Comparison

Dubai First vs ADCB | Nomo UAE

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Dubai First

Manage your credit card with ease through a mobile-first digital experience. Track spending, view rewards, access statements, and control your card with instant updates and security features. Apply for a new card in minutes with a seamless, paperless onboarding process.

Highlights
  • Digital onboarding
  • Transaction tracking
  • Rewards management
  • Card bill payment
  • Instant transaction updates
  • Card activation and PIN setup
  • Freeze/unfreeze card
Features
Read full description

SEAMLESS DIGITAL ONBOARDING JOURNEY Dubai First offers a mobile-first experience, now with a seamless digital onboarding journey. No in-person meetings. No paperwork. Just your mobile and Emirates ID. Download the app and apply in less than two minutes. Apply today through the app and get exciting welcome offers. For the latest offers, visit dubaifirst.com. MOBILE BANKING FOR SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE Track spending, view rewards, access monthly statements, and enjoy many other features available only in the App. Digital Onboarding Journey Dubai First offers a mobile-first experience, now with a seamless digital onboarding journey. No in-person meetings. No paperwork. Just your mobile and Emirates ID. Download the app and apply in less than two minutes. Card Management • Instant updates on your transactions. • View your digital card • Review of purchases by category. • Easy check of available spending limit. • Monthly statements in the App. Rewards At A Glance • Real-time update of Cashback earnings • Up-to-date information on your rewards. • Instant redemption of Cashback. Card Services • Card bill payment directly from the App. • Application for supplementary card • Instant conversion of transactions into installments. • Instant booking of Balance Transfer and Quick Cash. • Payment plans progress overview In-App Control & Security • In-app card activation • instant PIN setup/ change • Freeze and unfreeze card function • Login with biometrics for extra security. To enjoy Dubai First Mobile App, you must be an existing Dubai First customer. Apply for your Dubai First Card today WARNING If you make only the minimum repayment/payment each period, you will pay more in interest/profit/fees and it will take you longer to pay off your outstanding balance.

About

ADCB | Nomo UAE

Access a UK digital bank account with multi-currency spending, international transfers, and savings options. Invest in UK property with tailored finance solutions. Manage your finances globally with a Sharia-compliant digital banking app.

Highlights
  • Fee-free multi-currency spending
  • Easy international transfers
  • UK-based savings accounts
  • UK property investment finance
  • Digital account opening
  • Sharia-compliant banking
Features
Read full description

Think global, bank local, with a UK digital bank account from Nomo, in partnership with ADCB. Nomo by Bank of London and The Middle East plc (“BLME”) is a trading name of BLME. Bank of London and The Middle East plc DIFC Branch is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”) as a Category 4 Authorised Firm. The registered office is Office 2904, Level 29, Al Fattan Currency House, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai, UAE, PO Box 506557 is DFSA Firm Reference Number F0003552. When you join Nomo, you’ll have access to fee-free multi-currency spending, easy international transfers, UK-based savings accounts, and exciting property investment opportunities. Apply for an account digitally from your smartphone. Kindly note that the Nomo Bank account is provided by Bank of London and The Middle East (BLME) rather than ADCB. SPEND Pay like a local with your debit card or Apple Pay in six currencies – GBP, USD, EUR, KWD, AED, SAR – and avoid international card fees when you’re travelling abroad. SEND Send money abroad in multiple currencies from the app. GBP transfers to UK personal and business bank accounts are fee-free, and transfers in other currencies have low, flat fees. SAVE Diversify your income and earn multi-currency profits with GBP, USD and EUR Fixed Term Deposits. PROPERTY FINANCE Receive finance to buy a UK property, either as an investment or as a home for your family. Joint and sole applications and available, as well as refinance for existing UK property owners.* Security with Nomo Ensuring your money and data are safe is a top priority for us. Nomo is part of Boubyan Bank and a trading name of BLME (Bank of London and The Middle East plc), which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the PRA. Nomo deposits via BLME of up to £85,000 are therefore protected by the FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme). Please refer to the FSCS website for further information at www.fscs.org.uk. Why ADCB | Nomo? We believe that your international, fast-paced lifestyle should be matched with instant access to amazing banking products wherever you are in the world. Nomo’s seamless banking tools allow you to live locally and think globally. Wherever our clients go, they take their financial freedom with them thanks to our Sharia-compliant digital banking app. We’re working hard to bring digital excellence to the world of Islamic banking, through cutting-edge technology that lets customers manage their money on their terms. It takes just minutes to open a Nomo account, so download the app and begin your journey now! *Properties in England and Wales only. Your property may be at risk if you do not keep up the payments on your Nomo Property Finance

