Comparison

UP by CBD vs Mal Digital

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

Head to head
About

UP by CBD

This mobile banking app offers UAE businesses a fast and compliant way to manage finances. Open an account in minutes, get instant credit cards, and handle payments, payroll, and more with clear pricing.

Highlights
  • Instant business account opening
  • Immediate credit card access
  • Zero-balance account option
  • Local and international payments
  • WPS payroll management
  • Secure login and authentication
Features
Read full description

UP by CBD is a mobile business bank from Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD), built for micro and small businesses to easily apply for an account in minutes & start operating immediately. UP by CBD combines the agility of a mobile bank with the strength of CBD, backed by over 50 years of experience supporting businesses in the UAE. Key Features Apply for a business account in minutes with seamless DUL integration (Dubai unified licence) Instant credit card from day one with higher credit limits as your business grows Zero-balance account, giving businesses the flexibility to select a tailored subscription plan. Make local and international payments, manage cards, run payroll (WPS), and stay on top of your finances — all with clear, simple pricing. Your money and data are protected with secure login, strong authentication, and real-time controls. Bank confidently with a fully licensed UAE bank regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE. Why UP by CBD? UP by CBD brings together everything your business needs - from a current account and access to credit to payroll, transfers and savings - in one unified, mobile-first business banking experience, backed by over 50 years of CBD experience supporting businesses in the UAE. Through CBD’s collaboration with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), you also get access to programmes and initiatives like Dubai Founders HQ and SME in a Box — helping you grow and scale. Who is it for? Small businesses and startups in the UAE seeking a fast, fully compliant mobile business banking experience. Business owners and consultants choosing a simple, seamless way to manage business finances - from faster invoicing and spend tracking to cashflow visibility and actionable insights. Employers managing WPS payroll while ensuring compliance with UAE labour regulations. Get started in minutes Download the UP by CBD app. Share your personal and business details to get set up. Start banking right away and take the next step in growing your business.

About

Mal Digital

An AI-first digital bank designed with Islamic values, offering a modern approach to managing your finances. It helps you understand spending, send money internationally, and save for goals, all within one intuitive platform.

Highlights
  • AI-first banking experience
  • Islamic values guided
  • International money transfers
  • Spending analysis
  • Savings goals
  • Zakat calculation
Features
Read full description

Meet Mal. A fully digital, AI-first bank built for people who expect banking to be better. Not another bank with AI added on top. Not the old system in a new app. Mal is built from scratch, guided by Islamic values, and open to everyone. Because waiting 14 business days, printing forms, and hearing “please visit your nearest branch” was not the future we were promised. Need to send money abroad? Ask Mal. Need to understand your spending? Ask Mal. And this is just the beginning. Mal helps you ask, understand, and act in one place, with answers shaped around your budget, spending, and goals. See where your salary went. Check if you’re spending more than you think. Save for Hajj or Umrah. Calculate your Zakat. Handle your money without needing a finance degree. Built on Islamic values. Designed for the world. Made for everyday life. Join the waitlist today and experience banking that moves at the speed of your life, not a legacy system. Mal. Fair by design

Screenshots

UP by CBD4 screens
Mal Digital4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Mal Digital at every 2 days against UP by CBD's fortnightly. On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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 — 5.0 for UP by CBD against 5.0 for Mal Digital. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

UP by CBD ships an update fortnightly, Mal Digital every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
UP by CBD versus Mal Digital: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUP by CBDMal Digital
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size181 MB312 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperCommercial Bank of DubaiMalBank

Customer experience

UP by CBD

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Mal Digital

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

UP by CBD

No in-app purchases

None

Mal Digital

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is UP by CBD free?
UP by CBD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mal Digital free?
Mal Digital is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, UP by CBD or Mal Digital?
UP by CBD and Mal Digital are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do UP by CBD or Mal Digital have ads?
Neither UP by CBD nor Mal Digital shows ads.
Which is updated more often, UP by CBD or Mal Digital?
UP by CBD ships an update fortnightly, and Mal Digital every 2 days. Most recently, UP by CBD was updated on September 26, 2026 and Mal Digital on September 18, 2026.

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