UAE has a number of foreign banks -mainly from the UK - plus UAE banks. Note under the Ministry of Labour Wage Protection System (ministerial decree no. 788 of 2009) that if you hold a UAE Labour Card your wages must be deposited into a UAE bank in Dirham. This is designed to protect workers from not being paid.

Most bank branches have traditional banking hours e.g. 9 am - 3 pm. Some have extended hours into 8 pm at night, others have just a small outlet in a mall shop front for their extended service hours.

Typically they have separate counters & staff for customers with higher salaries, and offer a "relationship manager" to help navigate their arcane banking system.

The biggest difference is the requirement for signed pre-dated cheques for e.g. quarterly housing lease, monthly car payment. Usually the only cheques you will use, and they have a strong status in law: it is a crime to bounce a cheque.

Banks have modern technology for deposit: specialized ATMS that can read the value of cash notes, and for cheques provide a scan view on the ATM receipt.