Before you start

An entry permit / residence visa being processed by your UAE employer (the medical and visa stamping must be underway or done)
Emirates ID — either the physical card or, for some banks, the application receipt with an already-stamped/e-visa
A UAE mobile number registered in your name (needed for OTP and app onboarding)
A salary certificate or employment letter from your employer if opening a salary-transfer account before your first WPS payroll run

Step-by-step

1
Let your employer finish your visa and Emirates ID first
The full current account is gated on the Emirates ID, so the real first step is your employer completing the residence-visa and Emirates ID process. If you need banking before the card issues, ask for a salary certificate/employment letter now — a few banks will start onboarding on passport + visa + that letter, but the account typically stays a limited savings account (no chequebook) until the Emirates ID is verified.
Via employerWho: You + your employer / PROUsually 1-4 weeks after arrival, depending on visa processingNo bank fee at this stage
2
Pick a bank and a salary-transfer (WPS) account
Choose FAB (the Abu Dhabi national bank), ADCB, Emirates NBD or Mashreq. Ask specifically for a salary-transfer current account: it usually waives the minimum monthly balance, whereas a non-salary current account commonly requires holding ~AED 3,000 and may charge a fall-below fee. Confirm your employer is on that bank's registered-companies list and that your net salary meets the threshold (commonly AED 5,000).
OnlineWho: YouSame day to decideAccount is free to open; salary accounts typically have no minimum-balance fee
3
Open the account digitally by scanning your Emirates ID
With the FAB, Emirates NBD or ADCB apps you can open an account in roughly 10 minutes: scan the front and back of your Emirates ID, take a selfie / pass a liveness check that matches the federal ID record, and confirm your details. Approved applicants get an IBAN on the spot; the physical debit card is couriered to your UAE address within a few business days. A branch visit is the fallback if app verification fails.
Mobile appWho: You~10 minutes; IBAN instant, debit card in a few business daysFree
4
Hand your IBAN to HR to register you in WPS
Give your new IBAN to HR so they add you to the Wage Protection System (WPS) Salary Information File. WPS is the Central Bank / MoHRE framework requiring private-sector wages to be paid electronically through approved banks. Once your first WPS salary credit lands, the salary-transfer benefits (waived minimum balance, salary-linked offers, eligibility for loans/cards) switch on.
Via employerWho: Your employer's payroll/HRActivates on your first payroll cycle (typically by the next month-end)No cost to you

Documents you’ll need

Original Emirates ID (or the Emirates ID application receipt plus a stamped/e-residence visa, accepted by some banks)
Passport with the UAE residence-visa page / entry stamp
Salary certificate or employment letter from your UAE employer (especially before your first WPS run)
UAE mobile number, and sometimes proof of address (Tawtheeq tenancy contract or a recent utility bill) on a case-by-case basis

Things most newcomers don’t know

The Emirates ID, not the passport, is the real key — it unlocks instant in-app onboarding because banks verify it live against the federal identity record.

Newcomers assume a passport plus visa is enough. Without the Emirates ID you are usually limited to a savings account with no chequebook, so the smartest sequencing is to chase the Emirates ID first and open the bank account second.

Source: FAB Mobile onboarding / Gulf News banking guide

Ask explicitly for a 'salary-transfer' (WPS) account, not just 'a current account'.

Salary accounts waive the minimum-balance requirement and unlock loan/credit-card eligibility, while ordinary current accounts can charge a monthly fall-below fee if you dip under the minimum. The two look identical at the counter but cost very differently.

Source: ADCB / Emirates NBD salary account terms

Your salary account only 'works' if your employer is on that specific bank's registered-companies list.

Banks tie salary-account perks to companies they have onboarded for WPS. If your employer is not listed with the bank you chose, you may lose the fee waiver or have to switch banks — worth checking with HR before you open anything.

Source: ADCB salary-transfer offer terms

There is commonly a net-salary floor of about AED 5,000 for a salary-transfer account.

If your net WPS credit falls below the threshold (even when gross is higher), the bank can decline the salary-account benefits and treat it as a standard account with minimum-balance rules. Thresholds vary by bank, so confirm before committing.

Source: ADCB & Emirates NBD eligibility pages

Common mistakes to avoid

Trying to open a full current account before the Emirates ID issues — most banks will only give a limited savings account (no chequebook/debit card) until the card is verified.
Opening a plain current account instead of a salary-transfer account and getting hit with monthly minimum-balance / fall-below fees you did not expect.
Choosing a bank your employer is not registered with for WPS, which can void the salary-account fee waiver and force a switch.
Forgetting to update the bank when your residence visa / Emirates ID is renewed — banks freeze accounts linked to an expired Emirates ID.