Al Hilal Bank World Mastercard Credit Card
500 in TouchPoints when you spend 10,000
via the Al Hilal Bank app
Within 60 days of issuance. Sharia-compliant covered card. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
This is a solid earner if your card lives in the international column - 2.9 per abroad plus real lounge access is a fair trade for a fee you can spend your way out of. But TouchPoints only spend inside Al Hilal's app, and at 0.4 per on groceries and fuel, it's the wrong card for the weekly shop.
Earning and redeeming TouchPoints
The World Mastercard earns 2.9 TouchPoints per 1 on international transactions and airline tickets and 2.1 per 1 on other UAE spend - genuinely high accrual numbers. The fine print is Schedule B of the program terms: supermarkets, fuel, utilities, telecom, education, government payments, rent, transport and car dealers all drop to 0.4 per , and insurance and charity payments earn nothing. On top of the joining bonus, spending 15,000 in a calendar quarter adds 200 in TouchPoints every quarter.
Redemption happens inside the Al Hilal app: pay utility bills with points, shop the in-app marketplace, or put them toward children's rewards. There are no airline or hotel transfer partners and the bank publishes no -per-point value, so treat TouchPoints as app credit rather than travel currency. Points last 3 years from the month they're earned, and instalment-plan conversions, cash withdrawals and balance transfers never earn.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- Free the first year, then 787.50 - waived if you spent 60,000 in the previous 12 months
- Joining bonus
- 500 in TouchPoints after 10,000 spend within 60 days of issuance
- Quarterly bonus
- 200 in TouchPoints per calendar quarter with 15,000 spend
- Profit rate (Murabaha)
- 3.69% per month (44.28% p.a.); 3.25% on migrated Etihad Guest cards issued before 2024
- Profit-free period
- Up to 55 days on retail transactions when the balance is paid in full
- Foreign transaction fee
- 3.14% - also applies to transactions made outside the UAE
- Cash withdrawal
- 3.15% of the amount; withdrawal limit 60% of the card limit
- Late payment
- 100 'Commitment to Donate' (given to charity) - waived if the minimum due is paid on time
- Supplementary cards
- Up to 3 free, 105 from the 4th; card replacement 78.75
All charges include VAT. Rates from Al Hilal Bank's Schedule of Fees (V3.7, June 2026), Key Facts Statement (March 2026) and TouchPoints program terms; confirm on the bank's site before applying.
Card benefits
2.9x on international spend
International transactions and airline tickets earn 2.9 TouchPoints per 1 - among the higher accrual rates on a UAE Islamic card.
8 lounge visits a year
1,200+ lounges worldwide via the Mastercard Travel Pass app. Keep it active with at least USD 1 of cross-border spend every 3 months; guests are USD 32.
500 joining bonus
Spend 10,000 in your first 60 days and get 500 in TouchPoints - plus 200 more each quarter you spend 15,000.
Points that pay bills
Redeem TouchPoints in the Al Hilal app against utility bills or marketplace shopping - practical, if not glamorous.
Sharia-compliant structure
Commodity Murabaha covered card approved by the bank's Internal Shariah Supervision Committee; the late fee is an 100 charity donation, waived when you pay on time.
Full digital wallet lineup
Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Garmin Pay, in a bank that runs entirely from its app.
Pros and cons
- Strong 2.9 points per on international and airline spend, 2.1 at home
- 500 joining bonus plus an 200 quarterly bonus at 15,000 quarterly spend
- Renewal fee waived entirely if you spend 60,000 in the previous 12 months
- 8 lounge visits a year via Mastercard Travel Pass - double the Platinum tier
- Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Garmin Pay in a fully app-based bank
- Groceries, fuel, utilities, telecom, education and government spend earn a token 0.4 points per
- Al Hilal doesn't publish a clear value per TouchPoint - redemption value is opaque
- Redemption is confined to the Al Hilal app (bills, marketplace) - no airline or hotel transfers
- 3.14% FX markup claws back much of the 2.9 international earn rate
- 787.50 fee from year two unless you clear the 60,000 spend waiver
- Insurance and charity payments earn nothing; TouchPoints expire after 3 years
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- A big share of your spending is international or on airline tickets
- You can clear 60,000 a year on the card to keep it fee-free
- You want an Islamic card with real lounge access - 8 visits beats most free tiers
- You'd actually use points against utility bills in the app
Consider skipping it if
- Your card mostly buys groceries, fuel and pays DEWA - that spend earns 0.4 per
- You want miles or hotel points - TouchPoints don't transfer anywhere
- You won't clear the spend waiver and resent a 787.50 renewal fee
- You carry a balance - 3.69% a month compounds fast
Alternatives to consider
Al Hilal's own Cashback Card is free for life and pays 5% on two categories you choose - a better fit if your spending is groceries, fuel and dining.
Best cashback cards →
ADCB - Al Hilal's parent group - runs its own TouchPoints cards with a broader redemption catalogue if you don't need the Islamic structure.
Best TouchPoints cards →
ADIB's Cashback Gold keeps things Sharia-compliant with straightforward cashback instead of an app-locked points currency.
Best Islamic 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
What is the annual fee for the Al Hilal World Mastercard?+
The first year is free. From year two it is AED 787.50 (VAT inclusive), waived if you spent at least AED 60,000 on the card in the previous 12 months.
What are TouchPoints and how do I earn them?+
TouchPoints are Al Hilal Bank's rewards currency. The World Mastercard earns 2.9 TouchPoints per AED 1 on international transactions and airline tickets, 2.1 per AED 1 on other UAE spend, and 0.4 per AED 1 on reduced-rate categories like groceries, fuel, utilities, telecom, education and government payments.
Is there a welcome bonus?+
Yes - AED 500 in TouchPoints when you spend AED 10,000 within 60 days of card issuance, plus an ongoing AED 200 in TouchPoints for every calendar quarter in which you spend AED 15,000.
How do I redeem TouchPoints?+
Through the Al Hilal app (or contact centre): pay utility bills, shop the in-app marketplace, or redeem toward children's rewards. There are no airline or hotel transfer partners.
Do TouchPoints expire?+
Yes. TouchPoints are valid for 3 years from the last day of the month in which they were earned; expired points are removed and cannot be re-credited.
Does the card include airport lounge access?+
Yes - 1,200+ lounges worldwide via the Mastercard Travel Pass app, capped at 8 visits per calendar year (shared with airport dining offers). You must make at least USD 1 of international spend every 3 months to keep access active; guests cost USD 32.
Is the Al Hilal World Mastercard Sharia compliant?+
Yes. It is a covered card operating under a commodity Murabaha structure approved by the bank's Internal Shariah Supervision Committee, with a monthly profit rate of 3.69% (44.28% p.a.) instead of interest.
Which digital wallets does the card support?+
Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Garmin Pay - add the card to your wallet and pay by tapping your device.
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.