Screenshots

Dubai First4 screens
ADCB | Nomo UAE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: ADCB | Nomo UAE at none against Dubai First's shown. ADCB | Nomo UAE also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 22%) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Dubai First's advantage is ratings volume (410 vs 109) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Dubai First against 4.7 for ADCB | Nomo UAE. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 410 and 109 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 22% of Dubai First's written reviews are positive against 50% of ADCB | Nomo UAE's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dubai First ships an update every 2 weeks, ADCB | Nomo UAE fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Dubai First versus ADCB | Nomo UAE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDubai FirstADCB | Nomo UAE
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (410 ratings)4.7 (109 ratings) — better
Positive reviews21.6% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings410 — better109
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size343 MB167 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFirst Abu Dhabi BankBLME

Customer experience

Dubai First

All ratings410 ratings
Positive91.0%
Neutral2.4%
Negative6.6%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive21.6%
Neutral10.8%
Negative67.6%

ADCB | Nomo UAE

All ratings109 ratings
Positive92.7%
Neutral1.8%
Negative5.5%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Dubai First

Reported bugs

31 issues
  • Push notifications not working
  • App freezing or very slow
  • App freezing when trying to open
  • App asks to scan EID and card every time
  • App asks for credentials repeatedly
Show 26 more
  • App unrecognisable as new device requiring verification
  • App needs updating every time it's used
  • Buggy update causing new device detection
  • Constant login bugs and failures
  • App timeout too short
  • App has many bugs
  • Cannot pay credit card bill through debit card from another bank
  • Rewards not available most of the time
  • App is basic compared to other banks
  • Terms changed from free for life to annual paid
  • Incorrect balance shown
  • Hidden amounts not visible until statement
  • Cannot pay with foreign debit cards
  • App not working after update
  • Horrible, amateur, and lousy app
  • Login is a pain, messages have errors
  • Cannot access statements
  • Impossible to use service properly
  • App not signing in
  • Cannot see statement on web
  • Zero access to credit card statement
  • Very poorly designed and tested
  • Online website no longer exists
  • Many options log the user out
  • Password creation and login character mismatch
  • No option to view older statements

Requested features

7 requests
  • Spread update releases
  • Test app properly before releasing updates
  • Fix constant login bugs and failures
  • Increase app timeout duration
  • Allow payment of utility bills
Show 2 more
  • Allow payment with foreign debit cards
  • Bring back the online website

ADCB | Nomo UAE

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Dubai First

No in-app purchases

None

ADCB | Nomo UAE

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dubai First free?
Dubai First is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ADCB | Nomo UAE free?
ADCB | Nomo UAE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Dubai First or ADCB | Nomo UAE?
ADCB | Nomo UAE is rated higher. Dubai First averages 4.6 out of 5 from 410 ratings, while ADCB | Nomo UAE averages 4.7 from 109 ratings.
Do Dubai First or ADCB | Nomo UAE have ads?
Dubai First shows ads; ADCB | Nomo UAE does not.
Which is updated more often, Dubai First or ADCB | Nomo UAE?
Dubai First ships an update every 2 weeks, and ADCB | Nomo UAE fortnightly. Most recently, Dubai First was updated on September 19, 2026 and ADCB | Nomo UAE on September 21, 2026.

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