Best Credit Cards in UAE

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Written by Rana Aziz, Reviewed by Layla Morgan, Edited by Karim Saeed

Last updated on June 10, 2026 FACT CHECKEDEDITORIAL INTEGRITY

The best credit card is the one that fits how you actually spend. Compare 130+ UAE cards side by side — from giant welcome bonuses to lounge access and 0% balance transfers — and browse our editor-ranked guides by category. Read More

How to identify your ‘best credit card’

Ask any credit card expert what the best card is, and you’ll undoubtedly hear: “There is no single best credit card. There’s just the best credit card for you.” While that’s true, it’s also a cliche and not terribly helpful. So skip that approach and instead ask yourself a question: What do you hope to get from a credit card?

Credit cards fall into three major categories. Rewards cards give you cash back, points or miles on your purchases, as well as perks. Zero-percent cards save you money on interest. Credit-building cards have more forgiving application criteria so you can work toward better cards down the road. Some cards fit into more than one category, but there are always tradeoffs. You can find a cash back card with a 0% APR offer, for example, but the 0% period may be comparatively short. There are credit-building cards with rewards, but those rewards won’t be as generous as on cards for people with excellent credit. Be realistic. You’re not going to find one card that has everything; instead look for one that performs best at what you value most.

If you can’t put your finger on what it is you’re looking for, start by browsing the cards on this page. Also explore the pages linked at the top, which provide more options (and more guidance on making a selection) within specific categories: cash-back cards, travel cards, balance transfer cards and so on. As you explore options, think specifically about how each card would fit into your lifestyle and your budget. Do the rewards match your spending, or would they just require you to spend money you otherwise wouldn’t? Would a break on interest help you get out of debt, or just encourage you to pile up more? Is an annual fee worth what you’ll get from the card?

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All Best Overall Travel Emirates Etihad Marriott Cash Back No Annual Fee Signing Bonus 0% Loans

All credit cards

9 cards

Your monthly salary

EEmirates NBDEEmirates Skywards

#1Best for Emirates flyers

Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite

Travel Min. salary AED 15,000/mo

Yajool Editor’s Rating ?Card Rating is based on the opinion of Yajool’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.4.7 / 5Go to review

Our take: Strong for Emirates flyers who want Skywards Miles, lounge access and low foreign transaction fees.

Heads up: The boosted miles apply to Emirates flights only; everything else earns at the base rate, capped at 5,000 bonus miles a month.

Annual fee

AED 900AED 0/year

First year waived

Rewards rate

2xEarn 2 Skywards Miles per USD 1 on Emirates flights booked direct.

1.5xEarn 1.5 Skywards Miles per USD 1 on dining worldwide.

1.25xEarn 1.25 Skywards Miles per USD 1 on international spend.

1xEarn 1 Skywards Mile per USD 1 on all other purchases.

Key benefits

Foreign fees2%

Lounge accessUnlimited

Installments0% for 12 months

1st year valueAED 8,500

Apply now

Why we chose it

Strong for Emirates flyers who want Skywards Miles, lounge access and low foreign transaction fees.

Pros

First-year annual fee waived (AED 900 value)
Tiered welcome bonus worth up to 65,000 Skywards Miles
Unlimited lounge access via Visa Airport Companion
Strong earning on Emirates flights
Complimentary golf, cinema and valet benefits
Skywards Silver tier while the card is active
Clear, transparent minimum salary requirement

Cons

Annual fee becomes AED 900 after the first year
Best value depends on flying Emirates frequently
Rewards are less flexible than transferable bank points
Monthly earning capped at 5,000 bonus miles
AED 15,000 minimum salary excludes some applicants
Interest applies if you carry a balance — pay in full to avoid

Annual fee (year 1)AED 0 — waived

Annual fee (year 2+)AED 900

Minimum salaryAED 15,000/month

Foreign transaction fee2%

0% installment planUp to 12 months

Lounge accessUnlimited, worldwide

Welcome offer40,000 Skywards Miles · Spend USD 25,000 · 3 statements

Interest rate3.5% per month

Earning cap5,000 / month

NetworkVisa Infinite

MMashreq

#2Best cashback

Mashreq Cashback Credit Card

Cashback Min. salary AED 5,000/mo

Yajool Editor’s Rating ?Card Rating is based on the opinion of Yajool’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.4.6 / 5Go to review

Our take: High cashback on daily spends with strong categories for groceries, fuel and utilities.

