🇦🇪 This is the brand hub for FAB (First Abu Dhabi Bank) in the UAE. For the bigger picture on UAE banking, the AED-USD peg of 3.6725, the Al Ansari Exchange / UAE Exchange downtown route, the 2023 RTA Open Loop Nol Pay contactless rollout, and the no-Bank-of-America-Alliance gap, see the UAE Money Guide. For exact ATM addresses, see the Dubai ATM Guide. For the Dubai-government-controlled cousin, the Emirates NBD guide.
🎧 Order Dirhams Before You Fly
Day-one tipping and the Bur Dubai abra (AED 1 cash) want cash. Pre-order AED 200-400. Insured 2–5 day shipping.
Order AED → CEI Currency ExchangeWhat FAB is, in one paragraph
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is the largest UAE bank by total assets and one of the largest banks in the Middle East. The bank was formed in April 2017 through the merger of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD, founded 1968 as the first national bank in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi following the UAE's federation in 1971) and First Gulf Bank (FGB, founded 1979). The merger was driven by the Abu Dhabi government's effort to consolidate Abu Dhabi-government-controlled banks into a single national champion. The combined entity overtook Emirates NBD on total assets, taking the largest-UAE-bank title that Emirates NBD had held since the 2007 Dubai-side EBI + NBD merger. The Government of Abu Dhabi controls FAB through Mubadala Investment Company (~37.8 percent) plus the Abu Dhabi Investment Council and other state-aligned entities; the remainder is publicly listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ticker FAB). Corporate headquarters at FAB Tower on Khalifa Business Park in Abu Dhabi. For US travelers, the relevant operation is FAB's dense Abu Dhabi retail and ATM coverage plus the Dubai DIFC and Dubai Mall corporate-banking core.
Why FAB matters in the UAE: the Abu Dhabi reach and the peg-clean dispense
The single most important fact about FAB for US travelers is the Abu Dhabi reach. Emirates NBD dominates Dubai (Downtown, Marina, JBR, Mall of the Emirates); FAB dominates Abu Dhabi. FAB has the densest ATM coverage in central Abu Dhabi (Sheikh Zayed the First Street, the Corniche, Khalifa Park, Al Maryah Island's Galleria), on Yas Island (Yas Mall, Yas Marina Circuit, the Yas Hotel for the F1 weekend), at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque visitor center, and at AUH airport.
In Dubai, FAB's strongest presence is in the DIFC (the Gate Building, Index Tower, Maze Tower corporate-banking core) and inside Dubai Mall. For travelers who only do Dubai, Emirates NBD's denser mall and Metro coverage makes it the default; for travelers who do an Abu Dhabi day trip (Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Yas Island F1, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World, Warner Bros Yas), FAB is the bank you'll see most often once you cross from Dubai into the Abu Dhabi emirate.
The second key fact is the peg-clean dispense, identical to Emirates NBD: the AED-USD peg of 3.6725 means the FAB ATM rate is the peg itself with no markup, and the FAB operator fee on foreign cards is often zero (a few specific units charge AED 0-15).
What FAB charges foreign cards at the ATM
| Fee component | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| FAB operator fee (foreign card) | Often AED 0, sometimes AED 5-15 (~$1.40-4.10) | FAB |
| Exchange rate | AED-USD peg of 3.6725 (no markup) | UAE Central Bank peg, baked into card network |
| Single-transaction cap | AED 5,000 ($1,360) | Most units; higher at DIFC corporate-banking flagships |
| Visa / Mastercard network fee | ~1% | Card network, baked into total |
| Your home bank's foreign ATM fee | $2-5 | Your home bank, unless waived (Schwab, Wise) |
| Your home bank's FX conversion fee | 1-3% | Your home bank, unless 0% FX card |
| BoA-side 3% non-network surcharge | +3% | BoA (UAE has no Alliance partner) |
| DCC trap on the FAB screen | +5-10% if you pick USD | Always pick AED, never USD at the prompt |
| Standalone unbranded ATM (NOT FAB) | AED 25-50 + 5-10% DCC | Look for the FAB red-and-white logo |
Real FAB ATM displays the red-and-white FAB logo with the "First Abu Dhabi Bank" wordmark. Always decline DCC and pick AED.
Where to find FAB branches in the UAE
Abu Dhabi (central): Sheikh Zayed the First Street flagship branch near the Abu Dhabi Corniche. Khalifa Business Park corporate-banking HQ (FAB Tower). Useful for travelers staying at the Emirates Palace, the Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island, the W Abu Dhabi Yas Island, or the St Regis Saadiyat Island.
Abu Dhabi (Yas Island): Branch inside Yas Mall plus units around the Yas Marina Circuit (F1 weekend coverage). Useful for travelers at the W Yas Island, the Crowne Plaza Yas Island, or the Yas Hotel.
Abu Dhabi (Al Maryah Island): Branch inside the Galleria Mall on Al Maryah Island, the high-end Abu Dhabi waterfront commercial district.
Abu Dhabi (Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque): Branch near the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque visitor center, useful for travelers on a Dubai-to-Abu Dhabi day trip.
Dubai (DIFC): Flagship inside the DIFC Gate Building, plus additional units in the Index Tower and Maze Tower. UAE's highest bank-branded ATM density in the corporate-banking core.
Dubai (Downtown): Branch inside Dubai Mall (multiple units).
Dubai (Marina): Branch on Marina Walk.
UAE airports: AUH (Abu Dhabi) Terminal A inside arrivals, DXB Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3. See the DXB airport currency guide.
Best card pairing with FAB
Wise + FAB is the Abu Dhabi day-trip combo
Wise debit at the FAB inside Yas Mall (for an F1-weekend day trip) or inside the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque visitor center branch: zero FX markup on the Wise side, often-zero operator fee on the FAB side, AED-USD peg of 3.6725 on the dispense. Plus Wise tap works at every Dubai Metro gate, RTA taxi terminal, Careem and Uber in-app.
Get the Wise Card →Charles Schwab Investor Checking (the BoA replacement for the UAE)
Schwab refunds operator fees on every UAE ATM and adds zero foreign-transaction fee. UAE has no BoA Alliance partner. Schwab makes the UAE-side fee economics moot.
Use FAB for Abu Dhabi, Emirates NBD for Dubai
FAB has densest Abu Dhabi ATM coverage including Sheikh Zayed the First Street, Yas Island, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and Galleria Mall. Emirates NBD has densest Dubai coverage including Dubai Mall, MOE, and the entire Metro Red Line. Match the bank to your day's location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns FAB?
Government of Abu Dhabi through Mubadala Investment Company (~37.8 percent) plus other state-aligned entities, remainder on Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (FAB). Formed 2017 from NBAD + FGB merger.
How much does FAB charge foreign cards at ATMs?
Often AED 0, sometimes AED 5-15 operator fee (~$1.40-4.10). AED-USD peg of 3.6725 on the dispense. Always decline DCC.
What is FAB's withdrawal cap?
AED 5,000 per single transaction (~$1,360) at most units.
Is FAB in the Bank of America Global ATM Alliance?
No. UAE has no Alliance partner. BoA debit pays the 3 percent non-network surcharge.
Where is FAB's flagship branch?
FAB Tower on Khalifa Business Park in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi retail flagship on Sheikh Zayed the First Street.
Should I use FAB or Emirates NBD?
FAB for Abu Dhabi (denser coverage including Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Yas Island). Emirates NBD for Dubai.
What was the 2017 NBAD + FGB merger?
April 2017 merger of National Bank of Abu Dhabi + First Gulf Bank created FAB, the largest UAE bank by assets (overtook Emirates NBD).