There may be times when you need to apply for a personal loan urgently. It could be due to a medical emergency, a family concern, or any other expense where you need a certain amount of cash in the soonest time possible.
Fortunately, there are many places in Dubai where you can apply for urgent cash loans. These includes banks as well as non-banks or lending companies. In this article, we will talk about where you can get an urgent cash loan in Dubai, along with the qualifications, required documents, and general procedure.
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Guide to Getting Urgent Cash Loan in Dubai
Before we present the list of banks and lending companies where you can apply for a cash loan in Dubai, let us first discuss the qualifications and documents that you will need to prepare.
Qualifications
Generally speaking, there are four factors to consider before anyone can apply for a cash loan with banks or lending companies in Dubai: age, employment, salary, and salary account.
- Age. The minimum age to apply for a loan in Dubai is 21 years old. Meanwhile, the maximum age in most banks is usually 65 years old.
- Employment. This depends and may vary for each bank. Some banks require that you should have completed at least six months in your current job, while for others, simply having a job contract with a reputable company is enough. Still, there are banks that also offer cash loans even to those who are unemployed.
Salary. The typical salary requirement to get a bank loan in Dubai is at least AED 5,000 per month. Nonetheless, there are banks that may approve cash loans even if the monthly salary is less than AED 5,000. Furthermore, there are also some banks and lending companies that require a higher monthly salary. - Salary Account. Speaking of salaries, some banks may require you to transfer your salary to an account in their bank. In any case, be sure to inquire with your preferred bank if this is necessary.
Requirements
When it comes to requirements, here is a list of the documents that are usually part of a loan application:
- National ID Card (for UAE nationals);
- Valid Passport and Residency Visa (for expats);
- Salary Certificate or Appointment Letter (for employment verification);
- Salary Transfer Letter (for salaried applicants); and
- Latest three bank statements (for self-employed applicants).
How to Apply for a Cash Loan
Meanwhile, here is a step-by-step guide to applying for a cash loan in Dubai:
1. Compare banks and lending companies.
As mentioned earlier, there are many places where you can apply for a cash loan, including banks and non-banks. The crucial step is in choosing where to apply. Fortunately, most companies have websites where you can view their loan products, and social media pages where you can read reviews of past customers.
Hence, the first thing that you should do is to research several companies, find out their loan amounts, interest rates, and payment terms. Make a list or table so you can easily compare before choosing a bank or lending company.
2. Check if you qualify for a cash loan.
Once you have reduced your list to one, two, or three banks… It’s time to check if you qualify for a cash loan with them. Find our their qualifications and requirements. If you think you are eligible, then it’s time to submit an application.
3. Submit a loan application.
There are two basic ways to submit your loan application: (a) in person at the bank/company office; or (b) online. Most companies now have online platforms where you can submit an application. Just be sure to have a digital copy of all the required documents, so you can upload them directly.
4. Wait for loan approval.
After submitting an application, all you have to do is wait. If your loan is approved, that’s great! If your loan is not approved, try to reflect on why you think it was rejected. You can always apply again, or submit an application to a different bank.
Where to Get Cash Loans in Dubai
Where exactly can we apply for cash loans in Dubai? There are three main options: banks, lending companies / private lenders, and pawn shops / brokers. Let’s take a look at each one:
Banks. Since banks are licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE, they are the “safest” place to apply for a cash loan. Usually, you can borrow up to 20 times the amount of your salary, depending on the bank. They tend to be strict though when it comes to documentary requirements, and loan processing could take up to seven days.
Lending Companies / Private Lenders. Compared to banks, lending companies usually require fewer documentary requirements, and loan processing is faster, around three days. However, the interest rate tends to be higher; plus, you need to make sure that the company is licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE.
Pawn Shops / Brokers. If you need instant cash, pawn shops / brokers are another option. They usually don’t require a lot of documents, simply sell or deposit your valuable items (e.g. mobile phone, gold jewellery, car, etc.) to get instant cash. However, make sure that you are dealing with a legitimate company, to avoid getting scammed!
Beware: Loan Sharks
Aside from banks, lending companies, and pawn shops, there are “loan sharks” that offer instant cash, but their interest rates are extremely high. What’s more, if you are unable to make timely payments, they usually do not hesitate to threaten your peace and safety. And so, we do not recommend that you borrow from loan sharks!
More importantly, take note that loan sharks are usually unregistered, which means that they are not operating legally. All the more reason to avoid them!
List of Banks
Now that you have a better idea of the qualifications, requirements, and steps in getting a cash loan, let us continue with the following list of banks that offer urgent cash loans in Dubai:
1. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) is one of the leading banks in the UAE, offering loans to both UAE nationals and expats. It has a network of 48 branches located all over the UAE. Notably, there are several branches of ADCB in Dubai, including one in Al Karama, whose contact details are as follows:
Address: Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street, Next to ADCB Metro Station, Al Karama Area, Al Karama, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 600 502030
Email: customercare@adcb.com / contactus@adcb.com
Website: https://www.adcb.com/en/personal/
Google Map:
2. Commercial Bank of Dubai
Established in 1969, Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) was founded through an Amiri Decree issued by the late H.H. Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The bank provides corporate, retail, business, and private banking services, among others. Headquartered in Deira, Dubai, CBD has been listed by Gulf Business as the seventh largest bank in the UAE, based on total assets.