Heads up: To unlock 5% on groceries you must first spend AED 6,000 a month on non-grocery categories, and cashback is capped at AED 1,250 a month.

Annual fee

AED 350AED 0/year

First year waived

Cashback rate

5%Earn 5% cashback on groceries and supermarkets.

2%Earn 2% cashback on fuel and utility bills.

1%Earn 1% cashback on all other purchases.

Key benefits

Foreign feesNone

Lounge access2 visits / year

Cashback capAED 1,250/month

1st year valueAED 2,300

Apply now

Why we chose it

High cashback on daily spends with strong categories for groceries, fuel and utilities.

Pros

First-year fee waived (AED 350 value)
Up to AED 1,250 welcome cashback
5% cashback on groceries
Strong everyday categories — fuel & utilities
No foreign transaction fees
Low AED 5,000 minimum salary

Cons

Fee becomes AED 350 after year one
Cashback capped at AED 1,250 a month
Lounge access limited to 2 visits a year
Value depends on your category spend mix
Interest applies if you carry a balance

Annual fee (year 1)AED 0 — waived

Annual fee (year 2+)AED 350

Minimum salaryAED 5,000/month

Foreign transaction feeNone

0% installment planUp to 6 months

Lounge access2 visits / year

Welcome offerUp to AED 1,250 Cashback · Spend AED 5,000 · 2 statements

Interest rate3.45% per month

Earning cap1,250 / month

NetworkMastercard World

RRAKBANKRRAK Rewards

#3Best no annual fee

RAKBANK World Credit Card

Travel Min. salary AED 3,000/mo

Yajool Editor’s Rating ?Card Rating is based on the opinion of Yajool’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.4.4 / 5Go to review

Our take: Great entry-level card with solid travel rewards and no annual fee.

Heads up: No annual fee, but no lounge access, and the 4x travel rewards are capped at 2,000 points a month.

Annual fee

AED 0/year

Rewards rate

4xEarn 4x rewards on travel and airline purchases.

2xEarn 2x rewards on dining and restaurants.

1xEarn 1x rewards on all other purchases.

Key benefits

Foreign feesNone

Lounge accessNot included

Installments0% for 6 months

1st year valueAED 800

Apply now

Why we chose it

Great entry-level card with solid travel rewards and no annual fee.

Pros

No annual fee — ever
15,000 RAK Rewards welcome bonus
4x rewards on travel and airlines
2x rewards on dining
No foreign transaction fees
Low AED 3,000 minimum salary

Cons

No complimentary lounge access
Lower reward rates than premium travel cards
Welcome bonus requires AED 3,000 spend in 60 days
Rewards less flexible than transferable points
Interest applies if you carry a balance

Annual fee (year 1)AED 0 — waived

Annual fee (year 2+)AED 0

Minimum salaryAED 3,000/month

Foreign transaction feeNone

0% installment planUp to 6 months

Welcome offer15,000 RAK Rewards · Spend AED 3,000 · 2 statements

Interest rate3.25% per month

Earning cap2,000 / month

NetworkMastercard World

AADCBTTouchPoints

#4Best for everyday rewards

ADCB TouchPoints Visa Signature

Rewards Min. salary AED 10,000/mo

Yajool Editor’s Rating ?Card Rating is based on the opinion of Yajool’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.4.5 / 5Go to review

Our take: A flexible everyday rewards card with strong points earning, dining perks and airport lounge access.

Heads up: Only 6 lounge visits a year, and a 2.99% foreign-currency fee applies to every foreign or online spend in another currency.

Annual fee

AED 524AED 0/year

First year waived

Rewards rate

4xEarn 4 TouchPoints per AED 1 on international spend.

2xEarn 2 TouchPoints per AED 1 on dining and groceries.

1xEarn 1 TouchPoint per AED 1 on all other purchases.

Key benefits

Foreign fees2.99%

Lounge access6 visits / year

Installments0% for 12 months

1st year valueAED 3,200

Apply now

Why we chose it

A flexible everyday rewards card with strong points earning, dining perks and airport lounge access.

