Buying real estate in Dubai or concluding a major transaction in the UAE always raises an important question: how to process payments correctly, ensuring both the funds are secure and the seller is confident in the payment? This is where the manager’s check comes into play —one of the most reliable and sought-after tools in the Emirates.
If cash is too risky for large transactions, and international transfers often take a long time and come with high fees, a manager’s check is the golden mean. Developers require it when purchasing apartments, companies use it when renting and purchasing equipment, and government agencies accept it when paying duties.
But to obtain this tool, you need to understand how to open a manager check in Dubai , what steps a foreigner must take, what documents to prepare, and which banks are easiest to do this at.
What is a check manager in a nutshell?
A manager check is a check issued and guaranteed by a bank. Unlike a personal check, it doesn’t depend on having funds in your account when you present it: the funds are debited in advance and reserved by the bank. This means the recipient is 100% guaranteed payment.
In Dubai, a manager’s cheque is used for:
-
purchase and reservation of real estate;
-
rent payments (often a year in advance);
-
large corporate contracts;
-
payment of state and legal fees.
Do I need to open an account to receive a manager check?
Yes. To issue a manager’s check at a Dubai bank, you will need a UAE bank account . Most often, a current account.
Without an invoice, the manager will not issue a check, as the bank is obligated to write off the money in advance and block it until it is presented.
What documents does a foreigner need?
To open an account and then receive a manager check, you will need a standard package of documents:
-
Passport with a valid UAE visa or entry stamp.
-
An Emirates ID card (if available). Required for residents; some banks accept investor or work visas for non-residents.
-
Proof of address (e.g. lease agreement or utility bills).
-
Source of income or origin of funds. Banks may request a bank statement from your country or a certificate of income.
-
A real estate purchase and sale agreement or other basis for obtaining a receipt (if a receipt is needed for a specific transaction).
Important: Requirements may vary from bank to bank. Emirates NBD, Mashreq, ADCB, and other major banks are quite flexible with foreign investors, but verification will still be required.
Step-by-step guide: how to open a check manager in Dubai
1. Opening a bank account
-
sеlect a bank (often Emirates NBD, Mashreq, ADCB, First Abu Dhabi Bank).
-
Submit documents and go through the verification procedure (KYC).
-
Make a deposit (the minimum amount may vary from 3,000 to 10,000 dirhams, depending on the bank and tariff).
2. Account replenishment
To issue a manager check, the funds must be in your dirham account. If you have rubles or hryvnia, they must be exchanged and deposited into your AED account.
3. Submitting an application for a manager’s check
-
At the bank branch, a form is filled out: the amount, the recipient (for example, a developer or a government agency), and the purpose are indicated.
-
A bank employee writes off money from the account and reserves it.
4. Receiving a check
-
The bank manager issues you a check in paper form.
-
The check contains the recipient’s name, amount, bank details and signatures of authorized persons.
-
This receipt can be immediately transferred to the developer or partner.
How long does the process take?
-
Account opening – from 1 to 5 business days.
-
Issue of manager check – usually on the same day, sometimes it takes several hours.
Thus, if the account is already open, the question of ” how to open a manager check in Dubai quickly ” is resolved in literally a day.
How much does it cost to issue a manager check?
Banks charge a fixed fee. Typically, it’s 25–150 dirhams per check , depending on the bank and amount. For large transactions, this isn’t much, but you get an official and secure payment instrument.
Important nuances to consider
-
A check cannot be cancelled. Once it’s written, the money has already been debited from your account.
-
The check is personalized. Only the person in whose name it is made out (for example, the developer Emaar or Damac) can receive it.
-
The commission is charged separately. Even if you have premium service, the bank still charges a fixed fee.
-
The origin of the funds needs to be verified, especially if millions of dirhams are involved.
A practical example
Oleg from Kyiv decided to buy an apartment in Dubai for AED 950,000. To pay for the transaction, the developer required a check. Oleg opened an account with Emirates NBD, deposited the funds in dirhams, and ordered a check made payable to the developer. The very next day, he had the document, which he presented at the sales office. The transaction went smoothly, and the developer was confident in the security of the payment.
Result
A manager check is a must-have tool for transactions in the UAE, especially when it comes to purchasing real estate.
To get it, you need to:
-
open an account in a Dubai bank,
-
credit money in dirhams,
-
submit an application for issuing a check.
Thus, the question of how to open a manager check at a Dubai bank is resolved quickly and easily: simply prepare the documents, sеlect a bank, and complete the procedure at a branch. After that, you’ll have a reliable tool for paying for an apartment, villa, or any major contract in the Emirates.