Address: CBD Main Branch, Ittihad Street Deira, Behind Deira City Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 600 575556
Website: https://www.cbd.ae/
Google Map:
3. Doha Bank
As the name says, Doha Bank originated from Qatar; in fact, it is one of the biggest commercial banks in Qatar. Established in 1979, Doha Bank’s clients include individuals, corporate, commercial, and institutional clients.
Aside from Qatar, Doha Bank has branches in Kuwait, India, and the UAE, along with representative offices in Turkey, United Kingdom, Germany, South Africa, Canada, Nepal, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Australia. In the UAE, tha bank has branches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Address: 21 Century Building, 2 Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 4 321 4333
Email: Hellodoha@dohabank.ae
Website: http://ae.dohabank.com/
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4. Dubai Islamic Bank
Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) is the largest Islamic bank in the UAE, based on total assets. It is also a public joint stock company listed in the Dubai financial market. The bank was established in 1975. Having a workforce of more than 8,000 employees, located in 500 branches across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia — Dubai Islamic Bank is definitely among the most well-known and most trusted banks in the UAE!
Address: Al Maktoom Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Head Office)
Telephone: +971 4 609 2222 / +971 4 295 3000
Email: contactus@dib.ae
Website: https://www.dib.ae/
Google Map:
5. Emirates NBD
On 19th June 1963, the late H.H. Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum signed the Charter of Incorporation of the National Bank of Dubai (NBD), which was the first National Bank established in the UAE. Decades later, on 6th March 2007, with the blessings of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, NBD merged with Emirates Bank International (EBI). Thus, Emirates NBD was formed; the biggest banking group in the region based on total assets.
For many years now, Emirates NBD has reached numerous milestones. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013. It has expanded its operations all over the UAE and beyond — Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, Singapore, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, and Russia. It also has representative offices in China and Indonesia. All in all, Emirates NBD has a grand total of 874 branches and 4,144 ATMs / SDMs!
Address: Baniyas Road, Deira, Opp Dubai Creek Tower, Next to Dubai Chamber Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 600 540000
Website: https://www.emiratesnbd.com/en
Google Map:
6. HSBC
The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) happens to be one of the biggest banking and financial services organisations in the world. Today, it has branches in 62 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.
HSBC’s presence in the UAE began in 1946, when the Imperial Bank of Iran offered its services to citizens and traders in the Emirates. Eventually, the bank was withdrawn from Iran, and was renamed the British Bank of the Middle East (BBME). In 1959, BBME was acquired by HSBC Limited. Nowadays, the bank continues to play a major role in the region’s banking sector.
Address: HSBC Tower, Ground Floor, Emaar Square, Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 600 554722
Website: https://www.hsbc.ae/
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7. United Arab Bank
On 21st January 1975, United Arab Bank (UAB) was established as a joint venture between UAE investors and Société Générale (SG), a French international financial conglomerate. Headquartered in Sharjah, the branch has six branches located across the UAE. Two of these are in Dubai — Al Quoz Branch, and Deira Branch, whose contact details are given below:
Address: Al Salamiyah Tower, Baniyas Rd, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 800 474
Website: https://www.uab.ae/
Google Map:
8. RAK Bank
As the name says, RAK Bank is also known as the National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah. Established in 1976, it is one of the oldest banks in the UAE, offering personal, corporate, and business banking services. At present, RAK Bank has 21 branches situated across the UAE. Headquartered in Ras Al Khaimah, the bank has several branches in Dubai, including a branch in Deira, whose contact details are as follows:
Address: 33 4B Street, Deira, Riggat Al Buteen, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 4 213 0000
Website: https://rakbank.ae/wps/portal/retail-banking
Google Map:
List of Lending Companies / Private Lenders
In addition to banks, we found a couple of lending companies that are licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE: Finance House, and Mawarid Finance. You can consider them as options when applying for a cash loan.
1. Finance House
Finance House was established on 13th March 2004, and began its operations on 18th July 2004. It is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE. Notably, this company is known as one of the first “independent’ finance companies in the UAE, focusing on investments, consumer, and commercial financing. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, Finance House has branches in Sharjah and Dubai, whose contact details are given below:
Address: G floor, Al Kuthban Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Interchange No 3, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 4 407 5000
Email: customerservice@fh.ae
Website: http://www.financehouse.ae/
Google Map:
2. Mawarid Finance
Established in 2006 in Dubai, Mawarid Finance is an Islamic finance and investments group, also licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE. Despite its “young” age, this ISO-certified company has already garnered several awards, both inside and outside the UAE. It caters to individuals as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who are looking for cash loans.
Address: Al Sayyah Building, Showroom No. 1 Ground and Mezzanine (Beside Etisalat Branch), Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 4 304 0888
Email: info@mawarid.ae
Website: http://mawarid.ae/
Google Map:
The Bottom Line
As you can see, there are many options with regard to getting an urgent cash loan in Dubai. There are banks as well as non-banks (lending companies, private lenders, etc.). These companies differ in terms of requirements, interest rates, and other factors. And so, it is important that you do your research before applying for a loan.
More importantly, we encourage you to deal with licensed companies only, particularly those that are licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE. This way, you can rest assured that you are dealing with legit companies. And as much as possible, avoid “loan sharks” and their extremely high rates and “questionable” practices!
Other than applying for a cash loan, you could also strive to increase your income and save more money for emergencies. Check out these tips for earning more while working in Dubai.