Credit cards in the UAE | Credit card offers
What is a credit card?
A credit card is a card made of either plastic or metal and it is used to pay for items or services using credit. It allows individuals to make purchases and settle the payment later.
This borrowed amount needs to be paid back within a few days, typically within 30 to 45 days, to avoid additional charges known as interest. The specific duration of the billing cycle, interest rates, and additional services offered might vary among different credit cards and providers.
What is the difference between credit cards and a loan in the UAE?
There are several differences between a loan and a credit card in the UAE:
Purpose: A loan is a lump sum payment taken out for a specific purpose, such as purchasing a car, financing a home, or funding a business venture. On the other hand, a credit card can be used for various purposes on an ongoing basis.
Repayment structure: Loans usually have a fixed repayment period, with set monthly installments over a predetermined period. In contrast, credit card payments are flexible, allowing cardholders to pay a minimum amount or the full balance by the due date. If the full balance is not paid, the remaining amount carries over to the next billing cycle with applicable interest charges.
Interest rates: Loan interest rates are typically fixed or variable and are agreed upon at the time of borrowing. In contrast, credit cards have higher interest rates compared to loans.
Credit cards terminology in the UAE
Here is the crucial terminology in the UAE related to credit cards:
Credit limit: The issuer of your credit card in the UAE determines your credit limit. The limit will depend on your monthly income, as well as credit history. Better credit and higher salaries mean higher credit limits.
APR: APR is the Annual percentage rate. This interest rate is charged when you don’t pay your bill in full on every billing cycle.
Minimum Payment: A minimum payment is an amount you have to pay if you are not able to pay the bill in full every month. It is a very small amount in comparison to your balance amount.
Late Payments and Fines: If you don’t pay the bill or the minimum amount within the billing cycle, you will be fined. It is recommended to always pay your entire bill, if possible.
Billing Cycle: The cycle during which the transactions of your credit card in UAE are taken into consideration. It usually refreshes every month.
Due Date of the statement: The date by which you must pay the bill of your credit card in UAE.
Balance: The remaining debt on your credit card is known as the balance.
Available Credit: This is the remaining credit available on your credit limit within a billing cycle.
What are the requirements for getting a credit card in the UAE?
Even though each bank has its own requirements when issuing a credit card, here are some common ones:
For employees:
Valid Emirates ID and passport
Proof of monthly income (jump to Credit cards bank offers section)
Minimum 18+ years of age
a valid UAE mobile number
For self-employed:
Proof of identity/passport
Trading certificates
Valid Emirates ID and valid residence visa
Bank statements
How to get a credit card in the UAE?
After you submit the required documents mentioned in the previous section, the following steps should be followed:
Bank officers and credit card companies validate and verify the documents and check their authenticity
Determining your credit score
A review of your financial portfolio
The bank approves or rejects your application
If approved, the bank sets a credit limit
The bank informs the applicant that their application has been accepted
Delivery of the credit card
Credit cards bank offers in the UAE
We present to you credit card offers from the top ten most influential banks in the UAE. The list displays the credit card type, along with their annual fees and the minimum salary required for credit card application.
