Finding out the balance of your salary card enables you to monitor your account’s funds and any salary payments in the UAE that have been made recently. Introduced by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the Ratibi Balance Check provides eligible employees with a convenient alternative to opening a traditional bank account to receive their wages. Cardholders can view their card balance on the dedicated online balance enquiry service.
The UAE Wage Protection System (WPS) also facilitates payment of salaries via Ratibi, which is a part of the UAE regulated payroll system. Knowing how to do it the right way can save time and prevent you from having to wade through unreliable third parties. This guide outlines how to find out the balance on your card, information you might require, and the steps to take when your pay isn’t as expected.
What Is a Ratibi Prepaid Card?
First Abu Dhabi Bank’s product, Ratibi, is a payroll prepaid card solution. It lets qualified workers receive their wages straight into their card, instead of opening up a typical bank account. FAB states that the card is payable at retailers and can be used to withdraw cash from ATMs via the ATM networks.
The card is linked to the employee’s payroll system. The UAE WPS framework is implemented through the financial system under the Central Bank of the UAE’s supervision, and FAB has adopted this approach by supporting both the WPS salary payment mechanism and some non-WPS salary payment mechanisms.
The UAE WPS was created to enable wages to be paid quickly and safely, the Central Bank says. It has a system that receives the wage information and monitors the transfer and disbursement of the wage funds to the participating agents.
As an employee, this basically is not a savings or checking account, but rather a card that is used for salary payments.
How to Check Your Ratibi Card Balance Online
The easiest official way is via the balance enquiry service directly from FAB’s Ratibi page.
FAB’s current Ratibi page has an “Existing Ratibi Card Holder?” section with a Ratibi Prepaid Card Balance Enquiry link. The link will lead cardholders to the Magnati domain prepaid card enquiry service.
Step-by-step process
- Go to the official FAB Ratibi page.
- Look for the section for those who already have Ratibi cards.
- Tap on Ratibi Prepaid Card Balance Enquiry.
- An official enquiry service will be established.
- Fill in the details provided in the portal.
- Fill out any security check displayed on the page.
- Fill in the enquiry and check the balance shown on the service.
The interesting part here is that FAB’s website is now connecting its Ratibi customers directly to the balance-enquiry service maintained by the prepaid-card issuer.
The prepaid enquiry service is also available from the information on FAB’s wider prepaid card. FAB explicitly states that it offers free online enquiry of its prepaid-card balances to its customers and names the Magnati enquiry portal.
Official balance enquiry:
What Information Do You Need?
The fields that are displayed on the enquiry portal may be different as the provider updates their system; it’s best to use the fields as they appear on the official portal and not the instructions from a non-official website.
Avoid providing PIN, OTP, full card details, Emirates ID, or other banking details on an unknown site just because it promises to tell you your salary-card balance.
Always start from the official FAB Ratibi page or another official FAB channel for security reasons. The balance-enquiry link is on the FAB product page.
This is where there is some confusion with a few third-party guides; they may have conflicting information regarding the number of card digits or extra information needed. This information may become stale when the interface for an issuer’s enquiries changes. The official service should then be used, as it is associated with the FAB.
Can You Check Ratibi Balance Through FAB Mobile?
Do not treat Ratibi like any other FAB bank account.
According to FAB, Ratibi is a prepaid payroll card that enables staff to get their salary even though they may not have a bank account. The bank also offers digital banking services to its traditional customers.
So, if you are using a Ratibi prepaid salary card, then the best place to begin is with the dedicated prepaid-card enquiry service to see how much money remains on your card.
This is not important as it is when you are searching for a normal FAB account balance option, as you may end up at the wrong service.
