For the thousands of Kenyans navigating the hustle of the United Arab Emirates, the distance to Nairobi is about to shrink significantly next week. In a strategic move to bridge the geographic gap between labor and investment, Equity Bank has announced a dedicated service week in Dubai, effectively bringing the banking hall to the diaspora’s doorstep.

From December 15 to 19, 2025, the lender will station a team at the Consulate of Kenya in Jumeirah 2. The initiative, branded “Bringing Home Closer to You,” is not merely a customer service exercise; it is a calculated effort to grease the wheels of the remittance corridor that keeps millions of Kenyan households afloat.

Greasing the Remittance Wheels

The timing is deliberate. Remittances have evolved from simple survival cash—money sent for school fees and groceries—to substantial investment capital. However, friction remains. Many Kenyans abroad struggle with dormant accounts or lack the digital infrastructure to manage complex investments remotely.

Equity Bank’s presence at the Consulate aims to dismantle these barriers. By offering face-to-face support, the bank intends to convert the hard-earned Dirhams of the diaspora into tangible assets back home. With the UAE Dirham currently trading strong against the shilling, the purchasing power of Kenyans in Dubai is a potent economic force that the bank is keen to harness.

Services on the Ground

The five-day clinic at Villa 5, Street No.15, Off Al Wasl Road, will operate as a fully functional satellite branch. The bank has outlined a specific menu of services designed to address the most common pain points for expatriates:

• Account Reactivation: Immediate restoration of dormant accounts, allowing users to regain full banking functionality without a trip to Nairobi.
• Digital Onboarding: Hands-on training for the Equity Mobile App and online platforms to ensure seamless cross-border management.
• Investment Advisory: Tailored guidance on shifting funds from savings into high-yield Kenyan investments.
• New Accounts: Instant account opening for personal, business, or savings needs.

A Shift in Strategy

This move underscores a broader shift in Kenyan banking. Lenders are no longer waiting for the diaspora to return home for the holidays to sort out their finances. Instead, they are aggressively pursuing the customer at the source of the funds.

For the Kenyan worker in Dubai, this initiative offers a rare opportunity to resolve lingering banking issues in person. As the bank noted in their announcement, the goal is to ensure that while the diaspora builds the UAE, they are simultaneously securing their financial future in Kenya.