Home SWIFT/BIC code United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code AE in positions 5-6
- Example
- EBILAEAD
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + AE (country) + 2-character location code, plus an optional 3-character branch code
- An 8-character code (or one ending XXX) refers to the bank's head office, commonly in Dubai or Abu Dhabi
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read AE, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}AE[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A UAE SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer, alongside the UAE’s own 23-character IBAN, which the country adopted to support cross-border payments into its fast-growing banking sector. Every UAE BIC has AE fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s largest banks split their head offices between the two financial centres that anchor the federation’s economy: Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Major UAE bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates NBD | EBILAEAD | Dubai |
| First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) | NBADAEAA | Abu Dhabi |
| Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank | ADCBAEAA | Abu Dhabi |
How this validator works
This tool checks that the code is 8 or 11 characters, the first 4 characters are letters, positions 5-6 read AE, and the location and optional branch segments use only letters and digits — entirely in your browser, with nothing sent to a server.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
A pass confirms the code fits the UAE BIC pattern, not that EBIL, NBAD, or ADCB still identifies an operating bank, or that the branch suffix is current. A BIC has no checksum digit, so a fabricated code that matches the shape still validates.
Scope: format validation only. UAE transfers typically also need the 23-character IBAN, which carries its own separate mod-97 checksum — validate both before relying on either.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a UAE bank?
A UAE BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, AE fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example EBILAEAD for Emirates NBD's Dubai head office.
How do I read a UAE BIC?
In NBADAEAA, NBAD identifies First Abu Dhabi Bank (from its former name National Bank of Abu Dhabi), AE is the country, and AA is the Abu Dhabi location code.
Does an 8-character code work for a UAE bank?
Yes — the 8-character BIC and its 11-character form ending XXX both identify the bank's head office and are accepted interchangeably.