Closing Emirates NBD account from abroad: everything you need to know

If you used to live in Dubai for work, study or for any other reason, you may have opened an account with Emirates NBD®¹ when you were there. If you’ve now moved back to the US, it’s worth closing your Emirates NBD account to make sure you don’t accrue unexpected fees.

There are several ways to close your Emirates NBD account, including options to close by email which are available even once you’ve left the country. This guide walks through what you need to do.

Can you close an Emirates NBD account from abroad?

Yes. You can close your Emirates NBD account by completing the closure request form and emailing it to the bank². This can be done even once you have left the country.

It’s worth closing your account when you’ve left Dubai for a couple of reasons. Firstly you’ll know your account can’t be charged, but you’ll also know there’s no risk of it being used fraudulently.

Plus, if you don’t use your account it may be moved to an inactive or dormant status. This then makes it harder to close in future, and can even mean you forfeit any remaining funds.

After 12 months of no transactions your account will usually be classed as inactive. You can easily re-activate your account by making any transaction, including online or mobile banking transactions.

If your account isn’t used for a further 2 years it is classed as dormant, and then re-activating it becomes more complicated. You’ll also risk your account being forcibly closed by the bank, at which point your funds may be moved to the UAE Central Bank.

While you can reclaim the funds in future this is creating more complexity than is necessary - closing the account and withdrawing your funds in good time is a much better plan.

Can you close an Emirates NBD account online?

Yes. You can close your Emirates NBD account by completing the account closure form and emailing it to the bank using your registered email address.

You’ll need to make sure your account is active and in good standing - that is, without any debts or fees associated with it. You’ll also need to make sure your registered email address is still correct, and update it if your contact details have changed.

Closing your Emirates NBD account from abroad: step by step

Let’s take a closer look at home to close your Emirates NBD account from abroad, by email.

Make sure your account has a zero balance

The first step is to make sure your Emirates NBD account is suitable for closure. This means making sure your account is not inactive or dormant, and settling any debts.

You’ll need to resolve any liens, and as you’ll lose access to your account records you might want to download or print statements and other important account information. If you have any money left in the account, transfer it out before you take action.

Access the Emirates NBD account closure form

Once you’ve prepared your account for closure you can find the Emirates NBD account closure form³ on the bank website or in your online banking.

Complete the closure request form

Complete the closure form, give your account information, reason for closure and information about what the bank should do with any money left in the account.

The bank might ask you to return your bank cards and other materials like unused cheques, so keep them handy in case you’re asked to mail them in. You’ll also need to provide a Self-Attested passport copy with your form.

Send your request to Emirates NBD

You can now send your form to Requests@EmiratesNBD.com from your registered email address with the subject: Account closure request.

In the email give an overview of the situation including the reason for closing the account, and the account number. You’ll have to attach your passport copy to the message. It's important to note that this email must be sent from your registered email address. If your email has changed since you used your account, you can update the bank’s records through the online banking system⁴.

If you run into any problems with closing your account, there are lots of ways to get in touch to ask for help including Whatsapp messaging and a selection of different phone numbers based on your account type⁵.

What’s the best way to send money internationally?

Banks are certainly one option for sending money internationally, as are services like PayPal. But the problem with banks is they can often be slow, expensive and inconvenient. Luckily, there’s a better alternative out there.

You can send money worldwide with Wise for low fees and the mid-market exchange rate. It’s easy and quick to set up a payment online, and you’re guaranteed secure transfers even when sending large sums.

Wise is a money service business (MSB) regulated by 12 international financial authorities, and uses sophisticated security features to keep you and your money safe.

Open a Wise account, and you can send, spend and convert between 40+ currencies whenever you need to. You can even receive money from all over the world using your own local account details.

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How much does it cost to close an Emirates NBD account?

You’ll need to pay a fee of 100 AED if the account is closed within 6 months of opening. For accounts opened more than 6 months, there are no fees or charges for closure.

Bear in mind that you might need to pay to transfer out your remaining funds from the account before you can close it, though.

How long does closing an Emirates NBD account take?

Once you’ve selected the account closure request, your account will be closed within 7 working days as long as your account is considered suitable for closure, with no debts or fees outstanding.

Tips and challenges for closing your Emirates NBD account

Here are a few final tips to help you close your Emirates NBD account without any unnecessary problems:

This guide covers all you need to know about account closure with Emirates NBD, even if you’ve already left Dubai and are back in the US. Getting in touch with the bank to close your account shouldn't be too tricky - and as closing a dormant account becomes tricky, it’s well worth doing in good time.

Sources:

1. Emirates NBD
2. Emirates NBD - close account
3. Emirates NBD account closure form
4. Emirates - update registered email address
5. Emirates contact information