Pros

First-year fee waived (AED 524 value)
50,000 TouchPoints welcome bonus
Flexible redemption across travel, shopping and bills
Strong dining and grocery earning
6 lounge visits per year
Reasonable AED 10,000 minimum salary

Cons

Fee becomes AED 524 after year one
2.99% foreign transaction fee
Lounge visits capped at 6 per year
TouchPoints value varies by redemption choice
Bonus requires AED 5,000 spend in 60 days
Interest applies if you carry a balance

Annual fee (year 1)AED 0 — waived

Annual fee (year 2+)AED 524

Minimum salaryAED 10,000/month

Foreign transaction fee2.99%

0% installment planUp to 12 months

Lounge access6 visits / year

Welcome offer50,000 TouchPoints · Spend AED 5,000 · 2 statements

Interest rate3.35% per month

NetworkVisa Signature

FFAB

#5Best simple everyday card

FAB Standard Credit Card

Everyday Min. salary AED 5,000/mo

Yajool Editor’s Rating ?Card Rating is based on the opinion of Yajool’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.4.1 / 5Go to review

Our take: A straightforward, low-cost card for everyday spending without bonus chasing or complex rewards.

Heads up: No welcome bonus, and base earning is just 1 point per AED — the value shows over the long term, not in year one.

Annual fee

AED 150/year

Rewards rate

2xEarn 2x points at supermarkets.

1xEarn 1x points everywhere — points never expire and redeem against your statement.

Key benefits

Foreign fees2.99%

Lounge accessNot included

Installments0% for 6 months

Apply now

Why we chose it

A straightforward, low-cost card for everyday spending without bonus chasing or complex rewards.

Pros

Low, predictable AED 150 fee
Simple flat rewards on everything
Points never expire
Low AED 5,000 minimum salary
0% installment plans
No bonus-spend hurdles

Cons

No welcome bonus
No first-year value boost
2.99% foreign transaction fee
No lounge access
Lower rewards than premium cards
Interest applies if you carry a balance

Annual feeAED 150

Minimum salaryAED 5,000/month

Foreign transaction fee2.99%

0% installment planUp to 6 months

Welcome offerNone

Interest rate3.09% per month

NetworkVisa Classic

AADIBEEtihad Guest

#6Best for Etihad flyers

ADIB Etihad Guest Visa Signature

Travel Min. salary AED 10,000/mo

Yajool Editor’s Rating ?Card Rating is based on the opinion of Yajool’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.4.3 / 5Go to review

Our take: The strongest Etihad Guest earner in the market, with tier-mile accelerators for Abu Dhabi flyers.

Heads up: Accelerated miles apply to Etihad bookings and international spend; local AED spend earns at the base rate.

Annual fee

AED 999AED 0/year

First year waived

Rewards rate

3xEarn 3 Guest Miles per AED 1 on Etihad bookings.

2xEarn 2 Guest Miles per AED 1 on international spend.

1xEarn 1 Guest Mile per AED 1 on everything else.

Key benefits

Foreign feesNone

Lounge access8 visits / year

Installments0% for 12 months

1st year valueAED 4,100

Apply now

Why we chose it

The strongest Etihad Guest earner in the market, with tier-mile accelerators for Abu Dhabi flyers.

Pros

60,000-mile welcome bonus
First-year annual fee waived (AED 999 value)
Tier-mile accelerators toward Silver and Gold
8 lounge visits per year
No foreign transaction fees
Sharia-compliant structure

Cons

AED 999 annual fee from year two
Base earn rate on local spend is modest
Best value requires flying Etihad regularly
Welcome bonus requires AED 5,000 spend in 90 days

Annual fee (year 1)AED 0 — waived

Annual fee (year 2+)AED 999

Minimum salaryAED 10,000/month

Foreign transaction feeNone

0% installment planUp to 12 months

Lounge access8 visits / year

Welcome offer60,000 Etihad Guest Miles · Spend AED 5,000 · 3 statements

Interest rate3.09% per month

NetworkVisa Signature

EEmirates NBDMMarriott Bonvoy

#7Best for hotel stays

Marriott Bonvoy World Mastercard

Hotel Min. salary AED 12,000/mo

Yajool Editor’s Rating ?Card Rating is based on the opinion of Yajool’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.4.2 / 5Go to review

Our take: Earns Bonvoy points on every purchase, with automatic Silver Elite status and an annual free night award.

Heads up: The free night award covers rooms up to 50,000 points; peak-season Dubai properties can price above the cap.

Annual fee

AED 1,575/year

Rewards rate

6xEarn 6 Bonvoy points per AED 1 at Marriott properties.

2xEarn 2 Bonvoy points per AED 1 on international spend.

1xEarn 1 Bonvoy point per AED 1 on everything else.

