UAE Savings & Fixed Deposit Rates Compared — Weekly Reference (AED)
Updated: 10 hours ago
This page updates every week because the numbers on it never sit still. As of 17 September 2026, the story is much the same as last week with a couple of real moves: Mashreq's NEO Plus Saver is still the outright leader at 6.25% p.a. for salary-transfer customers, RAKislamic's 'saad' campaign now advertises up to 6.5% p.a. bonus profit with AED 4,000 cashback (extended to 30 September 2026 — it closes in under two weeks), and Liv.'s Max Goal Account has re-priced down to 4.00% p.a. on salary transfer — noticeably lower than the 6% campaign rate that ran here last week, so if you moved money for that offer, it's worth checking your statement.
This is a reference, not advice: it lays out what UAE banks are currently paying on AED savings accounts and fixed deposits, who qualifies, and what actually moves the number in your favour.
Savings accounts (AED) — rates as of 17 September 2026
Rates as of 17 September 2026 — indicative, verify with the bank.
Bank | Product | Type | Best rate | Access | Min balance | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mashreq | NEO Plus Saver | Conventional | 6.25% p.a. | Flexible (max 2 debits/mo) | AED 50,000 avg | Salary ≥AED 10,000/mo; ongoing rate, no stated expiry |
RAKBANK | RAKislamic Savings — 'saad' campaign | Islamic (Mudaraba) | Up to 6.5% p.a. | Instant, no min. balance (first 3mo) | None (first 3 months) | AED 4,000 cashback on salary transfer; extended to 30 Sep 2026 |
Wio Bank | Salary Plan Fixed Saving Space | Conventional | 6.00% p.a. (1-month space) | Fixed spaces, 1–12 months | None stated | Salary ≥AED 15,000/mo (or ≥AED 5,000 partner-company); AED 5,000+ card spend/mo |
Liv. (Emirates NBD) | Max Goal Account — salary transfer | Conventional | 4.00% p.a. | Instant | None | Re-priced this cycle — was a 6% campaign rate last week; verify current tier on Liv's own page |
FAB | iSave Account | Conventional | 5.60% p.a. on new funds | Instant, unlimited | None | Promo 1 Sep–31 Dec 2026, new funds only, capped AED 100M/customer; existing balances earn 4% |
Wio Bank | Flexible Saving Space | Conventional | 3.25% p.a. | Instant (no lock-in) | None | No salary condition, no minimum balance |
Emirates Islamic | Booster Wakala Deposit | Islamic (Wakala) | Up to 3.25% p.a. | Term (Wakala) | Varies by tier | Unchanged this cycle |
DIB | Al Islami Savings Account | Islamic (Mudaraba) | 0.12% p.a. (Q2 2026 declared rate) | Instant | AED 1,000 | 'Bigger Earnings' campaign (up to 6.60%) ended 31 Aug 2026; reverted to standard declared rate |
Fixed deposits (AED) — rates as of 17 September 2026
Rates as of 17 September 2026 — indicative, verify with the bank.
Bank | Product | Type | Rate (p.a.) | Tenor options | Min deposit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wio Bank | Fixed Saving Spaces | Conventional | 3.25%–6.00% | 1–12 months | None | Best rate on 1-month salary-linked spaces (conditional, see savings table) |
ADCB | Islamic Wakala Deposit | Islamic (Wakala) | Up to 4.25% | Varies by tenor | AED 5,000 / USD 1,500 | Expected profit rate |
FAB | AED Fixed Deposit | Conventional | 2.85%–4.00% | 1–12 months | AED 5,000 | Advantage FD up to 4.00% |
ADCB | Fixed Deposit (Regular / Advantage / Upfront) | Conventional | 2.75%–4.00% | 1–60 months | AED 5,000 | Advantage FD carries the top conventional rate |
RAKBANK | Fixed Deposit / FD Plus | Conventional | ~3.75% | 12–24 months | AED 10,000 | Best rate at 12–24 month tenors |
HSBC UAE | Term Deposit | Conventional | Up to 3.50% | 3–12 months | AED 10,000 | Standard AED rate; promotional bands run higher |
Liv. (Emirates NBD) | Instant Interest Fixed Deposit | Conventional | 2.25% (standard) / 3.50% (salary transfer) | 1–12 months | AED 5,000 salary transfer to qualify for bonus | Extra 0.5% credited upfront on the salary-transfer tier |
Emirates Islamic | Wakala term deposit | Islamic (Wakala) | 3.00%–3.25% | 3–60 months | AED 25,000 | Consistent with Booster Wakala savings figure |
DIB | Wakala term deposit | Islamic (Wakala) | 0.35%–0.48% | 1–12 months | AED 25,000 | Q2 2026 declared rates: 1mo 0.35%, 3mo 0.38%, 6mo 0.43%, 9mo 0.45%, 12mo 0.48% |
Emirates NBD | AED Fixed Deposit | Conventional | Up to 3.25% | 1–60 months | AED 10,000 | Aggregator-sourced; confirm with branch |
How to read this table
A conventional account pays interest; an Islamic (Wakala or Mudaraba) account pays a declared profit rate instead — economically similar for a saver, structured differently under Sharia. Wakala accounts often declare a rate quarterly (like DIB's), so the figure you see today can be lower next quarter even with no promotion involved.
