In addition to its Head Office in Abu Dhabi, the Bank has branches in six other cities in the UAE. These are:

• Al Ain
• Dubai
• Fujairah
• Ras Al Khaimah
• Sharjah

New to the UAE? Opening a bank account in a foreign country can sometimes be a daunting task. We have put together some helpful tips and things you should be aware of to help get you on your feet.

In the UAE, cash is the most used medium of transaction. The unit of currency is called UAE Dirham (AED), which is divided into 100 Fils (equivalent of cents). AED notes are available in the denominations of AED 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of AED 1 and 50, 25, 10, 5, 1 Fils. Although, these 10, 5, 1 fils coins are rarely used and are not widely circulated.

The Dirham is pegged to the US dollar at a rate of 3.6735 dirhams to $1. The fixed link between the two currencies means that the value of the Dirham to other currencies depends on the strength of the dollar.

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) for cash withdrawals are widespread throughout the UAE so you will never be too far away from access to your cash. Depending on the type of account you have, some banks will charge you a fee if you withdraw cash from another banks ATM. This is standard across most UAE banks, so whenever possible it can be beneficial to try to use your own bank's ATMs. Barclays has ATMs conveniently located in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and we are continuously introducing new ATM locations at convenient locations for our customers.

Credit Cards offer excellent benefits in the UAE including discounts on dining, entertainment and travel. Depending on your lifestyle you can choose a card that offers benefits suited to you. To view offers and discounts available to Barclaycard holders – View Barclaycard privileges.

Cheques are still used across the UAE, and are predominantly used for paying bills, fees or for making large payments. Cheques are considered a measure of a person's financial commitment and are taken very seriously in the UAE. In fact, bouncing a cheque in UAE is a criminal offence which can result in severe fines and even criminal prosecution.

If you are going to be renting a property whilst in the UAE then most landlords will ask that you pay via post dated cheques. It is also common for landlords to ask for full year's rent upfront. If you find yourself in this situation and can't afford a lump sum payment for the entire year then you might want to consider a Barclays Rent finance loan.

To open an individual current account (non entity) in the UAE you need to prove that you are a UAE resident. At Barclays the following documents along with duly filled and signed Account Opening Form are generally required, however you may be asked for additional documents as deemed necessary:

• Certified copy of Valid UAE Residency Visa
• Certified copy of Valid Passport (Mandatory for Current Account)

If you wish to open a savings account with Barclays you just need a copy of a valid passport & Copy of Valid UAE Residency Visa (for UAE Residents only) along with duly filled and signed Account Opening Form, however you may be asked for additional documents as deemed necessary.

If you need to open an account then it is highly recommended you call our call centre on +971 4 428 6000. A relationship manager will be able to help ensure you have the right account for your needs and arrange to meet you to go through the necessary paperwork.