The American Express Card
Enjoy 5,000 Membership Rewards welcome points
at American Express UAE's secure site
Welcome offer terms and conditions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
“The green card is Amex's front door: you get the brand, buyer protection and Membership Rewards at the lowest fee in the charge line-up — but no lounges, no credits, and a 2.94% conversion fee on every because it bills in US dollars. Only worthwhile if the Amex membership itself is the point.”
Earning and redeeming Membership Rewards points
The card earns a flat 1 Membership Rewards point per US$1 on eligible purchases, with no bonus categories. Earning requires Membership Rewards enrolment at US$25 a year (US$26.25 incl. VAT), so count it as part of the card's real 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.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- US$95 (US$99.75 incl. VAT), ≈ 349 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
- 5,000 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$1,000 per 30 days
- Supplementary cards
- US$50 each (US$52.50 incl. VAT), up to 9 cards
- Minimum income
- 18,400 per month (employed) or 275,000 a year (self-employed)
- Card network
- American Express (charge card)
Rates verified against The American Express 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
Purchase & retail protection
Up to US$1,000 per occurrence, with US$30,000 a year against theft and accidental damage for 90 days from purchase.
Travel insurance
Travel accident cover up to US$100,000 and travel inconvenience cover up to US$750 (policy AMEX16).
Unravel hotel savings
Up to 50% off selected hotel stays and 10% off all bookings site-wide, applied automatically at checkout with the card.
Virtual cards & digital account
Up to 6 free virtual cards with spending limits, digital wallet compatibility and full account management in the Amex MENA app.
Up to 9 supplementary cards
Family members over 12 can share the card's benefits at US$50 per card.
Fraud Protection Guarantee
You're not held responsible for fraudulent charges, provided you've taken reasonable care of your account details and PIN.
Pros and cons
- The cheapest entry to Amex charge cards and Membership Rewards (US$95 a year, ≈ 349)
- 5,000 Membership Rewards welcome points
- Retail protection to US$1,000 per occurrence with US$30,000-a-year theft and accidental-damage cover for 90 days
- 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
- Billed in US dollars — the 2.94% conversion fee (3.09% incl. VAT) applies to every purchase
- US$25 a year (US$26.25 incl. VAT) extra just to stay enrolled in Membership Rewards
- No lounge access, no dining or travel credits — very thin perks for an 18,400 income requirement
- 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
- Weakest insurance in the Amex charge line-up (US$100,000 travel accident vs the Gold's US$350,000)
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You specifically want Amex membership and Membership Rewards at the lowest entry fee.
- You value strong purchase protection and charge-card spending discipline.
- A good share of your spending is in US dollars or foreign currency.
Consider skipping it if
- Most of your spending is everyday — the 2.94% conversion fee on a USD-billed card eats the value.
- You want lounge access, credits or bonus earn rates — this card has none of them.
- You would carry a balance: charge cards demand full monthly settlement.
Alternatives to consider
For about 300 more a year you add 8 Priority Pass visits and more than triple the travel cover.
Best lounge access cards →
5% on groceries and a first-year fee waiver — everyday value with no USD billing quirks.
Best cashback cards →
An -billed travel card that earns on every without a separate points fee.
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
Is The American Express 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 American Express Card cost?+
US$95 a year (US$99.75 including VAT) — roughly AED 349 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$50 each.
What is the minimum income requirement?+
A monthly income of at least AED 18,400 for employed applicants, or an annual income of at least AED 275,000 if self-employed. You must be a UAE resident aged 21 or over.
Does this card include airport lounge access?+
No. Lounge access starts with the American Express Gold Card (8 Priority Pass visits a year) and is unlimited on The Platinum Card.
Why does my AED spending attract a conversion fee?+
The 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.
What insurance does the card include?+
Travel accident insurance up to US$100,000, travel inconvenience cover up to US$750, retail protection up to US$1,000 per occurrence, and up to US$30,000 a year against theft and accidental damage for 90 days from purchase (policy AMEX16).
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.