The initiative, launched by the Central Bank of the UAE, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, gives non-resident visitors a verified digital identity after arrival. That identity can be used through ADCB’s mobile app to open an account, activate a digital debit card and access basic payment services without the paperwork normally associated with non-resident banking.
The service marks a significant step in the UAE’s push to combine tourism, financial technology and digital public infrastructure. Visitors who meet eligibility conditions can use the account for point-of-sale purchases, online payments, supported digital wallets and ATM withdrawals within the country. The account is designed for short-term use and is tied to the visitor’s legal stay, rather than serving as a full long-term banking relationship.
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank has positioned the product as one of the first digital-only bank accounts aimed specifically at international guests to the UAE. The account is available in dirhams, carries no minimum opening balance and is opened through the bank’s app. A digital debit card is issued by default, while a physical card can be requested through the bank’s digital service channels subject to applicable charges.
Eligibility rules remain strict. Applicants must be aged 18 or above, be physically present in the UAE, hold a valid tourist or visit visa and possess a valid passport. Visitors on 96-hour visas and transit visas are not eligible. The account cannot be opened jointly and cannot be converted into a standard resident account. If the customer later obtains a UAE residence visa, the tourist account must be closed and a new account opened under the bank’s normal resident eligibility framework.
The account is also time-limited. It remains available only during the visitor’s stay and may close upon departure, expiry of visit visa validity or after a maximum tenure of six months, with a seven-day grace period. Any balance or international transfer after closure must be routed to a registered overseas account held in the same name. A monthly maintenance fee of AED25 applies unless a minimum balance of AED2,500 is maintained.
Officials have framed the project as part of a broader effort to reduce cash reliance and strengthen the country’s digital payments ecosystem. The Tourist Identity connects visitors to national payment infrastructure, including Jaywan, the UAE’s domestic card scheme, and Aani, the instant payments platform. Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor for Banking Operations and Support Services at the Central Bank of the UAE, said the initiative would support “instant digital onboarding” and deliver “an integrated and secure banking experience for visitors from the moment they arrive in the UAE.”
The biometric layer is central to the system. The Tourist Identity is generated through identity and immigration data supported by facial recognition and other biometric tools developed by the federal authority. Major General Suhail Juma Al Khaili, Acting Director General of Citizenship at the authority, said the system was designed to let sectors across the country offer services to visitors securely “without the need to present or exchange traditional documents.”
For the tourism industry, the measure addresses a practical gap. Millions of visitors land in the UAE each year for business, leisure, events and family travel, yet many still rely on foreign cards, cash withdrawals or currency exchange counters. Dubai welcomed 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025, while Dubai International Airport handled 95.2 million passengers, reinforcing the scale of demand for faster financial access at arrival.
The move also gives banks a controlled route to serve short-stay customers while maintaining know-your-customer and anti-money laundering safeguards. Unlike conventional non-resident accounts, which often require bank statements, introduction letters and branch-level checks, the tourist product uses official entry data and verified identity records. That reduces friction but also places greater importance on data protection, consent, transaction monitoring and clear disclosure of account limits.
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