Best credit cards for utilities & bills in the UAE

Updated July 17, 2026 Fact checkedEditorial integrity

DEWA, Etisalat, du and school fees — the cards that still earn on the bills most cards exclude.

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Earning on bills: the exclusion minefield

Utilities are the most commonly excluded rewards category in the UAE — many premium cards earn nothing or penalty rates on DEWA, telecom and government payments. The cards here still pay a real rate on household bills.

Put bills on auto-pay from the right card and audit the statement quarterly: banks move categories in and out of exclusion lists, and a silent change can cost a year of rewards.

Yajool's top picks at a glance
MMashreq
#1Best cashback on utilities

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

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
FFAB
#2Best simple bill 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
AADCBTTouchPoints
#3Best points toward bills

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Only some — utilities are widely excluded or capped. The Mashreq Cashback Card pays 2% on utilities, among the best mainstream rates.

Yes — ADCB TouchPoints redeem directly against utility and telecom bills, effectively converting everyday earning into bill credit.

Yes, and it protects against missed due dates — just keep the card’s own payment on auto-pay too, so bill charges never revolve at interest.

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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