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UAE bans Iran's Bank Melli from operating in the country

The UAE's central bank said Wednesday that it had imposed sanctions on the Emirati branches of Iran's Bank Melli, accusing it of violating local laws including on money laundering and terrorism.

Reuters WORLD
Published September 23,2026 06:07 PM
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The United Arab Emirates' central bank on Wednesday barred Iran's Bank Melli from operating ⁠in the UAE, citing ⁠breaches of regulatory requirements.

The move follows the UAE's decision in August to suspend ⁠all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice.

Iran has attacked neighbouring countries allied to the US, including the UAE, since the start of the US war on Iran at the end of February.

Bank ⁠Melli ⁠began operating in the UAE in 1969 and has seven branches in the country across various emirates. Its main office is in Dubai, according to its website.

The UAE has historically ⁠been one of Iran's most critical economic lifelines and Dubai's banks have long held substantial Iranian-linked deposits, much of them immobilised under US sanctions.

It was not immediately clear ⁠whether ‌the ‌central bank's decision marked a ⁠widening of curbs ‌following US Treasury sanctions against Bank Melli.

The US Treasury ⁠did not immediately respond ⁠to a request for comment.