First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) review

Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

First Abu Dhabi Bank lends directly to UAE residents and suits salaried people with a steady employer who want a large fixed-rate personal loan or a home loan. The home loan product fee is AED 0, and the stated timing is Approval takes approximately 24 hours.

Key facts

Best for
A large fixed-rate personal loan for salaried UAE residents, or a home loan.
APR
4.7% to 13.99% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Loan amount
AED 2,000,000 to AED 5,000,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Term
6 to 48 months (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Arrangement fee
1.05% of principal, one-time, min AED 525, max AED 2,625 incl. VAT (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Credit check
Hard (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Funding time
Approval takes approximately 24 hours (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Representative example
AED 250,000 at 3.99% fixed for 48 months, EMI AED 5,681.46, total interest AED 22,710.08 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Rate type
Fixed (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Lender type
Direct lender (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Free early repayment
No (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Eligibility
21+ years old, UAE resident with valid passport/resident visa/Emirates ID, minimum monthly salary AED 7,000, salary transfer to a FAB account, employed by a governmental, semi-governmental or reputable private organisation (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Origination fee (%)
1.05% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Loan types
Personal, Car, Secured, Debt-consolidation (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Use cases
Home-improvement (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
United Arab Emirates (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
2017 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Phone, Help-centre, Email (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Pricing model
Fixed rate
Official website
bankfab.com

Mortgages

Initial rate
3.99% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Fixed period
1 to 3 years (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Maximum loan to value
85% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Product fee
AED 0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Purpose
Purchase, Remortgage, First-time-buyer, Equity-release (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Lender type
Direct lender (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
United Arab Emirates (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
2017 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Phone, Help-centre, Email (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App Store
Elsewhere
LinkedInXyoutube.com

Pros and cons

Pros

  • You deal with the bank itself rather than a broker, since it is a direct lender.
  • Pricing is held at a fixed rate, so each payment stays level.
  • The range covers personal, car and secured, so a car loan or debt consolidation sits alongside a personal loan.
  • Help runs on phone, help centre and email, and the home loan lends to 85% of value.

Cons

  • Free early repayment is not offered, so clearing the balance early carries a cost.
  • Every application runs a hard credit check, so a miss is recorded against you.
  • You need to send your salary to a FAB account, which narrows who can qualify.
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)

Ready to try First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)?

Scored 8.8 / 10 by BorrowCue.

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Who it suits

  • UAE residents who are adults, hold a valid passport, resident visa or Emirates ID, and meet a minimum monthly salary.
  • Salaried people at governmental, semi-governmental or reputable private organisations who can send their salary to a FAB account.
  • People after a large fixed-rate personal loan, or a home loan where the product fee is AED 0.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Monzo Flex, quoted at 10% to 23%, if its rate band suits your budget better than FAB's 4.7% to 13.99%.
  • Cashspace, quoted at PHP 12 to PHP 36 in another currency, if you want the comparison to widen beyond a single market.
  • Cashspace ES, listed at 0%, if the headline rate on that listing matters more than a direct lender relationship.

How your money is protected

Protection here rests on the counterparty rather than on a scheme. With a direct lender you deal with the bank itself, so the terms you sign, the fee and the representative example all come from the same place. That example shows the instalment and the total interest together, so the full cost is easy to check before you commit.

How First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) compares

Where First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is available

Available
United Arab Emirates

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What rate will I pay on a personal loan?+

The personal loan is priced at 4.7% to 13.99% and held as a fixed rate, so the figure holds for the life of the loan. The listed loan types, personal, car and secured, sit on the same rate family.

What fees do I pay?+

On the personal loan an arrangement fee is charged on the principal, worked out as 1.05%, with a minimum and a cap that include VAT. On the mortgage the product fee is AED 0, so there is nothing to pay to set the loan up.

How much can I borrow, and for how long?+

The personal loan runs AED 2,000,000 to AED 5,000,000 over a term of 6 to 48. Home lending is separate, and the mortgage covers purchase, remortgage and first time buyer with a maximum loan to value of 85% and a fixed period of 1 to 3.

Who can apply?+

You need to be a UAE resident holding a valid passport, resident visa or Emirates ID, and to be an adult. The bank also asks for a minimum monthly salary, a salary transfer to a FAB account, and work for a governmental, semi-governmental or reputable private organisation.

What credit check is involved?+

Applications carry a hard credit check, so your file is assessed in full. Working through the eligibility criteria first is sensible, because the rules tie the loan to your salary and to your employer's sector.

Can I repay the loan early?+

Free early repayment is not offered on the personal loan, so a lump sum settlement is worth raising with the bank before you commit. The rate is fixed, which keeps each payment steady but leaves the exit terms to confirm.

How long does approval take?+

The stated timing is Approval takes approximately 24 hours, so a decision is not immediate. Having your salary already transferred to a FAB account matches the eligibility rules and helps the application move through.

Sources

  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Abu_Dhabi_Bank checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Founded

    “Founded April 2017; 9 years ago (2017-04)”

  • bankfab.com/en-ae/personal checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity

    “Copyright 2026 (c) First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC - Abu Dhabi - Dubai - United Arab Emirates”

  • bankfab.com/en-ae/personal/help-and-support/faqs checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Support channels

    “Drop us an email ... For customers within the UAE 600 52 5500 ... For customers outside of the UAE +971 2 681 1511”

  • bankfab.com/en-ae/personal/loans checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Loan amount, Funding time

    “UAE nationals can receive loans of up to AED 5 million and expats can receive loans for up to AED 2 million”

  • bankfab.com/en-ae/personal/loans/personal-loans checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: APR, Loan types, Pricing model, Rate type, Use cases

    “Interest rates for UAE Nationals - Starting from 4.70% to 13.99%”

  • bankfab.com/en-ae/personal/loans/personal-loans/personal-... checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Credit check, Eligibility, Free early repayment, Lender type, Arrangement fee, Origination fee (%), Representative example, Term

    “The applicable interest rate depends on various factors such as income, employment status, type of loan, credit score, and an affordability assessment conducted by the bank”

  • bankfab.com/en-ae/personal/mortgages/mortgage-loan-for-re... checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Fixed period, Initial rate, Maximum loan to value, Product fee, Purpose

    “With a salary transfer + FAB Credit Card: 1 year 3.99%, 2 years 3.99%, 3 years 3.99%, 5 years 4.19%”

Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)

A large fixed-rate personal loan for salaried UAE residents, or a home loan.

8.8/10See alternatives

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