Ratibi Prepaid Card vs Regular FAB Bank Account
| Feature | Ratibi Prepaid Card | Regular FAB Bank Account |
| Account required | No traditional bank account required | Yes |
| Main purpose | Salary payments | General banking |
| Salary payment | Yes | Yes |
| Balance checking | Dedicated prepaid-card enquiry service | FAB digital banking channels |
| ATM withdrawals | Yes | Yes |
| Online purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Salary SMS alerts | Available | Depends on account/service |
| WPS support | Yes | Where applicable |
| Best suited for | Eligible salaried employees | Customers needing broader banking services |
Can You Receive an SMS When Your Salary Is Credited?
Yes. According to FAB, SMS notifications are sent for free for every salary credit to the Ratibi cardholders.
But this isn’t always a one-to-one correspondence between salary-credit SMS and on-demand balance enquiry.
The SMS message informs you that a Salary credit has taken place. It is not meant to replace checking what is currently available in the card after further purchases, withdrawals, etc. of cards.
When you need to know the actual balance at a specific time, please use the official prepaid-card enquiry service or another official service offered by FAB.
What If Your Salary Is Not Showing on the Card?
There are several potential reasons for the loss of a salary credit, and it is important not to instantly suspect the card is faulty.
The first thing to do is to check the salary date against your employer’s information. Both types of payments involve several stages and participants, but salary payments are initiated by the employer’s payroll system.
UAEWPS is the processor of wage information between employers, participating agents, and the labour-regulatory authorities, according to the Central Bank. It also gets confirmation and disbursement details from agents.
Check these points first.
Make sure your employer has filed your payroll.
The problem can be present prior to the employer submitting the payroll instruction to the card provider.
If you haven’t received the salary-credit SMS, then check. If you didn’t get the salary-credit SMS, then check.
According to FAB, Ratibi will send SMS alerts on salary credit.
Verify the balance using the official enquiry service.
This enables you to know whether a missing salary credit is due or if a balance has been altered due to spending or withdrawal.
If the issue is still not resolved, please get in touch with FAB.
FAB has a dedicated number for customers inthe UAE to call for customer service assistance.
Ratibi Customer Support Number
If FAB’s online enquiry service fails to function or if your salary does not show up as anticipated, FAB’s official contact page will have an employee dedicated to helping you with your Ratibi support.
For UAE customers who call from inside the UAE, FAB currently has:
Ratibi: 600 522298
For customers outside the UAE, FAB lists:
+971 2 4996279
Numerous numbers are on FAB’s official contact page, and these are considered better than numbers that have been copied from other websites.
If you contact support, be sure to have your card and relevant employment information on hand, but do not give out your PIN or one-time password to anyone who contacts you out of the blue.
Is Ratibi Part of the UAE Wage Protection System?
Salary payments can be made via the UAE Wage Protection System, or WPS for short, with Ratibi.
According to FAB, its Ratibi payroll service adheres to UAE WPS guidelines, while the bank offers payroll via WPS.
UAEWPS is a method introduced by the Central Bank of the UAE in 2009 to ensure that wages are paid out quickly, safely,y and securely, according to the Central Bank of the UAE. The system also allows for the monitoring of wage-related fund flows and payment information.
MoHRE is still collaborating with the Central Bank and financial institutions in the process of formulating the WPS framework. In December 2025, MoHRE announced an enhanced WPS system, aimed at enhancing digital salary payment processes and transparency.
Therefore, a Ratibi card must be taken as a component of a broader payroll and wage-payment framework instead of just another prepaid shopping card.
Who Can Use a Ratibi Card?
According to FAB, Ratibi is developed for workers who earn up to AED 5,000 and will enable these employees to get paid without a bank account.
There are also a number of eligibility and employer requirements that are listed below on FAB. The employer should have a corporate account with the bank, the employee should be a UAE resident, and employee KYC should be complete and current.
The card is therefore normally issued by the employer, and not opened directly by the employee, like a normal retail bank account.
Main Features of the Ratibi Card
The purpose of Ratibi is to facilitate the payment of salary and the availability of cash on a daily basis.
FAB claims the following features:
- The employee does not need to have a bank account.
