American Express Dubai Duty Free Card
10% off at Dubai Duty Free, every time you fly
at American Express's secure site
Discount exclusions apply — physical card payments only. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
If you clear DXB a few times a year, the maths are simple: 1,750 of duty-free shopping covers the fee, and everything past that is a real 10% saving. Just don't make it your main card — it earns nothing elsewhere, the exclusion list covers the priciest counters, and you must tap the physical card, not your phone.
How the Dubai Duty Free savings work
There is no points programme here. Pay with the physical card at a Dubai Duty Free counter and 10% comes off the bill on the spot — that is the entire earning story. The discount excludes cameras, electronics, gold, magazines, telephone cards, gift vouchers and a set of luxury fashion and watch brands (Hermes, Chanel, Gucci, Rolex among them), and doesn't apply at Cargo Village, Hatta Border or the airports' public shops. Since December 2022, wallet payments (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay) don't qualify.
Your spending also feeds two monthly draws: one entry per 1,000 toward a Millennium Millionaire raffle ticket (4 winners a month) and one per 500 toward a Finest Surprise luxury-car ticket (6 winners a month). Treat these as a lottery bonus, not a reward you can count on.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- 175 ( 183.75 incl. VAT).
- Interest rate
- 3.60% per month fixed (43.20% annual). Up to 56 days interest-free on purchases.
- Foreign transaction fee
- 2.94% (3.087% incl. VAT) on non- transactions.
- Cash advance
- 3% or 100 (whichever is higher; 3.15%/ 105 incl. VAT). Withdrawals limited to 40% of credit limit.
- Late payment fee
- 230 ( 241.50 incl. VAT).
- Overlimit fee
- 275.50 ( 289.28 incl. VAT).
- Minimum payment
- 5% or 35, whichever is higher.
- Supplementary cards
- Free, up to 9 cards.
Rates from the American Express Schedule of Fees and Charges (05-2025). Fees shown exclude 5% VAT unless noted; VAT-inclusive figures in brackets.
Card benefits
10% off at Dubai Duty Free
Instant discount at the till when you pay with the physical card. Excludes electronics, gold, gift vouchers and top luxury fashion and watch brands.
Millennium Millionaire & Finest Surprise draws
Every 1,000 spent enters a monthly draw for a Millennium Millionaire ticket; every 500 for a Finest Surprise luxury-car ticket. 4-6 winners a month.
Retail & fraud protection
Retail Protection Insurance up to 1,500 per occurrence of theft or accidental damage ( 180,000 a year) plus the Fraud Protection Guarantee.
Emergency assistance
Travel-related and medical emergency assistance for you and supplementary cardmembers under policy AMEX18.
Pros and cons
- 10% instant discount at Dubai Duty Free counters — no points to track
- One of the cheapest Amex cards in the UAE at 175 a year
- Spend feeds monthly draws for Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise raffle tickets
- Up to 9 free supplementary cards
- Fraud Protection Guarantee and 1,500 retail protection included
- The 10% discount excludes electronics, cameras, gold, gift vouchers and luxury brands like Rolex, Chanel, Hermes and Gucci
- Discount only works with the physical card — Apple Pay and Samsung Pay purchases do not qualify
- No points, miles or cashback outside Dubai Duty Free
- Raffle 'entries' are draws to win a raffle ticket — only 4 to 6 cardmembers win tickets each month
- 43.2% annual interest and a 2.94% foreign transaction fee
- No lounge access or travel insurance
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You shop at Dubai Duty Free several times a year — 1,750 of spend covers the fee
- You want a cheap second card purely for airport shopping
- Free supplementary cards for travelling family members appeal to you
Consider skipping it if
- You want rewards on everyday spending — this card earns none
- Your duty-free shopping is electronics, gold or luxury brands, which are excluded
- You pay by phone — the discount needs the physical card
Alternatives to consider
The Gold Credit Card earns Membership Rewards on everything and adds 5 lounge visits — a broader card for 395 a year.
Best credit cards in the UAE →
The Platinum Credit Card returns up to 1,500 a year in dining cashback and grocery credits, plus 12 lounge visits.
Best dining cards →
Skywards Infinite turns everyday spend into Emirates miles with unlimited lounge access — better value for frequent DXB flyers.
Best Emirates Skywards 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
How does the 10% Dubai Duty Free discount work?+
The 10% is deducted from your bill at the Dubai Duty Free counter when you pay with the physical card — it is an instant discount, not cashback or points. Since 20 December 2022 it does not apply to payments made via digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Samsung Pay.
What is excluded from the 10% discount?+
Cameras and accessories, electronics, gold, magazines and stationery, telephone cards, gift vouchers, Gold Rush, DXB Travel Pack, Crystalix, fashion brands Burberry, Tory Burch, Hermes, Chanel and Gucci, and watch brands including Rolex, Christian Dior and Maurice Lacroix. It also does not apply at Cargo Village, the Hatta Border shop or public shops at Dubai and Al Maktoum airports.
What is the annual fee of the Amex Dubai Duty Free Card?+
AED 175 a year (AED 183.75 including VAT). Supplementary cards are free, up to 9.
What is the minimum salary for this card?+
A minimum monthly income of AED 15,000 — an annual income of at least AED 180,000 if employed, or AED 275,000 if self-employed. You must be a UAE resident aged 21 or over.
Does the card earn points or cashback?+
No. The card's rewards are the 10% Dubai Duty Free discount and monthly draw entries — there is no points, miles or cashback programme on other spending.
How do the Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draws work?+
Every AED 1,000 spent gives one entry into a monthly draw where 4 cardmembers win a Millennium Millionaire raffle ticket; every AED 500 gives one entry into a draw where 6 cardmembers win a Finest Surprise ticket (luxury car raffle). Your account must be active and in good standing with the annual fee paid.
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.