American Express Gold Card
Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards welcome points
at American Express UAE's secure site
Welcome offer terms and conditions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
“The Gold Card is Amex's mid-tier compromise: real lounge visits and strong insurance for a fair fee — but it bills in US dollars, so every you spend at home quietly pays a 2.94% conversion fee. Great as a travel companion; expensive as your daily card.”
Earning and redeeming Membership Rewards points
The Gold Card earns a flat 1 Membership Rewards point per US$1 on eligible purchases, with no bonus categories. Note that earning requires Membership Rewards enrolment at US$25 a year (US$26.25 incl. VAT) — factor it into the card's true cost.
Points are redeemed through the Membership Rewards catalogue: airline and hotel partners, merchandise from leading brands, or paying directly at checkout with SafeKey Pay with Points and Select & Pay with Points in the Amex MENA app. Partner redemptions are typically the best value.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- US$175 (US$183.75 incl. VAT), ≈ 643 at the peg — no first-year waiver
- Membership Rewards fee
- US$25 a year (US$26.25 incl. VAT), charged on enrolment to earn points
- Welcome offer
- 10,000 Membership Rewards points — qualifying conditions in the welcome offer terms
- Interest rate
- None — charge card, balance due in full monthly. Overdue balances: 3% monthly charge + US$30 late fee
- Currency conversion
- 2.94% (3.09% incl. VAT) on any non-USD transaction — including spend, since the card bills in US dollars
- Cash withdrawal
- 4% of amount, min US$15 — capped at US$2,000 per 30 days
- Supplementary cards
- US$75 each (US$78.75 incl. VAT), up to 9 cards
- Minimum income
- 23,000 per month (employed) or 367,000 a year (self-employed)
- Card network
- American Express (charge card)
Rates verified against the American Express Gold Card Schedule of Fees and Charges (02/2025) and americanexpress.ae on August 21, 2026. Headline fees exclude 5% VAT unless noted; equivalents use the 3.6725 peg. Always confirm on the issuer's site before applying.
Card benefits
8 Priority Pass visits a year
Shared between you and one enrolled supplementary cardmember; extra visits or guests at US$35 per person.
US$350,000 travel cover
Travel accident insurance to US$350,000, inconvenience cover to US$1,000 and retail protection to US$1,500 per occurrence (US$40,000 a year).
24/7 Global Assist
Round-the-clock help whenever you are travelling outside the UAE.
Unravel hotel savings
Up to 50% off selected hotel stays and 10% off all bookings site-wide, applied automatically at checkout with the card.
Fraud Protection Guarantee
You're not held responsible for fraudulent charges, provided you've taken reasonable care of your account details and PIN.
Up to 9 supplementary cards
Family members over 12 can share the benefits (US$75 each), plus up to 6 free virtual cards for online and wallet payments.
Pros and cons
- Real lounge access at a mid-tier fee: 8 Priority Pass visits a year for you and one supplementary cardmember
- 10,000 Membership Rewards welcome points
- Solid protection for the fee level: travel accident cover to US$350,000 and retail protection to US$1,500 per occurrence
- No pre-set spending limit, with optional Pay Over Time instalments of 3-12 months
- Up to 9 supplementary cards and 6 free virtual cards for the family
- Billed in US dollars — the 2.94% conversion fee (3.09% incl. VAT) applies to every purchase, quietly taxing daily spend
- You pay an extra US$25 a year (US$26.25 incl. VAT) just to stay enrolled in Membership Rewards
- The 8 lounge visits are shared with your supplementary cardmember; extra visits or guests cost US$35 each
- It's a charge card — the balance is due in full every month; overdue balances incur a 3% monthly charge plus a US$30 late fee
- No dining, travel-credit or hotel-status perks — the gap to the Platinum Card is wide
- Supplementary cards are never free (US$75 each per year)
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You take a handful of flights a year and will actually use the 8 lounge visits.
- A meaningful share of your spending is already in US dollars or foreign currency.
- You want Amex membership and its insurance without the Platinum's 3,255 fee.
Consider skipping it if
- Most of your spending is everyday — the 2.94% conversion fee on a USD-billed card outweighs the perks.
- You would carry a balance: charge cards demand full monthly settlement.
- You want rich earn rates or credits — this card has neither.
Alternatives to consider
The credit-card sibling bills in with a revolving line — no USD conversion fee on your daily spending.
Best credit cards overall →
Unlimited lounges with a guest, hotel elite status and 2,000+ in credits — for a much bigger fee.
Best lounge access cards →
Skywards Miles on every , unlimited lounge access and a first-year fee waiver — -billed.
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
Is the American Express Gold Card a credit card?+
No — it is a charge card. There is no pre-set spending limit and no revolving interest, because the balance must be paid in full each month. Overdue balances incur a 3% monthly composite charge plus a US$30 late fee (US$31.50 incl. VAT). You can optionally convert part of the balance into 3, 6, 9 or 12-month instalments via Pay Over Time.
What does the Gold Card cost?+
US$175 a year (US$183.75 including VAT) — roughly AED 643 at the dirham peg — plus US$25 a year (US$26.25 incl. VAT) for Membership Rewards enrolment if you want to earn points. Supplementary cards cost US$75 each.
What is the minimum income requirement?+
A monthly income of at least AED 23,000 (annual AED 276,000) for employed applicants, or an annual income of at least AED 367,000 if self-employed. You must be a UAE resident aged 21 or over.
How does lounge access work on the Gold Card?+
You get 8 complimentary Priority Pass visits per year, shared between you and one enrolled supplementary cardmember. Once the 8 visits are used — or if you bring guests — each entry costs US$35 per person. Enrol via the Amex MENA app or Online Services.
Why does my AED spending attract a conversion fee?+
The Gold Card is billed in US dollars, and the schedule of charges applies a 2.94% conversion processing fee (3.087% incl. VAT) to transactions in any non-billing currency — which includes everyday dirham purchases in the UAE.
How do I earn and use Membership Rewards points?+
You earn 1 point per US$1 of eligible spend (enrolment costs US$25 a year). Points can be redeemed with airline and hotel partners, for merchandise, or spent directly at checkout via SafeKey Pay with Points and the Amex MENA app.
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.