- Cardholders do not have to pay a minimum balance or monthly fee.
- You will get SMS alerts when your salary is credited to your card.
- The card can be used at ATMs, in stores, and online.
- The card can function utilizing the Visa or Mastercard system, contingent on the card agreement.
- FAB’s customer support team is available to assist customers 24/7.
- Each cardholder can choose their PIN at FAB ATMs.
FAB also says that Ratibi has 24/7 access to the ATM and cash-deposit-machine network.
The characteristics of the product make it especially beneficial for employees who have to access wages without having a bank account for their salary payments.
Ratibi Balance vs. Salary Credit
You need to know the difference between the amount paid in your salary and the amount of money you have in the card at the moment.
If you are given your monthly pay by your employer and they take your money out of your pocket or buy stuff, then what happens? What may have been received may not be available at all.
A salary credit notification indicates salary has been credited, and the balance enquiry will indicate the amount of money that is available when you perform a balance enquiry.
This comes in handy when you are waiting for your salary, and you’ve already used your card during the same pay period.
Why You Should Use the Official FAB Route
There are a lot of third-party websites that have instructions on how to check prepaid-card balances when searching for salary-card services. Some of them may be helpful for general explanations, but they are not the institution that holds or administers your card service.
If it’s information related to the account, the official source should be the number one priority.
At present, FAB only displays the Ratibi balance-enquiry link on its product page and labels it as the balance-check service for current cardholders.
FAB’s prepaid-card information further refers to its balance-enquiry service on the internet as ‘Magnati’.
This is better than an independent blog or post on social media, as it offers a more robust verification route.
Security Tips for Ratibi Cardholders
Your salary card has financial details, so fundamental security measures are essential.
Don’t share your card information on social media or send a picture of your card to a stranger. Don’t enter data on websites that are linked or prompted by unsolicited messages, advertisements, or suspicious links.
If possible, use the official FAB website. The balance-enquiry link is located on FAB’s own Ratibi page, making it easier to avoid lookalike websites.
PINs and OTPs should also be kept confidential. If you have to give away a one-time authentication code to an unknown caller, then it isn’t a legitimate C-S interaction.
If you think your card has been compromised, contact FAB and not a third-party number.
Conclusion
Using the official FAB prepaid-card enquiry service, it is easy to find out how much money is on your Ratibi card. Cardholders should not rely on banking services to check their balances since Ratibi is not a conventional FAB bank account, but rather a salary payroll card. You can check your available balance with the service, and if your balance/salary credit doesn’t show up, you can get help from FAB’s customer support. You should always use the enquiry service on FAB’s official Ratibi page, and not on unknown third-party pages where you might enter card information which is then misused.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I check my Ratibi card balance online?
To check the balance of the prepaid card, use the special dedicated prepaid-card balance enquiry link provided on FAB’s official Ratibi page. FAB recognizes this service as a specific service for users of Ratibi cards.
Do I need a FAB bank account to use Ratibi?
No. FAB states that Ratibi offers eligible employees the ability to get paid on their card without a bank account.
Does Ratibi send an SMS when salary is credited?
Yes. The SMS alerts are free on all salary credits, says FAB.
Is Ratibi the same as a normal FAB debit card?
No. Ratibi is a solution for payroll prepaid cards. This is designed to accept wage payments without the need for the worker to have a conventional bank account.
What should I do if my salary has not arrived?
Double-check with your employer and then verify your card balance on the internet. If the salary is still not found, please contact FAB Ratibi support.
Is Ratibi connected to WPS?
Yes. According to FAB, its Ratibi service enables UAE WPS payments for salaries and adheres to UAE WPS guidelines.
Can I use my Ratibi card for purchases?
Yes. The card can be presented at retailers and online, and at ATMs, pursuant to the applicable card network arrangements, says FAB.
Does Ratibi have a minimum balance requirement?
FAB says that Ratibi cardholders need not pay any minimum balance, and there are no monthly fees.
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