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB)
Type of credit card | Annual fee (AED) | Minimum Salary (AED) |
ALL - ADCB Infinite Credit Card | 1,575 | 40,000 |
ALL - ADCB Signature Credit Card | 1,050 | 20,000 |
365 Cashback Credit Card |
| 8,000 |
Betaqti Credit Card | 2,100 | 5,000 |
ADCB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card | 2,625 | 40,000 |
ADCB Etihad Guest Signature Credit Card | 1,050 | 20,000 |
ADCB Etihad Guest Platinum Credit Card | 525 | 8,000 |
ADCB Traveller Credit Card | 1,050 | 20,000 |
TouchPoints Infinite Credit Card | 1,050 | 40,000 |
TouchPoints Platinum Credit Card | First year free | 8,000 |
TouchPoints Titanium and Gold Credit Card | No annual fee | 5,000 |
Lulu Platinum Credit Card | No annual fee | 15,000 |
Lulu Titanium Card | Free for life | 5,000 |
Type of credit card | Annual fee (AED) | Minimum Salary (AED) |
2,500 | 20,000 | |
1,500 | 15,000 | |
500 | 5,000 | |
199 | 15,000 | |
150 | 5,000 | |
Free for life | 20,000 | |
| 15,000 | |
Free | 5,000 | |
No annual fee | 5,000 | |
No annual fee | 5,000 | |
No annual fee | 5,000 | |
1050 | 15,000 | |
Free | 5,000 | |
315 | 5,000 |
Type of credit card | Annual fee (AED) | Minimum Salary (AED) |
Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card | 1,500 | 15,000 |
934.95 | 10,000 | |
733.95 | 10,000 | |
208.95 | 5,000 | |
4,200 | 35,000 | |
2,000 | 25,000 | |
735 | 12,000 | |
367.5 | 5,000 | |
313.95 | 12,000 | |
Free | 5,000 | |
Free | 5,000 | |
735 | 15,000 | |
No annual fee | 12,000 |
Type of credit card | Annual fee (AED) | Minimum Salary (AED) |
Etihad Guest Visa Elevate | 1,575 | 35,000 |
Skywards Infinite Credit Card | 1,575 | 30,000 |
Marriott Bonvoy® World Mastercard® Credit Card | 1,575 | 25,000 |
dnata World Credit Card | 1,048.95 | 25,000 |
Etihad Guest Visa Inspire | 735 | 15,000 |
Skywards Signature Credit Card | 735 | 15,000 |
dnata Platinum Credit Card | 525 | 8,000 |
Visa Infinite Credit Card | 1,575 | 20, 000 |
U By Emaar Infinite Credit Card | 1,575 | 30,000 |
Lulu 247 Platinum Credit Card | 262.50 | 15,000 |
Visa Flexi Credit Card | Exclusive current offer: No Annual Fees | 12,000 |
Mastercard Platinum Credit Card | Exclusive current offer: No Annual Fees | 12, 000 |
Visa Platinum Credit Card | Exclusive current offer: No Annual Fees | 12,000 |
U By Emaar Signature Credit Card | 262.50 | 15,000 |
U By Emaar Family Credit Card | Free for life | 5,000 |
Lulu 24/7 Titanium Credit Card | Free for life | 5,000 |
Mastercard Titanium Credit Card | Exclusive current offer: No Annual Fees | 5,000 |
Diners Club Credit Card | 420 | 10,000 |
Duo Credit Card | Exclusive current offer: No Annual Fees | 10,000 |
Go4it Platinum Credit Card | Exclusive current offer: No Annual Fees | 12,000 |
Go4it Gold Credit Card | Exclusive current offer: No Annual Fees | 5,000 |
Manchester United Credit Card | Exclusive current offer: No Annual Fees | 5,000 |
Webshopper Credit Card | 735 | 5,000 |
Type of credit card | Annual fee (AED) | Minimum Salary (AED) |
Blue FAB Platinum Credit Card by Al-Futtaim |
| 8,000 |
Blue FAB Signature Credit Card by Al-Futtaim |
| 15,000 |
Blue FAB Infinite Credit Card by Al-Futtaim |
| 40,000 |
FAB SHARE Signature Credit Card | 1,500 | 30,000 |
FAB SHARE Platinum Credit Card | 1,000 | 10,000 |
FAB SHARE Standard Credit Card | Free | 5,000 |
FAB Rewards Elite Infinite Credit Card | Salary Transfer Customers: 600 Non-Salary Transfer Customers: 800 | 50,000 |
FAB Rewards Infinite Credit Card | Salary Transfer Customers: 400 Non Salary Transfer Customers: 600 | 30,000 |
FAB Rewards Signature Credit Card | Salary Transfer Customers: 300 Non Salary Transfer Customers: 400 | 15,000 |
