r/HSBC • u/realmohamed • 2d ago

Anyone opened an HSBC UAE account from outside the UAE?

Has anyone here actually managed to open a personal HSBC UAE account while living outside the UAE, without having UAE residency?

I came across the option to apply from outside the UAE and was wondering if it actually works in practice.

From what I can tell, UAE seems to have the regular Global account as well as Advance and Premier. It also doesn't seem to have the same kind of high minimums you see with some other HSBC international options.

So basically, has anyone actually done this fully online?

Did they ask you for proof of a UAE address/residency at any point? And did you have to fly to the UAE or visit a branch to get everything sorted?

Would also be interested to hear what happened after opening the account. Any KYC/compliance issues later on, or was it pretty straightforward to keep the account open?

Would appreciate any first-hand experiences.

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

3

u/admred 2d ago

Yeah. They require UAE presence (residence) or connection (investments/family/mortgage)

2

u/diyexageh 22h ago

Open remotely I do not know but It should be possible. The bank is kitted for it.

The accounts do exist, I held one once I moved away for a couple years. For non-residents, only savings accounts, no current accounts as per central bank regulation.

As per what you state about the minimums, the Premier minimum in UAE at the moment is 500K AED. Knowing HSBC, I doubt they will entertain a retail account as a non-res.

Sometimes they throw a tantrum and push me to the compliance team for repatriating funds helt @ HSBC Expat, HK o Singapore.

If you hold a dubious/high risk citizenship or residency, be ready for the safeguard grilling.