Best 0% balance transfer & installment credit cards

Updated July 17, 2026 Fact checkedEditorial integrity

Cards that let you move existing balances or split big purchases at 0% interest — ranked by plan length, transfer fees and eligible merchants.

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Best OverallTravelEmiratesEtihadMarriottCash BackNo Annual FeeSigning Bonus0% LoansBalance Transfer

The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Our analysis, reviews and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. View our advertising policy and product review methodology.

How 0% balance transfers and installment plans work

A 0% balance transfer moves debt from a high-interest card onto a new one with an interest-free window, while 0% installment plans split large purchases into equal monthly payments. Every major UAE bank now offers both — but processing fees, transfer windows, merchant lists and plan lengths differ widely between cards.

Pay the transferred balance off before the promotional window ends — the rate reverts to the standard 3%+ monthly rate on whatever remains. And keep total installments under a third of your credit limit: the held amount reduces available credit and can hurt utilisation on your AECB score.

Yajool's top picks at a glance
EEmirates NBDEEmirates Skywards
#1Best 0% balance transfer

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
Offer
Welcome offer40,000 Skywards Miles
How to unlockSpend USD 25,000 · 3 statements

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

A true 0% balance transfer over 6 months plus 0% installments over 12 months at major partners — on top of the strongest travel perks in the market.

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 card with 0% plans

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
Offer
Welcome offerUp to AED 1,250 Cashback
How to unlockSpend AED 5,000 · 2 statements

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

Split purchases over 12 months at partner merchants while still earning full cashback on the original spend.

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
AADCBTTouchPoints
#3Best everyday card with 0% plans

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
Offer
Welcome offer50,000 TouchPoints
How to unlockSpend AED 5,000 · 2 statements

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

Flexible 3–12 month plans on any purchase over AED 500, managed directly in the app with no paperwork.

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

Frequently asked questions

Interest is zero, but most banks charge a one-off processing fee of 1–3% of the transferred or financed amount. The cards here have the lowest fees at partner merchants.

Yes — the full purchase amount is held against your limit until it is paid off, reducing available credit.

The plan can be cancelled and the balance reverts to the standard interest rate — set up auto-pay for at least the minimum.

How we chose these cards

Yajool's editors score every UAE card on the same four pillars — rewards value, travel benefits, fees & costs, and eligibility. Category winners are re-checked monthly against current public offers. Read our full ratings methodology and see how the top pick performed in our Skywards Infinite editorial review.

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