Comparison

Dubai First vs ADCB.

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.

This AI-powered mobile banking app offers a fast, intuitive, and secure way to manage your finances. It provides seamless navigation for all banking needs, from everyday transactions to investments, all within a single platform.

Highlights
  • AI-powered smart banking
  • Faster, seamless experience
  • Intuitive end-to-end journeys
  • All-in-one banking
  • Investment and trading
  • Secure and convenient access
Features
Read full description

Welcome to a new era of banking. Powered by AI. Shaped by you. The new ADCB Mobile Banking App is powered by advanced AI and built with a next-generation digital experience, making banking faster, more intuitive, and seamlessly connected to your everyday needs. Designed to simplify the way you manage your finances, the app brings together intelligent features, seamless navigation, and secure access, all in one place. AI-powered smart banking Experience smarter banking with advanced AI that provides intuitive prompts and helps you complete tasks quickly across a wide range of services. Faster, more seamless experience View and manage your accounts, cards, loans, and services in one place, with improved speed, smoother navigation, and quicker access to what matters most. Intuitive end-to-end journeys Every journey has been redesigned to be simpler, clearer, and easier to complete, from everyday transactions to more advanced banking needs. All-in-one banking Open accounts, apply for products, manage your cards, and build your investment portfolio, all within one secure app. Investment and trading Access global markets directly from the app and trade US equities, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies with real-time market data. Secure and convenient access Sign in quickly using biometrics or UAE Pass, with enhanced security built into every interaction. This is just the beginning. The ADCB Mobile Banking App will continue to evolve with every update, becoming more intuitive, more helpful, and more personalised over time. A smarter way to bank, built around your daily life.

Screenshots

Dubai First4 screens
ADCB.4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: ADCB. at none against Dubai First's shown. ADCB. also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, review sentiment 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

Dubai First holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ADCB. has 2.9K ratings behind it against 412, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 21% of Dubai First's written reviews are positive against 22% of ADCB.'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dubai First ships an update every 3 weeks, ADCB. weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Dubai First versus ADCB.: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDubai FirstADCB.
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (412 ratings) — better4.5 (2.9K ratings)
Positive reviews21.1% of reviews22.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4122.9K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size344 MB163 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFirst Abu Dhabi BankADCB

Customer experience

Dubai First

All ratings412 ratings
Positive91.0%
Neutral2.4%
Negative6.6%
Written reviews38 reviews
Positive21.1%
Neutral10.5%
Negative68.4%

ADCB.

All ratings2,885 ratings
Positive86.2%
Neutral2.4%
Negative11.4%
Written reviews211 reviews
Positive22.3%
Neutral3.8%
Negative73.9%

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.

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Dubai First

No in-app purchases

None

ADCB.

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dubai First free?
Dubai First is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ADCB. free?
ADCB. is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Dubai First or ADCB.?
Dubai First is rated higher. Dubai First averages 4.6 out of 5 from 412 ratings, while ADCB. averages 4.5 from 2.9K ratings.
Do Dubai First or ADCB. have ads?
Dubai First shows ads; ADCB. does not.
Which is updated more often, Dubai First or ADCB.?
Dubai First ships an update every 3 weeks, and ADCB. weekly. Most recently, Dubai First was updated on October 22, 2026 and ADCB. on October 24, 2026.

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