Key benefits

Foreign feesNone

Lounge accessUnlimited

Installments0% for 12 months

1st year valueAED 3,600

Apply now

Why we chose it

Earns Bonvoy points on every purchase, with automatic Silver Elite status and an annual free night award.

Pros

Annual free night award (up to 50,000 points)
Automatic Silver Elite status
50,000-point welcome bonus
Unlimited lounge access
Points transfer to 35+ airline programmes

Cons

AED 1,575 annual fee is not waived
Free night capped at 50,000 points
Best value tied to Marriott stays
Higher AED 12,000 salary requirement

Annual feeAED 1,575

Minimum salaryAED 12,000/month

Foreign transaction feeNone

0% installment planUp to 12 months

Lounge accessUnlimited, worldwide

Welcome offer50,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points · Spend AED 6,000 · 3 statements

Interest rate3.29% per month

NetworkMastercard World

EEmirates NBDVVoyager Miles

#8Proprietary travel ecosystem

Emirates NBD Voyager World Elite

Travel Min. salary AED 30,000/mo

Yajool Editor’s Rating ?Card Rating is based on the opinion of Yajool’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.4.5 / 5Go to review

Our take: A premium proprietary-miles card with a huge first-year bonus and flexible airline transfers.

Heads up: Note the 3.14% foreign-currency fee — unusually high for a premium travel card.

Annual fee

AED 1,575/year

Rewards rate

2xEarn 2 Voyager Miles per AED 1 booked via the Voyager travel portal.

1.5xEarn 1.5 Voyager Miles per AED 1 on international spend.

1xEarn 1 Voyager Mile per AED 1 on everything else.

Key benefits

Foreign fees3.14%

Lounge accessUnlimited

Installments0% for 12 months

Apply now

Why we chose it

A premium proprietary-miles card with a huge first-year bonus and flexible airline transfers.

Pros

Huge 150,000-mile first-year welcome bonus
Miles transfer to Skywards and Etihad Guest
Unlimited lounge access with one guest
2x earning through the Voyager portal

Cons

AED 1,575 annual fee unless you spend AED 60,000+
High 3.14% foreign transaction fee
AED 30,000 minimum salary

Annual feeAED 1,575

Minimum salaryAED 30,000/month

Foreign transaction fee3.14%

0% installment planUp to 12 months

Lounge accessUnlimited, worldwide

Welcome offer150,000 Voyager Miles · Spend AED 70,000 · 3 statements

Interest rate3.29% per month

NetworkMastercard World Elite

EEmirates IslamicCCashback

#9Best Islamic cashback

Emirates Islamic Cashback Plus Card

Cashback Min. salary AED 12,000/mo

Yajool Editor’s Rating ?Card Rating is based on the opinion of Yajool’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.4.3 / 5Go to review

Our take: The strongest Sharia-compliant cashback card — high rates on groceries, dining and school fees with no interest, ever.

Heads up: Cashback is capped at AED 1,000 a month, and the boosted rates apply to domestic spend only — international purchases earn the 1% base rate.

Annual fee

AED 368AED 0/year

First year waived

Cashback rate

4%Earn 4% cashback on supermarkets and groceries.

4%Earn 4% cashback on dining.

2%Earn 2% cashback on school fees.

1%Earn 1% cashback on all other purchases.

Key benefits

Foreign fees2.85%

Lounge accessNot included

Cashback capAED 1,000/month

1st year valueAED 1,800

Apply now

Why we chose it

The strongest Sharia-compliant cashback card — high rates on groceries, dining and school fees with no interest, ever.

Pros

Sharia-compliant murabaha structure
First-year fee waived (AED 368 value)
4% cashback on groceries and dining
2% back on school fees — rare in the UAE
AED 500 welcome cashback
Cashback posts automatically as statement credit

Cons

Fee becomes AED 368 after year one
Cashback capped at AED 1,000 a month
No lounge access
AED 12,000 minimum salary
Profit charges apply if you carry a balance

Annual fee (year 1)AED 0 — waived

Annual fee (year 2+)AED 368

Minimum salaryAED 12,000/month

Foreign transaction fee2.85%

0% installment planUp to 12 months

Welcome offerUp to AED 500 Cashback · Spend AED 5,000 · 2 statements

Interest rate3.09% per month

Earning cap1,000 / month

NetworkVisa Platinum

Disclaimer: Representative example for comparison only. Miles values, intro bonuses, fees and eligibility are subject to issuer terms and conditions.See assumptions