FAB Rewards Platinum Credit Card | Salary Transfer Customers: 200 Non Salary Transfer Customers: 300 | 8,000 |
GEMS Titanium Credit Card |
| 5,000 |
Manchester City Infinite Credit Card |
| 30,000 |
Manchester City Titanium Credit Card |
| 5,000 |
Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card | 2,500 | 30,000 |
Etihad Guest Platinum Credit Card | 500 | 8,000 |
Etihad Guest Signature Credit Card | 1,500 | 15,000 |
FAB Elite Infinite Travel Card | 2,000 | 50,000 |
FAB Infinite Travel Card | 1,500 | 30,000 |
FAB Signature Travel Card | 1,000 | 5,000 |
FAB Low-Rate Credit Card | 300 | 10,000 |
FAB Cashback Credit Card | 300 | 5,000 |
du Platinum Credit Card |
| 15,000 |
du Titanium Credit Card |
| 5,000 |
Type of credit card | Annual fee (AED) | Minimum Salary (AED) |
Cash+ Credit Card, Visa Infinite |
| 30,000 |
Max Rewards Credit Card |
| 10,000 |
Cashback Credit Card |
| 10,000 |
Premier Credit Card | No annual fees | *you need to have an Advance Account |
Advance Credit Card | No annual fees | *you need to have an Advance Account |
Platinum Select Credit Card | No annual fees | *you need to transfer at least AED 10,000 a month into an HSBC Personal Banking Account |
Zero Credit Card | No annual fees | 10,000 |
Black Credit Card | 1,575 including VAT | *you need to have a Premier Account or a monthly salary of at least AED 50,000 |
Global Private Banking Credit Card | 1,575 including VAT | N/A |
Platinum Credit Card | 630 including VAT | *it isn't available to new customers |
Gold Credit Card | 420 including VAT | *it isn't available to new customers |
Type of credit card | Annual fee (AED) | Minimum Salary (AED) |
Solitaire | 1,500 | 25,000 |
Platinum Elite | 682 | 7,000 |
Cashback Card | Free for life | 5,000 |
noon VIP | Free for life | 10,000 |
Novo | 315 | 5,000 |
SmartSaver | Free for life | 10000 |
sMiles | 315 | 10,000 |
SmartSaver Global | 787 | 10,000 |
Type of credit card | Annual fee (AED) | Minimum Salary (AED) |
Visa Infinite Credit Card | No annual fee | 40,000 |
Platinum Exclusive Credit Card | No annual fee | 9,000 |
Classic Credit Card | No annual fee | 5,000 |
RAKBANK - National Bank of Ras Al-Khaimah
Type of credit card | Annual fee (AED) | Minimum Salary (AED) |
Emirates Skywards World Elite Credit Card | 1,499 | 25,000 |
Titanium Credit Card | Free for Life | 8,000 |
World Credit Card |
| 20,000 |
RED Credit Card | Free for life | 5,000 |
HighFlyer Platinum Credit Card | Free for life | 10,000 |
Air Arabia Platinum Credit Card |
| 5,000 |
Titanium Business Credit Card | Free for life | 10,000 |
Corporate Purchase Credit Card | Free for life | N/A |
Corporate Executive Credit Card | Free for life | N/A |
Type of credit card | Annual fee (AED) | Minimum Salary (AED) |
Visa Infinite credit card |
| 30,000 or above |
Manhattan Rewards + credit card |
525 | 8,000 or above |
Saadiq credit card |
| 8,000 or above |
Cashback credit card |
| 8,000 or above |
X credit card |
| 8,000 or above |
To sum up
This guide offers valuable insights on credit cards in the UAE, featuring credit card offers from the UAE's top ten most influential banks. If you are seeking favorable cash or home loans, you can calculate your installment on our website using our detailed calculator.
With Kredium, you can get the best loan offer completely free and without going to the bank. If you are interested in residential real estate in Dubai, our team of experts is here to assist you in finding the right option. Register on our website to start receiving expert guidance.
Photo credits:
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