings account. Should apply for:
- Fixed deposit penalty for early closure of the deposit, and/or principal amount deducted based on the date of the closure or termination request and the date of maturity of the fixed deposit.
- Early settlement fee for personal loans is a charge that is a percentage of the outstanding balance.
- The fees for the SWIFT final balance wire transfer are different in various countries, depending on the destination currency and the balance.
- In case you want a Manager’s cheque for the final balance, then there is a chance of getting a demand draft issued.
Please check your accounts for any particular charges by contacting FAB customer care or visiting a branch prior to closing your account.
What Happens to Your AECB Credit Report After Account Closure
When closing a FAB bank account, the credit history is not erased; it is updated. The account will be closed and paid in full on your Al Etihad Credit Bureau credit report and is a positive mark. But any credit card delinquencies, loan delinquencies, or unpaid dues that occurred before the closure will stay on your AECB credit report for up to five years.
Before closing your FAB account when planning to apply for another credit application, UAE or abroad, be sure to pay off all dues in full, and not as written off or in default.
Pre-Closure Checklist
Please use this checklist before visiting the branch to help prevent delays in the closing of your account:
- All of the following accounts are currently in balance: FAB balance current, savings balance current, credit card balance current, fixed deposit account balance current.
- The amount paid for the credit card balance, if paid in full.
- The balance of the loan or the settlement amount in advance confirmed.
- The fixed deposit term was still to be determined, and it didn’t require an early termination.
- All automatic payments and standing instructions cancelled.
- Employer notified and new payroll bank details registered with HR
- Various amounts of money are removed or sent to a new bank account. A series of withdrawals or transfers are made to a new bank account.
- Emirates ID, passport and all FAB cards ready for branch.
- Cheque book containing unused cheques, ready to hand back
- If you need to be in at your branch of choice, an appointment will be made.
Final Thoughts
When done in a proper sequence, closing a FAB bank account is an easy process. The set-up process, dues, cancellation of auto-payments, salary redirection, and checking your balance takes longer than the actual branch visit. The closure procedure does not cause the most common rejections and complications; rather, they occur as a result of omitting one or more of the steps outlined above. First, review your full FAB balance picture, then go through the pre-closure checklist successively, visit your branch with all necessary documents, and follow up within the processing window. If done properly, you will have a clean slate, and your account will be fully closed with no records or history of the transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I close my FAB account online without visiting a branch?
More complex matters such as closing accounts, sorting out issues with a dispute, or making changes to documents may involve further contact by telephone or on-site visits. Full closure of an account will be completed by visiting the branch for document verification and to surrender the card – as of 2026. Balance transfers, canceling standing instructions, settling dues and other preliminary steps can be done via the FAB Mobile App or Online Banking prior to visiting your branch.
What if my FAB account has a minimum balance requirement?
Some FAB accounts have a required minimum balance. Before requesting to close your account, make sure that it meets the minimum balance requirement. If your balance is insufficient to meet the minimum, you might need to deposit the closure request to be accepted. Be sure to ask the branch if it applies to your type of account.
Can someone else close my FAB account on my behalf?
You can’t unless you have a power of attorney that is valid and recognized by FAB; close the account through a representative. Third-party closure requires a Power of Attorney signed in front of a Notary Public and recognized by FAB.
How long does FAB account closure take?
Personal accounts can take up to 3-7 business days. Business accounts may require longer. You will get an SMS or e-mail when the closureis completes.
What happens to my FAB debit card after account closure?
As per FAB’s General Terms and Conditions, the customer will return the card to the Bank immediately upon closing of accounts. During the closure visit, the branch representative will cancel and keep the card.
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