Essential Cashback Credit Card
Cashback on everything, with no annual fee
at ADCB's secure site
Terms & conditions apply. See rates & fees.
Cashback rate
“This is the card you get when you want cashback without doing homework: no fee, a floor of just AED 1,000 a month, and lounge visits as a bonus. Just don't expect the rates of a fee-paying card — and skip it for foreign spending, where the 2.99% markup eats everything.”
Earning cashback on the Essential Cashback Card
Earning is deliberately simple: 1.25% on everything in months where your spend reaches AED 5,000, 1% below that, and 0.75% on a published list of select merchant categories. Cashback accrues on both AED and foreign-currency transactions, needs only AED 1,000 of monthly spend to activate, and is capped at AED 1,000 a month.
The usual exclusions apply — bill payments, school fees and anything done through ADCB's own channels earn nothing, and spends beyond your credit limit don't count. There is no points programme to manage: cashback is the reward.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- Free, per ADCB's schedule of fees
- Welcome bonus
- Up to AED 350 when applying via select digital channels — conditions on ADCB's site
- Interest rate
- 3.69% per month (44.28% APR) on unpaid balances
- Interest-free period
- 25 to 55 days when the full balance is paid by the due date
- Minimum salary
- AED 5,000 per month, or eligibility for an AED 3,000 credit limit
- Foreign transaction fee
- 2.99% margin on non-AED spends, plus a ~1.15% Mastercard processing fee
- Cash advance fee
- 3.15% of the amount (minimum AED 105)
- Late payment fee
- AED 241.50
- Overlimit fee
- AED 288.75
- Supplementary cards
- Free — lounge visits are shared with supplementary cardholders
Rates verified against ADCB's Schedule of Fees and Credit Cards Key Facts Statement (fees include 5% VAT) on August 21, 2026. Always confirm on adcb.com before applying.
Card benefits
Flat cashback, low floor
Up to 1.25% back on all spends from just AED 1,000 of monthly spend, capped at AED 1,000 a month.
4 lounge visits a year
25+ lounges worldwide via the Mastercard Travel Pass app, shared with supplementary cardholders.
BOGO at Reel Cinemas
Buy one ticket, get one free — up to 2 free tickets a month until 31 December 2026, plus 20% off counter F&B.
20% off talabat monthly
20% off one grocery or food delivery order a month (max AED 14) with promo code MASTERCARD.
180-day purchase protection
Card purchases are covered against theft or accidental damage for up to 180 days from purchase.
Avis rental discount
Up to 20% off all Avis car rentals plus a free vehicle upgrade.
Pros and cons
- No annual fee, per ADCB's schedule of fees
- Simple flat cashback with a low AED 1,000 monthly spend floor
- Cashback earned on both AED and foreign-currency spends
- 4 lounge visits a year — rare on a free card
- BOGO Reel Cinemas tickets and 20% off a monthly talabat order
- The full 1.25% rate needs AED 5,000+ of monthly spend; below that it is 1%
- Select merchant categories earn only 0.75%
- Cashback capped at AED 1,000 a month
- Bill payments, school fees and ADCB-channel transactions earn nothing
- 2.99% fx markup wipes out the cashback on foreign spends
- Welcome bonus conditions ('up to AED 350') are vague
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You want a fee-free card that earns on everything with only AED 1,000 of monthly spend.
- You value occasional lounge access but won't pay an annual fee for it.
- You are building credit history or getting your first UAE credit card.
Consider skipping it if
- You consistently spend AED 5,000+ a month — a category cashback card like ADCB's 365 pays far more.
- Most of your spending is abroad; the 2.99% fx markup exceeds the cashback.
- You carry a balance — 3.69% a month dwarfs 1.25% back.
Alternatives to consider
ADCB's 365 Cashback pays 6% on dining, 5% on fuel and subscriptions and 3% on groceries — several times this card's flat rate — with the first year free.
Best cashback cards →
The talabat ADCB card returns 35% on your first 10 talabat orders a month as talabat credit — also with no annual fee.
Best dining & delivery cards →
A noon co-brand card concentrates rewards on noon, noon Food and noon Minutes instead of a flat 1.25%.
Best online shopping cards →Not sure which way to go? Put them side by side in our card comparison tool or browse the full ranked list.
Frequently asked questions
Does the ADCB Essential Cashback Card have an annual fee?+
No. ADCB's schedule of fees lists the Essential Cashback Platinum Card annual membership fee as free.
What is the minimum salary?+
AED 5,000 per month, or eligibility for a credit limit of at least AED 3,000.
How much cashback does the card pay?+
1.25% in months where you spend AED 5,000 or more, 1% in months below that, and 0.75% on select merchant categories. Cashback is capped at AED 1,000 a month and requires a minimum monthly spend of AED 1,000.
Do foreign-currency purchases earn cashback?+
Yes — cashback is earned on both AED and non-AED spends. Note, however, that non-AED transactions carry a 2.99% foreign-currency margin plus roughly 1.15% in scheme processing fees, which is more than the cashback earned.
What spends are excluded from cashback?+
Bill payments, school fees and transactions made through any ADCB channel are not eligible. Cashback is also only earned on spends up to the card's credit limit.
How does the airport lounge access work?+
You get 4 complimentary visits a year to 25+ lounges worldwide, shared with supplementary cardholders, via the Mastercard Travel Pass app. The first visit is free; after that you need a USD 1+ international transaction every 3 months to keep access complimentary, otherwise USD 32 per visit is charged.
How does the Reel Cinemas offer work?+
Buy one ticket and get one free (up to 2 free tickets a month) until 31 December 2026, plus 20% off food and beverages at the counter on a minimum AED 20 spend.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank or card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.