Commercial Bank of Dubai was established in 1969, as a Public Shareholding Company by an Emiri Decree issued by His Highness the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the founder of modern Dubai. In the beginning, the Bank was owned by Commerzbank, Chase Manhattan Bank and Commercial Bank of Kuwait, with UAE businessmen holding a minority stake. It was initially capitalized at a mere 10 million Qatar and Dubai Riyals.

In 1982, the Bank reached a major milestone in its development when it transformed into a National Public Shareholding Company, with major operational restructuring and increase in capital base. This represented a major turning point in the Bank's history when the Government of Dubai became a major shareholder holding 20% of its shares.

Over the last 40 years, CBD has developed into a progressive and successful leading banking institution in the United Arab Emirates offering a full range of retail, corporate and commercial banking services. It is endowed with a strong financial structure and management, as well as a loyal and ever-increasing customer base. CBD now has a total workforce of 1126 employees with approximately 40% of UAE nationals making it one of the banks with the highest percentage of nationals in the UAE.

Commercial Bank of Dubai also has 2 subsidiaries namely CBD Financial Services & Attijari Al Islami – Islamic Banking Department.

To widen its reach in the UAE to serve its customers, CBD now has a network of 27 branches, over 160 ATMs and 40 Cheque Deposit Machines spread across the UAE.