Headline rates almost always carry a condition — salary transfer (a minimum monthly salary credited to that account), a minimum card spend, a balance cap above which the bonus rate stops applying, or a promo window after which the rate reverts to a much lower standard rate — DIB's savings account is the clearest example on this page: 6.60% during the campaign, 0.12% after it ended.
Who each option suits
Salaried expat who can transfer salary: Mashreq NEO Plus Saver or RAKislamic 'saad' — both ≥6% right now and don't require locking money away.
Saver who won't move their salary: FAB iSave's 5.60% new-funds promo or Wio's no-condition 3.25% Flexible Saving Space are the honest no-strings options.
Someone parking a lump sum for a fixed term: compare ADCB's Islamic Wakala (up to 4.25%) against Wio's Fixed Saving Spaces before locking in — check the early-withdrawal penalty either way.
Islamic-banking-only savers: RAKislamic and Emirates Islamic currently offer the most competitive profit rates in that lane; DIB's is temporarily the weakest until its next declared-rate reset.
The number that actually matters isn't the biggest one in the marketing email — it's the one you still qualify for after you read the conditions. I check the fine print on every 6%+ headline before I move a single dirham.
What changes the number
Salary transfer: the single biggest lever — often the difference between a ~1% base rate and a 4–6.5% headline rate.
Promo windows: campaign rates (DIB's 6.60%, RAKBANK's 'saad') are time-boxed; the rate you see today may not exist next month.
Balance size and tier: many digital-bank rates only apply up to a cap, or scale up on higher Max/Elite tiers (see Liv.'s Classic-vs-Max split above).
Islamic declared-rate resets: Wakala/Mudaraba profit rates are typically reset quarterly by the bank's Sharia board — check the 'as of' quarter, not just the headline percentage.
Frequently asked questions
Are these rates available to expats and non-residents?
Most products require UAE residency and a valid Emirates ID. Some banks run separate non-resident products at different rates — verify eligibility with the bank before applying.
How safe are UAE bank deposits?
The UAE Central Bank operates a deposit protection scheme covering AED 1 million per depositor per institution. Every bank listed above is CBUAE-licensed and regulated.
Why did Liv.'s salary-transfer rate drop from 6% to 4% this week?
Liv.'s own current rates page lists 4.00% p.a. on the Max Goal Account with salary transfer; last week's 6% figure appears to have been a shorter promotional window that has since ended. Always check Liv.'s live rates page before moving funds on the strength of an older screenshot.
What's the best no-conditions savings account right now?
Wio's Flexible Saving Space (3.25% p.a., no salary transfer or minimum balance) is the cleanest no-strings option. FAB's iSave new-funds promo (5.60% through 31 Dec 2026) pays more but only on fresh money, capped at AED 100M per customer.
How is a savings 'profit rate' different from a fixed deposit rate?
A savings account rate applies to a balance you can generally still access; a fixed deposit locks the sum for a set tenor in exchange for a rate that's usually higher and more predictable, with an early-withdrawal penalty if you break the term.
Pair it with
If you're weighing a mortgage alongside where to park savings, see our companion page: UAE mortgage & home loan rates compared.
Sources
Mashreq NEO · FAB iSave · RAKBANK 'saad' · Wio Salary Plan · Liv. interest rates · DIB profit rate · CBUAE
— Angel Tyagi, Creator of Angel In Dubai
Rates, promotions and conditions may change without notice — always confirm directly with the bank before opening an account or moving funds. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
Photo credits: DIFC/bank-branch imagery via Wix media library.
Rates and figures here are indicative and were correct as of 16 September 2026; they change often, so verify with the provider before acting. This is general information, not financial advice.
Rules, fees and deadlines change often. This is a general summary, not legal advice — confirm with the relevant UAE authority before acting.
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