In the UAE, a nation with a population of around 10 million, a significant portion consists of expatriates who are not citizens but who live and work there on a permanent basis. Given this demographic, the UAE government prioritizes creating comfortable conditions for these expatriates, a goal that extends into major service industries, including banking.

UAE fintech sector developing

Here is some naked statistics:

  • Approximately 89-90% of the UAE's population (or about 9 million people) are expatriates, not citizens of the country.
  • The primary categories of expatriates are citizens of India (28% of the UAE's population) and Pakistan (12%).
  • Expatriates from the "Western world" (Europe, the USA, Australia) make up about 5% of the UAE's population (around 0.5 million people).
  • The main language in the UAE is English.

Considering these facts, the fintech sector in the country is rapidly developing towards the adaptation of expats to capital circulation in the country - that's why improving the onboarding process for expatriates in UAE banks become so vital. This aim is supported by both a government priority and significant investment in technology.

It is worth noting that the UAE has seen significant growth in the fintech sector over the past few years, with investments increasing by approximately 20% annually. The sector is forecast to continue its upward trajectory, potentially growing at an even faster pace.

It has become more important than ever not to miss the moment of an uptrend - for this we have prepared a valuable insight.

Onboarding process for new-2-bank expatriate clients in UAE banks

The onboarding process for new-2-bank expatriate clients in UAE banks is designed to address specific challenges and comply with the regulatory and cultural landscape of the UAE. While individual banks may vary in their specific procedures, the fundamental steps for onboarding expatriates typically include the following key aspect: documentation and identity verification.

To successfully onboard as a new client, expatriates are required to submit several important documents for identity verification, including:

  • A passport with a valid UAE visa
  • An Emirates ID, if already obtained
  • Proof of UAE residency, such as a utility bill or rental agreement
  • A salary certificate or employment verification from a UAE employer, necessary for certain types of accounts

While gathering and submitting these documents may be cumbersome, the true challenges of onboarding do not necessarily lie in this initial step. The deeper complexities are often found in navigating the broader regulatory and integration issues that follow.

Key pain points

  1. Regulatory challenges: Expatriates often encounter rigorous and complex regulatory environments when opening bank accounts in the UAE. Banks in the UAE strictly adhere to anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-financing of terrorism (CFT) regulations. These regulations can make the onboarding process lengthy and tedious. Expats must navigate through extensive paperwork and compliance checks that can deter them from fully engaging with local banking services.
  2. Technological integration: While the UAE boasts advanced technological adoption, there can be significant discrepancies in the digital onboarding experiences offered by different banks. Some banks have not yet fully integrated digital solutions that can handle the nuances of expatriate documentation and verification processes online, leading to potential delays and customer dissatisfaction.
  3. Cultural and сommunication barriers: Although UAE banks often offer services in multiple languages, cultural misunderstandings and insufficient customization of banking products to meet expatriate needs can hinder effective engagement. Banks may not fully appreciate the diversity within the expatriate community, missing out on providing targeted financial products that cater to the varied financial backgrounds and needs of expats.

Underlying issue: lack of in-depth public research in UAE fintech

There is a notable shortage of publicly available research focusing on the fintech sector's adaptation to the expatriate market in the UAE. This lack of detailed insights into expatriate needs and preferences in financial services, combined with a burgeoning investment in technology, creates a gap in strategic development and service delivery.

As specialists in the field of user practice research, we definitively know what needs to be done to bridge this gap effectively.

Comparative analysis of user tasks:

  • Conduct a comparative analysis of key user tasks including account opening, card issuance, mobile banking access, transaction history, transfers, payments to third-party services, tariff monitoring, card and account settings adjustments, service point navigation, automation of recurring operations, document retrieval, product selection and application, and support services.

Data collection methodology:

  • Real customer journey map (CJM): Track the complete journey of a new bank customer from account opening to regular usage. This includes collecting data through an agent involving interaction registries, screencasts of digital interfaces, recordings, and copies of communications.
  • Real interactions: Analyze the daily interactions of existing customers who are actively using their accounts and mobile apps, capturing detailed screencasts and screenshots of mobile banking operations.

We are ready to conduct such a thorough review of digital banking services and propose a map of actionable improvements that can propel your business forward. Are you?

Potential of Markswebb

Markswebb is uniquely positioned to address these challenges. With its deep expertise and research capabilities, Markswebb can provide critical analysis and strategic recommendations that help banks refine their onboarding processes. By conducting thorough market research and analysis, Markswebb can help financial institutions understand the expatriate demographic better, tailor their services to meet these customers' specific needs, and leverage technology to streamline regulatory compliance. This will not only improve the customer experience but also enhance the banks' competitive edge in the thriving UAE fintech ecosystem.

Wondering how to create seamless digital banking experiences? Explore Markswebb’s handpicked UI solutions for 2024, grounded in our Mobile Banking Rank research. Get inspired and start building better services today!

    Get a file
    Fields requiring an asterisk (*) are essential for submission.

    Attention major players in the UAE banking sector:

    Markswebb is initiating a comprehensive study on mobile banking in the UAE and invites leading banks to participate. The study will include ADCB (Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank), ADIB (Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank), Ajman Bank, Al Hilal Bank, MBank (Al Maryah Community Bank), Al Masraf Arab Bank, Bank of Sharjah, CBI (Commercial Bank International), CBD (Commercial Bank of Dubai), Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates Islamic, Emirates NBD, FAB (First Abu Dhabi Bank), Invest Bank, Mashreq, NBF (National Bank of Fujairah), RAKBANK (The National Bank of Ras Al-Khaimah), NBQ (The National Bank of Umm Al-Qaiwain), Sharjah Islamic Bank, United Arab Bank, WIO Bank, Dubai Bank, Dubai Finance Bank, Emirates Investment Bank, and Noor Bank.

    For updates on the study and participation details, follow our LinkedIn page. We look forward to collaborating on this project - let's begin a new phase of development together!

    We are here to guide you up!

    Looking for a partner?

    Get in Touch

      Fields requiring an asterisk (*) are essential for submission. By submitting this form, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.

      Markswebb

      We respond to all messages as soon as possible.

      Become a client