An IBAN — International Bank Account Number — is just your regular bank account number wrapped in a standard format that any bank in the world can read unambiguously. It exists because "account number 1234567" means nothing outside the bank that issued it; an IBAN adds a country code and a couple of check digits so a transfer from Karachi or London lands in the right account on the first try, not the third.
How an IBAN is built
Every IBAN starts with a two-letter country code, then two check digits the receiving bank uses to catch typos automatically, then the actual account details — a bank code and your account number, formatted according to that country's rules. Length varies by country: a UAE IBAN is 23 characters, a Saudi one is 24, a UK one is 22.
A UAE IBAN looks like this: AE (country) + 2 check digits + 3-digit bank code + 16-digit account number — 23 characters total, always starting with AE. You'll see it written with no spaces in your banking app, sometimes with spaces every four characters on a printed statement.
Where to find your IBAN at a UAE bank
The fastest route is almost always your bank's mobile app — look under account details or statements, where the IBAN is usually shown alongside your account number. If you can't find it there:
- Emirates NBD: shown on the account summary screen in the app, and on any printed statement.
- ADCB: available under account details in ADCB Active Mobile, or on a chequebook.
- ADIB: shown in the ADIB Mobile app's account information screen.
- FAB (First Abu Dhabi Bank): listed under account details in the FAB app, or on a statement.
- Mashreq: available in the Mashreq Neo app under account information.
- DIB (Dubai Islamic Bank): shown in the DIB app's account details, or on a chequebook.
If your app doesn't show it clearly, a quick call to the bank or a branch visit will get it in minutes — every bank can look it up instantly from your account number.
How timing and delays connect to your IBAN
A wrong digit in the IBAN is the single most common reason an international transfer gets delayed or bounces back entirely — the receiving bank's system rejects it before the money ever reaches an account. Double-checking the IBAN before you send is worth more than any other single step for avoiding a delay.
Assuming the IBAN is correct, transfer timing depends mostly on the method: a SWIFT bank wire typically takes one to three working days, while exchange houses and digital apps to popular corridors are often same-day or faster. Delays beyond the normal window usually trace back to one of a few causes — a mismatched recipient name, a compliance check on a larger amount, or a public holiday in either country's banking calendar. If you're moving money between your own UAE bank accounts specifically, our guide to transferring between UAE banks covers that process in more depth.