FAB is the UAE's largest bank, with a Private Banking arm built for the local UHNW market. Vault is independent and fee-only, with assets held externally at Interactive Brokers. Here's the side-by-side on incentives, custody and access.
FAB Private Banking offers in-house mandates, structured products, FAB-branded funds, Lombard lending and bespoke structuring — full-service, RM-led, and priced individually. Vault charges a single flat management fee and never takes possession of client assets.
Side-by-side
Vault
USD 100,000 in liquid net wealth.
FAB
FAB Elite (mass-affluent) requires AED 500,000 TRB or AED 50,000/month salary. Private Banking is invitation-only, with no minimum AUM publicly disclosed — eligibility is established via the Private Banking desk directly.
Vault
Single flat management fee, decreasing with portfolio size. No transaction fees on the core, no custody fees, no commissions, no retrocessions.
FAB
Discretionary management, advisory, custody and per-trade commission rates are not publicly published; FAB directs prospects to the Private Banking desk for an individually negotiated rate card. Fund TERs, structured-product mark-ups and execution commissions sit on top.
Vault
Assets custodied with Interactive Brokers in your own name — fully segregated, SIPC + FDIC insured. Vault never takes possession of client funds.
FAB
Custody, safekeeping, settlement and asset-servicing are provided in-house by the FAB group. Assets sit on FAB's balance sheet or its custodian arrangements rather than in an independently segregated client account.
Vault
FSRA-regulated in ADGM (UAE) and CMA-licensed in Saudi Arabia (licence 25313-20).
FAB
Authorised and regulated by the UAE Central Bank, with investment activity overseen by the Securities & Commodities Authority (SCA). Group entities in Geneva, London, Paris and Singapore are separately regulated as booking centres.
Vault
Advisors are salaried, with bonuses tied to client outcomes and retention — never to product sales, transaction volume, or in-house fund flows.
FAB
Each client is assigned a relationship manager and wealth specialist; compensation incorporates revenue, AUM growth and product-mix targets — common across UAE bank private-banking divisions, though specific formulas are not disclosed publicly.
Vault
Globally diversified core via low-cost ETFs and bonds, plus a satellite with curated private-market opportunities, thematic strategies, and direct equity convictions.
FAB
Proprietary FAB funds, third-party global funds, structured products, securities brokerage via FAB Securities, real-estate solutions, Lombard lending, and discretionary mandates (including Shariah variants).
Vault
SmartCash earns daily interest in AED, USD, EUR, and GBP — no lock-ins, no teaser rates, no minimum balance to earn the headline rate.
FAB
Elite Savings and Elite Current accounts in multiple currencies; tiered rates vary by currency and balance and are quoted by relationship, not on a single published schedule.
Vault
Structured financial planning around your goals, cash flow, and family — delivered by a dedicated CFA- or CFP-qualified advisor, complimentary as part of the relationship.
FAB
RM-led, integrated with FAB Group's lending, treasury and asset-management offerings. Depth scales with relationship size; not a dedicated fiduciary-advisor engagement.
Why Vault
Custody
Vault never takes possession of client funds. Assets sit in your own account at IBKR — segregated, with SIPC and FDIC protection on the underlying.
Incentives
Vault advisors are salaried with bonuses tied to client outcomes and retention. No commissions, no kickbacks, no in-house product flows.
Regulation
Vault Wealth Limited is regulated by the FSRA in ADGM. Vault Saudi Limited Company is licensed by the CMA (licence 25313-20).
Entry point
A genuine private-wealth relationship without the seven-figure threshold that defines traditional private banking.
Investment access
Beyond the diversified core, Vault clients access curated private-market opportunities, thematic strategies, and direct convictions — the same shelf as larger institutions.
Planning
Goals, cash flow, risk, and family wealth — modelled end-to-end and reviewed continuously with a CFA- or CFP-qualified advisor who knows your name.
Cash
Multi-currency cash earning daily interest in AED, USD, EUR, and GBP. Withdraw anytime — no teaser rates, no minimums, no surprises.
Book a complimentary discovery session with a Vault advisor. We'll walk through your current setup, model the all-in cost, and show you exactly what a Vault relationship would look like — no obligation.
Sources & disclaimers
Comparison data is taken from each provider's publicly disclosed materials as of May 2026. Bank fee schedules, minimums, and product shelves change frequently — always verify current figures with each institution before deciding. Nothing on this page is a solicitation to switch providers or a representation that Vault is better suited to a particular individual's circumstances. For independent advice tailored to your situation, speak with a regulated wealth advisor.
