American Express Gold Credit Card
Enjoy 15,000 Membership Rewards welcome points
at American Express's secure site
Welcome offer conditions apply — see amex.ae. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
The Gold Credit Card buys you the Amex badge, five lounge visits and a decent welcome offer at a mid-market fee. What it doesn't advertise loudly: earning points costs another AED 95 a year, and one point per AED 4 is a weak rate. Fine as a family's first Amex — do the maths before renewing.
Earning and redeeming Membership Rewards points
The Gold Credit Card earns 1 Membership Rewards point per AED 4 on eligible purchases, with supplementary card spend counting toward your balance. The catch worth knowing: point earning is tied to Membership Rewards enrolment at AED 95 a year (AED 99.75 with VAT) — skip the enrolment and the card earns nothing.
Redemption mirrors the rest of the Amex family: transfer to airline and hotel partners, redeem merchandise from fashion and electronics brands, pay online at SafeKey merchants, or clear eligible purchases with Select & Pay with Points in the Amex MENA app.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- AED 395 (AED 414.75 incl. VAT), plus AED 95/year (AED 99.75 incl. VAT) Membership Rewards enrolment if you want to earn points.
- 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-AED transactions.
- Cash advance
- 3% or AED 100 (whichever is higher; 3.15%/AED 105 incl. VAT). Withdrawals limited to 40% of credit limit.
- Late payment fee
- AED 230 (AED 241.50 incl. VAT).
- Overlimit fee
- AED 275.50 (AED 289.28 incl. VAT).
- Minimum payment
- 5% or AED 35, whichever is higher.
- Supplementary cards
- Free, up to 9 cards; additional cards at a fee (amount not published).
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
5 Priority Pass visits a year
Complimentary lounge visits shared between you and one enrolled supplementary cardmember; US$35 per person beyond that. Enrol via the Amex MENA app.
Travel cover to AED 350,000
Travel accident insurance up to AED 350,000 plus travel inconvenience cover up to AED 4,000 for delays, missed connections and luggage.
Retail & fraud protection
Retail Protection Insurance up to AED 3,000 per occurrence (AED 180,000 a year) and a Fraud Protection Guarantee on unauthorised charges.
Membership Rewards redemptions
Redeem points with airline and hotel partners, on brand merchandise, at SafeKey online checkouts, or against your statement with Select & Pay with Points.
Unravel hotel savings
Save up to 50% on selected hotel stays and 10% site-wide on Unravel bookings, applied automatically when you pay with the card.
Pros and cons
- Accessible Amex entry point at AED 15,000 minimum monthly income
- 5 Priority Pass lounge visits a year, shareable with a supplementary cardmember
- Up to 9 free supplementary cards for the family
- 15,000-point welcome offer on a AED 395 card
- Travel accident cover to AED 350,000 and fraud protection guarantee included
- Earning Membership Rewards costs an extra AED 95 a year on top of the AED 395 fee
- Weak earn rate — 1 point per AED 4 is a quarter of a point per dirham
- 2.94% foreign transaction fee (3.087% with VAT)
- 43.2% annual interest if you carry a balance
- No dining, grocery or cashback perks — the Platinum Credit Card keeps those
- Amex acceptance in the UAE is narrower than Visa or Mastercard
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You earn AED 15,000+ a month and want a first Amex without a premium fee
- A few lounge visits a year cover your travel pattern
- You want free supplementary cards for the whole family
Consider skipping it if
- You want strong rewards per dirham — this earns a quarter point per AED
- Paying AED 95 a year just to earn points annoys you
- You can qualify for the Platinum Credit Card and use its dining and grocery credits
Alternatives to consider
The Platinum Credit Card doubles the earn rate and adds dining cashback, grocery credits and 12 lounge visits — its fee can refund itself via FeeBack.
Best dining cards →
The Gold Card is the charge-card sibling — no revolving interest by design, with its own Gold-tier perks and welcome points.
Best credit cards in the UAE →
ADCB Traveller earns dedicated travel rewards on a widely accepted Visa — an easier everyday swipe in the UAE than an Amex.
Best travel 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 of the Amex Gold Credit Card?+
AED 395 a year (AED 414.75 including VAT). If you want to earn Membership Rewards points, enrolment costs a further AED 95 a year (AED 99.75 including VAT) — effectively AED 490 a year for the full card.
What is the minimum salary for the Amex Gold Credit Card?+
A minimum monthly income of AED 15,000 — that is 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 Amex Gold Credit Card include airport lounge access?+
Yes — 5 complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits a year, covering you and one enrolled supplementary cardmember. Beyond the 5 visits, or for accompanying guests, US$35 per person applies. Enrolment via the Amex MENA app is required.
How do I earn points on this card?+
You earn 1 Membership Rewards point for every AED 4 spent on eligible purchases, including supplementary card spend — provided you have enrolled in Membership Rewards (AED 95 a year). Points redeem across airline and hotel partners, merchandise, and Select & Pay with Points.
Is there a welcome bonus?+
American Express currently advertises 15,000 Membership Rewards welcome points. The qualifying conditions are set out in the Welcome Offer terms and conditions on amex.ae.
What interest rate does the card charge?+
A fixed 3.60% per month (43.20% annual), with up to 56 interest-free days on purchases when you pay your statement in full.
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.