And another experience. I paid off my HSBC credit card, two weeks before I left. I did this at the HSBC Head Office in Dubai. I also closed my current account at the same time. The very helpful person there told me to come back 3 days before I was due to leave Dubai. When I returned, they provided me with a letter saying that my accounts were all closed, I owed no money on loans ( not that I had one ), or any credit cards. They then gave me a cheque for the approx 40000 AED that remained in my current account.
I deposited that cheque into my bank in Australia, without a problem.
So once again, everyone seems to have different experiences. But that's Dubai.
In my case, I had my sister come to Dubai for the last 3 weeks, to help with the final 'shut down'. I loaded her Australian credit cards with money, because once you close down your account in Dubai, you no longer have access to local money.
Anyway, I am sure we all do it differently, good luck to all.
Just to add, the HSBC branch I dealt with, was the one next to the Westin Hotel in Deira.
Last edited by SOPS; 31st Jul 2015 at 13:29.