Not sure why a bank would have an upper limit pitdown!?
I too was pretty peeved to discover we no longer get priority banking at Emirates NBD. The first I knew this was when I went to the priority section and was turned away - apparently they sent out letters, but none reached me.
There isn't a huge difference only things like cheque books are chargeable and we have to wait in that hateful queue in the EGHQ branch rather than visiting the priority section.
EPC have recently sent out an email about a partnership they have with Standard Chartered, but the problem for me is ENBD has the most ATMs and branches near me and at work. You might get a shiny new bank with priority banking but thats not much use if you get charged every time you withdraw cash and have to drive miles away to deposit a cheque or visit a branch.
Any good alternatives out there? I tried with the Priority staff in EGHQ to suggest EK staff should be exempt from the new changes - may as well have talked to myself!