I was using an ATM near my hostel in UAE, and it took my card and never gave it back. No error message, just gone. Has anyone had this happen? Whats the fastest way to get it back? Any advice on who to call or what to do next?
I've seen this happen a lot to travelers. The ATM swallows your card, and unless you're using a local UAE-issued card, banks will destroy it for fraud prevention. If the machine was at a hotel or mall, find out which bank owns it (logo or hotline on the screen) and contact them immediately. If it’s inside a branch, go the next morning with your passport. Still - very slim chance of recovery. Always carry a backup and never use ATMs late at night.
Used a Standard Chartered ATM in Dubai Marina, and same thing - no card returned. Luckily, it was connected to a 24/7 branch, so I got a support staff on the spot. They logged it and told me they’d find it in the morning ATM sweep. But since my card was from the UK, they wouldn’t give it back. UAE banks are strict - foreign cards are almost never returned. You’ll need to call your bank, block it, and ship a new one. It sucks, but it's common here.
This happened to me last month at a FAB ATM in Abu Dhabi. The card just never came out. I called the number on the machine and they said I had to go to the branch, which was closed until the next day. When I finally spoke to staff, they said foreign cards get destroyed for “security reasons.” Best thing you can do is block the card immediately and request a replacement. Keep a second card with you - I learned the hard way.
Yes, happened to me in Dubai near Al Rigga - ATM took my card and just stayed silent. No receipt, no error. It was an Emirates NBD machine. I went into the branch the next morning and they said they’d found the card during their overnight check, but they wouldn’t return it because it was a foreign card. Policy. I had to cancel it through my bank and use my backup. If this happens, call the ATM’s bank ASAP, but don’t expect to get it back.