Banks in Abu Dhabi: branch counts by bank, from verified records

Who this is for: anyone looking for a bank branch in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain or Al Dhafra, or comparing which banks have the widest branch presence in the emirate.

Contents

• Quick answer
• Key takeaways
• Which banks have branches in Abu Dhabi?
• Which banks are headquartered in Abu Dhabi?
• Where are the branches: Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and Al Dhafra
• How to find the right branch
• Common mistakes
• Glossary
• FAQ
• Sources and last checked

Quick answer

Banks in Abu Dhabi listed in this directory run 140 branches across 18 banks in the emirate. Most belong to First Abu Dhabi Bank (58) and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (30), followed by Dubai Islamic Bank (18) and Emirates NBD (14). Separately, the Central Bank of the UAE's register (August 2026) lists 22 of the 63 licensed banks with their UAE head office in Abu Dhabi.

Key takeaways

• 140 branches from 18 banks are listed for Abu Dhabi emirate. Each was checked against the bank's own branch information between 22 Sep and 8 Oct 2026.
• Four banks account for 120 of the 140 branches: FAB, ADCB, Dubai Islamic Bank and Emirates NBD.
• 27 of the listed branches are in Al Ain and 7 in the Al Dhafra region.
• The CBUAE register lists 22 banks headquartered in Abu Dhabi: 8 national and 14 foreign.
• A bank being headquartered elsewhere doesn't mean it has no Abu Dhabi branches. Dubai Islamic Bank and Emirates NBD are examples.
• Branch hours and services differ by branch. Check the branch page, and the bank, before you go.

Which banks have branches in Abu Dhabi?

Eighteen banks have at least one Abu Dhabi branch in this directory. The table counts the branch records we hold and have checked for the emirate. It isn't a count of every outlet a bank operates: some banks don't publish a full branch list, and cash machines are excluded.

Branch records: live branch finder, read 2 Nov 2026. Records checked against bank sources 22 Sep – 8 Oct 2026.

Which banks are headquartered in Abu Dhabi?

The Central Bank of the UAE publishes a register of licensed banks, with each bank's head-office emirate. The August 2026 edition lists 63 banks. Twenty-two of them have their UAE head office in Abu Dhabi.

Names are copied as the register prints them. Some of these banks don't yet have branch records in this directory (Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, for example), so they don't appear in the branch table above. That is a gap in our records, not a statement about the bank.

Where are the branches: Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and Al Dhafra

Abu Dhabi is the largest emirate, and its branches spread across three regions. Our area tags currently separate Al Ain and Al Dhafra; the remaining branches are elsewhere in the emirate.

For a specific area, filter the branch finder by emirate and area.

How to find the right branch

1. Pick the bank first. Open its page (table above) to see its contact channels and SWIFT/BIC status.
2. Filter the branch finder by Abu Dhabi and, where available, by area (Al Ain, Al Dhafra).
3. Open the branch page. It shows the address and any timings or phone number the bank publishes, each with the date we checked it.
4. Confirm with the bank before you travel. Branch hours change, especially during Ramadan and public holidays, and some branches are limited-access (for example, inside a government entity).

Common mistakes

• Assuming the head office takes walk-in customers. A bank's head office isn't necessarily a retail branch. Use a branch page.
• Mixing up similar names. First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank are separate banks with separate branches and SWIFT codes; Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank is a third.
• Treating a limited-access branch as public. Some listed branches serve only staff of the host organisation; the branch name says so.
• Relying on old timings. Check the "checked" date on the branch page and confirm with the bank.

Glossary

• Branch: a staffed bank outlet. Cash machines (ATMs) are counted separately and aren't in this page's figures.
• Head office (register): the UAE emirate the CBUAE register records for the bank's main office.
• National bank: a bank incorporated in the UAE (register type "National").
• Foreign bank: a bank incorporated abroad and licensed to operate in the UAE (register type "Foreign").
• Islamic bank: a bank operating on Shari'ah-compliant principles; it pays and charges profit, not interest.
• Al Dhafra: the western region of Abu Dhabi emirate.
• SWIFT/BIC: a bank's international identifier for transfers. See UAE bank SWIFT codes.

FAQ

How many banks have branches in Abu Dhabi? This directory lists 140 branches from 18 banks in Abu Dhabi emirate, checked 22 Sep – 8 Oct 2026. Other banks may operate branches we don't list yet.

Which bank has the most branches in Abu Dhabi? In our records, First Abu Dhabi Bank, with 58 branches in the emirate, followed by Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank with 30.

How many banks are headquartered in Abu Dhabi? The Central Bank of the UAE's register (August 2026) lists 22 banks with their UAE head office in Abu Dhabi: 8 national and 14 foreign.

Are there Islamic banks in Abu Dhabi? Yes. The CBUAE register lists Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Al Hilal Bank among the banks headquartered in Abu Dhabi. Dubai Islamic Bank, headquartered in Dubai, has 18 Abu Dhabi branches in our records.

Is First Abu Dhabi Bank the same as Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank? No. They are separate national banks, each with its own branches and its own SWIFT code. Both are headquartered in Abu Dhabi according to the CBUAE register.

How do I find a bank branch in Al Ain? Filter the branch finder by Abu Dhabi and the Al Ain area. We list 27 branches there.

What are bank timings in Abu Dhabi? They vary by bank and branch. Each branch page shows the hours the bank publishes, where available, with the date we checked them. Confirm with the bank before you visit.

Sources and last checked

• Branch records: UAE Banks Directory branch finder, filtered to Abu Dhabi; 140 records checked against each bank's own branch information, 22 Sep – 8 Oct 2026. Read for this page on 2 Nov 2026.
• Licensed banks and head-office emirate: Central Bank of the UAE, "CB Register as of August 2026", linked from the CBUAE licensing page; checked 24 Sep 2026.

Reviewed by the UAE Banks Directory editorial team · How we work